Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) Per Share Basic and Diluted (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) numberOfClassesOfStock $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Number of classes of stock \| numberOfClassesOfStock			2
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
Loss from continuing operations	$ (271,040)	$ (86,649)	$ (76,503)	$ (211,676)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7)	(12)	27	(61)
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(271,047)	(86,661)	(76,476)	(211,737)
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	6	(193)	163	264
Net loss from continuing operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	(271,041)	(86,854)	(76,313)	(211,473)
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for discontinued operations:
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(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
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	1,580	5,065	583
Net loss from discontinued operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ (513,395)	$ (8,565)	$ (916,174)	$ 1,089,346
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic and diluted weighted average share outstanding \| shares	210,033	224,193	209,920	224,498
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ (1.29)	$ (0.39)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.94)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	(2.44)	(0.04)	(4.36)	4.85
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ (3.73)	$ (0.43)	$ (4.72)	$ 3.91

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