Cover Page	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38002
Entity Registrant Name	Laureate Education, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-1492296
Entity Address, Address Line One	650 S. Exeter Street,
Entity Address, City or Town	Baltimore,
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	21202
City Area Code	410
Local Phone Number	843-6100
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock, par value $0.004 per share
Trading Symbol	LAUR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0000912766
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	119,074,637
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	90,813,257