Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,250,326	$ 3,290,213	$ 3,333,073
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	2,671,557	2,697,049	2,775,326
General and administrative expenses	252,179	299,264	315,471
Loss on impairment of assets	470	10,030	7,121
Operating income	326,120	283,870	235,155
Interest income	12,209	11,856	11,865
Interest expense	(167,331)	(235,214)	(334,900)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(28,267)	(7,481)	(8,392)
Gain on derivatives	7,277	88,292	28,656
Other income (expense), net	9,222	12,226	(1,892)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(27,081)	(32,564)	3,231
(Loss) gain on sales and disposals of subsidiaries, net	(37,751)	254	(10,490)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	94,398	121,239	(76,767)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(80,656)	(131,771)	92,989
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates, net of tax	219	(2)	152
Income (loss) from continuing operations	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	53,941	84,884	77,390
Gain on sales of discontinued operations, net, including tax benefit of $33,472 for 2019, $3,466 for 2018 and $0 for 2017	869,762	296,580	0
Net income	937,664	370,930	93,764
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	820	(863)	(2,299)
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	938,484	370,067	91,465
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(208)	(62,825)	(298,497)
Gain upon conversion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock	0	74,110	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 938,276	$ 381,352	$ (207,032)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0	$ (1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	4.17	1.79	0.44
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	4.23	1.79	(1.20)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.06	(0.06)	(1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	4.16	1.79	0.44
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 4.22	$ 1.73	$ (1.20)