Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	$ 528,557	$ 601,072
Depreciation and amortization	44,161	47,644
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	(117,135)	(92,029)
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	99,615	191,243
Balance Sheets data:
Cash and cash equivalents	546,675	274,122	$ 339,629
Current assets held for sale	72,415		83,800
Other current assets	692,935		519,498
Total current assets	1,312,025		942,927
Goodwill	1,501,042		1,701,495
Tradenames	1,069,084		1,119,454
Other intangible assets, net	1,045		1,431
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	768,747		861,878
Long-term assets held for sale	216,316		305,973
Other long-term assets	1,628,823		1,582,470
Total assets	6,497,082		6,515,628
Current liabilities held for sale	60,602		64,204
Other current liabilities	1,250,759		1,006,600
Long-term operating leases, less current portion	712,564		792,358
Long-term liabilities held for sale	70,988		124,914
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	1,820,398		1,711,106
Total liabilities	3,915,311		3,699,182
Total stockholders' equity	2,569,808	2,327,906	2,804,151	$ 2,050,946
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	2,583,122		2,816,963
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Balance Sheets data:
Cash and cash equivalents	145,502		157,003
Current assets held for sale	18,900		16,050
Other current assets	258,350		173,072
Total current assets	422,752		346,125
Goodwill	140,673		159,957
Tradenames	55,434		61,691
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	62,851		65,761
Long-term assets held for sale	62,257		52,519
Other long-term assets	237,135		262,579
Total assets	981,102		948,632
Current liabilities held for sale	11,784		11,741
Other current liabilities	255,367		130,602
Long-term operating leases, less current portion	53,156		56,571
Long-term liabilities held for sale	39,199		29,666
Long-term debt and other long-term liabilities	36,010		28,619
Total liabilities	395,516		257,199
Total stockholders' equity	585,586		691,433
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	585,586		691,433
Brazil
Balance Sheets data:
Goodwill	316,454		388,160
Mexico
Balance Sheets data:
Goodwill	425,881		525,256
Andean
Balance Sheets data:
Goodwill	222,027		241,327
Operating Segments | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	36,471	56,450
Depreciation and amortization	5,924	6,096
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	(32,473)	(27,335)
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(30,675)	(24,200)
Operating Segments | Brazil
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	83,681	109,969
Balance Sheets data:
Total assets	883,050		1,068,362
Operating Segments | Brazil | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	0	0
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	0	(18)
Operating Segments | Mexico
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	154,207	156,464
Balance Sheets data:
Total assets	1,077,325		1,315,377
Operating Segments | Mexico | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	5	0
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	(168)	(97)
Operating Segments | Andean
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	89,508	138,942
Balance Sheets data:
Total assets	1,815,876		$ 1,715,145
Operating Segments | Andean | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Revenues, by segment:
Revenues	36,466	56,450
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	(32,305)	(27,220)
Other operations
Operating loss, by segment:
Operating loss	(117,135)	(92,029)
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(82,630)	(45,211)
Corporate and eliminations
Operating loss, by segment:
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 212,920	$ 260,654