Legal and Regulatory Matters	3 Months Ended
Legal and Regulatory Matters	Mar. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal and Regulatory Matters	Legal and Regulatory Matters Laureate is subject to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. In management's opinion, we have adequate legal defenses, insurance coverage, and/or accrued liabilities with respect to the eventuality of these actions. Management believes that any settlement would not have a material impact on Laureate’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Our institutions are subject to uncertain and varying laws and regulations, and any changes to these laws or regulations or their application to us may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the laws and regulations affecting our higher education institutions that are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Australian Regulation Since March 16, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited exceptions, courses at our two post-secondary educational institutions in Australia have been delivered online and are in compliance with all local regulations. Brazilian Regulation Since the declaration of a public health emergency by the Ministry of Health on February 3, 2020, there have been a number of legislative initiatives at the federal and local levels in Brazil to address the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of regulatory and operational restrictions created by social distancing mandates, no face-to-face classes may be conducted in any state in which we operate until each of the relevant government measures is lifted. The Ministry of Education, however, authorized higher education institutions to transition from face-to-face classes to online classes within established limits. Accordingly, all face-to-face campus activities at our Brazilian institutions have been suspended and transitioned to online instruction. Subsequently, Provisional Presidential Act n. 934/2020 (the “Act”) waived legal requirements to observe an annual minimum of 200 school days. The Act also permits institutions to shorten the duration of Medicine, Nursery, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy course lengths and accelerate student graduation after 75% completion of the normal required course and practicum work in order to quickly establish a contingent of available healthcare professionals. Chilean Regulation There have been a number of initiatives in Chile to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including a declaration of a State of Constitutional Exception of Catastrophe, effective March 19, 2020, for 90 days, which provides broad powers to the government, including the power to limit free movement (quarantine, curfew measures and social isolation). While authorities have not suspended educational activities, higher education institutions, including our institutions in Chile, have transitioned from face-to-face classes to online classes in order to comply with social distancing restrictions. Mexican Regulation On March 30, 2020, the Ministry of Health declared a national sanitary emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 31, 2020, the Ministry of Health suspended all non-essential activities, including higher education, and urged people to stay home from March 31, 2020 through April 30, 2020, which has now been extended through May 30, 2020 for most of the country’s municipalities. Accordingly, all face-to-face campus activities at our Mexican institutions have been suspended and transitioned to online instruction. Peruvian Regulation On March 9, 2020, Peru declared a national sanitary emergency until June 9, 2020 and subsequently enacted a number of decrees to address the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the regulatory and operational restrictions created by social distancing mandates, no face-to-face classes may be conducted in any of our institutions until each of the relevant government measures is lifted. The Ministry of Education, however, authorized higher education institutions to substitute online for face-to-face classes, lifting temporarily the 50% limit in force for both universities and technical-vocational institutes. Accordingly, all three institutions in Peru transitioned to online delivery of classes.