Dispositions and Asset Sales (Details) € in Thousands, د.م. in Thousands, ¥ in Thousands, R in Thousands, $ in Thousands																										1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 27, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2019 USD ($)	May 09, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 08, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 12, 2019 USD ($) campus	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2019 HKD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 CNY (¥)	Jul. 27, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2018 HKD ($)	Apr. 13, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2018 MAD (د.م.)	Apr. 12, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 12, 2018 EUR (€)	Feb. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 CNY (¥)	Jan. 25, 2018 HKD ($)	Jan. 15, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 11, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 11, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Apr. 08, 2019 ZAR (R)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 29, 2017 MAD (د.م.)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Payments on long-term debt																														$ 2,507,790,000	$ 867,915,000	$ 3,038,946,000
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period											$ 583,572,000															$ 525,745,000				526,550,000	583,572,000	525,745,000					$ 467,777,000
(Loss) gain on sales and disposals of subsidiaries, net																														(37,751,000)	254,000	(10,490,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest																														370,000	635,000	917,000
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests																														5,761,000	127,000	17,443,000
Receipts from sales of discontinued operations, net of cash sold, property and equipment and other																														1,266,042,000	375,807,000	9,831,000
St. Augustine | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions								$ 400,000,000
European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L. | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture																								$ 275,500,000	€ 232,000
Net proceeds from dispositions																								$ 244,300,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																															218,000,000
Working capital settlement																													$ 4,100,000
Ad Portis | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions																											$ 55,000,000
Cash consideration received from dispositions																											17,784,000
(Loss) gain on sales and disposals of subsidiaries, net																											20,300,000
Glion Institute of Higher Education and Les Roches International School of Hotel Management | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
(Loss) gain on sales and disposals of subsidiaries, net																										(10,300,000)
Receipts from sales of discontinued operations, net of cash sold, property and equipment and other																										$ 9,300,000
LEI Lie Ying Limited | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture																				$ 128,800,000	¥ 1,430,000
Net proceeds from dispositions											225,500,000									110,800,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																												$ 13,700,000			84,000,000
Proceeds from second holdback payment									$ 9,100,000	$ 71,463		¥ 60,000								9,100,000		$ 71,463
Amounts of material contingent liabilities remaining											14,300,000									$ 14,300,000											14,300,000
Amount receivable, noncurrent																														25,900,000
Proceeds not received as conditions not met at closing											$ 7,900,000										¥ 50,000
Payment term, first payment due after the closing date																				6 months	6 months	6 months
Proceeds from first holdback payment													$ 18,117,000	$ 142,221						$ 120,000,000
Payment term, second payment due after the closing date																				12 months	12 months	12 months
Monash South Africa (MSA) | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions						$ 1,100,000																												R 15,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, debt						$ 20,200,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operations, percent of ownership sold						75.00%
Monash South Africa Limited And LEI AMEA Investments B.V. | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture						$ 9,000,000
Sodecam - Sociedade De Desenvolvimento Cultural Do Amazonas Ltda [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions	$ 43,000,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business	$ (300,000)
Dormant Subsidiaries [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Accumulated foreign currency translation gain (losses)																														(37,500,000)
Laureate South Africa Pty Ltd (LSA) | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions						7,000,000																												R 99,000
Laureate Germany Holding GmbH | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																															(5,500,000)
Capital consideration contributed																	$ 3,600,000
Laureate Somed Holding | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																															17,400,000
Laureate Somed Holding | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions | د.م.																																				د.م. 500,000
Net proceeds from divestiture															$ 32,500,000	د.م. 300,000
Net proceeds from dispositions															$ 31,100,000
Lines of credit | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Term Loan
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Payments on long-term debt																			$ 350,000,000
