Stockholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 1,824,580	$ 2,280,061	$ 2,569,808	$ 2,804,151	$ 2,830,880	$ 3,107,083	$ 2,327,906	$ 2,050,946
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Laureate Education, Inc
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,075,008)			(1,084,651)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	943			326
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,074,065)			(1,084,325)
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				0
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				10,416
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Laureate Education Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(678)			254
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0			0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(678)			254
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,065,270)	$ (1,391,686)	$ (1,405,788)	(1,073,981)	$ (1,138,388)	$ (1,060,849)	$ (1,060,565)	$ (1,112,695)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	943			326
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (1,064,327)			$ (1,073,655)