Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Laureate uses the liability method to account for income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. For interim purposes, we also apply ASC 740-270, “Income Taxes—Interim Reporting.” Laureate's income tax provisions for all periods consist of federal, state and foreign income taxes. The tax provisions for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 were based on estimated full-year effective tax rates, after giving effect to significant items related specifically to the interim periods, including the mix of income for the period between higher-taxed and lower-taxed jurisdictions. Laureate has operations in multiple countries at various statutory tax rates or which are tax-exempt entities, and other operations that are loss-making entities for which it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be realized on the loss. Laureate records interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of Income tax expense. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, Laureate recognized interest and penalties related to income taxes of $1,886. Laureate had $17,213 of accrued interest and penalties as of June 30, 2020. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, Laureate derecognized $2,199 of previously accrued interest and penalties. Approximately $19,964 of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, will affect the effective income tax rate. It is reasonably possible that Laureate’s unrecognized tax benefits may decrease within the next 12 months by up to approximately $13,669 as a result of the lapse of statutes of limitations and as a result of the final settlement and resolution of outstanding tax matters in various jurisdictions. As of January 1, 2020, the Company amended the partnership agreement of one of its subsidiaries that owned intellectual property, such that the subsidiary became subject to tax in the Netherlands. The result was a discrete tax benefit of approximately $222,000 that represents the book-and-tax basis difference of the intellectual property, measured based on the intellectual property’s current fair value and applicable Dutch statutory tax rate. Determining the fair value of the intellectual property, which serves as the tax basis of the deferred tax asset, required management to make assumptions and estimates that are inherently uncertain. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act provides a substantial stimulus and assistance package intended to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including tax relief and government loans, grants and investments. The CARES Act did not have a significant impact on Laureate’s consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. We continue to monitor any effects that may result from the CARES Act as well as any similar stimulus legislation enacted in other jurisdictions where Laureate has material operations.

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.