Exeter Street Holdings, LLC | St. Augustine | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture								346,400,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, closing adjustments								11,700,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, debt								58,100,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, fees								7,200,000
Net proceeds from dispositions								$ 301,800,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																														$ 223,000,000
LEI Singapore Holdings Pte Limited, Laureate I B.V.,Laureate International B.V. | Pearl Retail Solutions Private Limited | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions					$ 145,600,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, closing adjustments					145,800,000
Net proceeds from dispositions					$ 77,300,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operations, percent of ownership sold					10.00%
Iniciativas Culturales de Espãna S.L., (“ICE”), and Laureate I B.V | Ensilis—Educação e Formação, Unipessoal, Lda | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions				$ 857,000,000																													€ 770,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operation, debt				109,000,000
LEI European Investments B.V. (LEI BV) | Laureate Germany Holding GmbH | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture																	1,200,000	€ 1,000
Laureate Germany
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period																	$ 12,900,000
Universidad U Latina, SRL and Education Holding Costa Rica EHCR, SRL | UIP. Excelencia y Superacion S.A. (EXUSA) | Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions		$ 86,750,000
Net proceeds from dispositions		$ 82,000,000
Disposal group, not discontinued operation, percent of ownership disposed of		100.00%
Bilgi Egitim Ve Kultur Vakfi (Bilgi Foundation)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period			$ 89,000,000
Laureate Somed Holding | Laureate Middle East Holdings B.V. | Laureate Somed Holding | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent																	60.00%
La Société Maroc Emirats Arabes Unis de Développement | Laureate Somed Holding | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent																	40.00%
Stamford International University | China YuHua Education Investment Limited
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions							$ 35,300,000
Number of campuses | campus							3
Stamford International University | LEI Singapore Holdings Pte Limited, Laureate I B.V.,Laureate International B.V.
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business						$ 2,300,000
Construction Contracts | Payment Guarantee | Kendall College
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business																															(17,200,000)
Payment for guarantor obligation, construction contract																							$ 14,000,000
Guarantor obligation, term																							P10Y
Payment for guarantor obligation, working capital adjustment																							$ 2,100,000
Remaining Lease Costs Minus Sublease Income | Payment Guarantee | Kendall College
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, amount of loan																																			$ 24,000,000
Affiliated Entity | Laureate I B.V. | Education Turkey B.V. | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposition of business		$ 21,000,000
Discontinued operation, tax (expense) benefit from provision for (gain) loss on disposal		$ 1,500,000
Affiliated Entity | Stamford International University | China YuHua Education Investment Limited
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions				2,800,000
Disposal group, contingent liability				1,400,000			$ 4,200,000
Affiliated Entity | Stamford International University | LEI Singapore Holdings Pte Limited, Laureate I B.V.,Laureate International B.V.
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture							22,200,000
Net proceeds from dispositions							18,800,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business					$ 19,500,000		10,800,000
Proceeds from divestiture, net of debt assumed by purchaser							$ 26,400,000
Affiliated Entity
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Number of campuses																														5
Affiliated Entity | LEI Lie Ying Limited | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal transaction fees																				$ 16,000,000
Affiliated Entity | Iniciativas Culturales de Espãna S.L., (“ICE”), and Laureate I B.V
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from divestiture				906,000,000
Net proceeds from dispositions				760,000,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business				615,000,000
Discontinued operation, tax (expense) benefit from provision for (gain) loss on disposal				$ 30,000,000
Affiliated Entity | Laureate I B.V. | Education Turkey B.V. | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions			90,000,000
Net proceeds from divestiture			75,000,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of business			(37,700,000)
Disposal group, contingent liability			$ 15,000,000
Disposal group, including discontinued operations, percent of ownership sold			100.00%
Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | Repurchase Of Chilean Non-controlling Interest
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Purchase of noncontrolling interest																											36,247,000
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests																											$ 6,085,000
Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | Services And Intellectual Property Contractual Arrangements
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Other revenues from transactions with related party																															$ 864,000	13,927,000
UDLA Ecuador | Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | Chilean Real Estate Subsidiary
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Payments of dividends																																$ 1,242,000