Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 883,152	$ 773,699	$ 992,403	$ 601,072	$ 892,451	$ 778,255	$ 1,005,229	$ 614,278	$ 3,250,326	$ 3,290,213	$ 3,333,073
Operating costs and expenses	727,898	727,969	775,240	693,099	757,970	749,259	786,235	712,879
Operating income	155,254	45,730	217,163	(92,027)	134,481	28,996	218,994	(98,601)	326,120	283,870	235,155
Income (loss) from continuing operations	51,736	(28,526)	107,820	(117,069)	26,107	(40,353)	174,410	(170,698)	13,961	(10,534)	16,374
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $17,539 for 2019, $48,771 for 2018 and $26,176 for 2017	(12,531)	(27,137)	30,280	63,329	61,333	(37,905)	37,542	23,914	53,941	84,884	77,390
Gain (loss) on sales of discontinued operations, net of tax	21,372	(41,131)	641,516	248,005	(15,324)	(18,426)	12,003	318,327	869,762	296,580	0
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	298	1,568	1,976	(3,022)	(548)	1,895	456	(2,666)	820	(863)	(2,299)
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	60,875	(95,226)	781,592	191,243	71,568	(94,789)	224,411	168,877	938,484	370,067	91,465
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(472)	(193)	194	263	(1,422)	324	(4,324)	(57,403)	(208)	(62,825)	(298,497)
Gain upon conversion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock					0	0	74,110	0	0	(74,110)	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 60,403	$ (95,419)	$ 781,786	$ 191,506	$ 70,146	$ (94,465)	$ 294,197	$ 111,474	$ 938,276	$ 381,352	$ (207,032)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.13)	$ 0.48	$ (0.52)	$ 0.11	$ (0.18)	$ 1.14	$ (1.22)	$ 0.06	$ 0	$ (1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.04	(0.30)	3.00	1.37	0.20	(0.24)	0.23	1.81	4.17	1.79	0.44
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.28	(0.43)	3.48	0.85	0.31	(0.42)	1.37	0.59	4.23	1.79	(1.20)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.24	(0.13)	0.48	(0.52)	0.11	(0.18)	0.78	(1.22)	0.06	(0.06)	(1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.04	(0.30)	3.00	1.37	0.20	(0.24)	0.22	1.81	4.16	1.79	0.44
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ (0.43)	$ 3.48	$ 0.85	$ 0.31	$ (0.42)	$ 1.00	$ 0.59	$ 4.22	$ 1.73	$ (1.20)