Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 243,523	$ 277,267	$ 739,698	$ 860,224
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	185,758	229,736	614,125	706,817
General and administrative expenses	52,602	65,942	140,812	174,458
Asset impairment charges	323,398	0	350,939	248
Operating loss	(318,235)	(18,411)	(366,178)	(21,299)
Interest income	684	912	1,594	2,594
Interest expense	(24,703)	(28,318)	(75,698)	(101,548)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(200)	0	(22,059)
Gain on derivatives	0	283	(626)	9,166
Other income, net	1,301	992	814	9,090
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(2,907)	7,659	71,074	7,601
Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries, net	621	(1,474)	(1,178)	(1,474)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	(343,239)	(38,557)	(370,198)	(117,929)
Income tax benefit (expense)	72,199	(48,092)	293,514	(93,966)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax			181	219
Loss from continuing operations	(271,040)	(86,649)	(76,503)	(211,676)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(48,214) and $17,364, respectively	(169,768)	30,986	(557,951)	240,373
Loss on sales of discontinued operations, net of tax	(343,622)	(41,131)	(363,288)	848,390
Net (loss) income	(784,430)	(96,794)	(997,742)	877,087
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12)	1,568	5,092	522
Net loss attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ (784,442)	$ (95,226)	$ (992,650)	$ 877,609
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.29)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.94)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(2.44)	(0.04)	(4.36)	4.85
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (3.73)	$ (0.43)	$ (4.72)	$ 3.91