Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 194,701	$ 192,319
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	181,848	220,568
General and administrative expenses	42,594	45,069
Loss on impairment of assets	56,650	3,768
Operating loss	(86,391)	(77,086)
Interest income	711	622
Interest expense	(23,518)	(25,290)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(13)	0
Gain on derivatives	29,330	802
Other income (expense), net	34	(81)
Foreign currency exchange gain, net	28,183	78,716
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries, net	0	(1,800)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	(51,664)	(24,117)
Income tax benefit	(112,861)	230,028
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	0	185
Loss from continuing operations	(164,525)	206,096
Loss on sales of discontinued operations, net of tax	(418)	(107,780)
Net (loss) income	(164,943)	98,316
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	15	1,299
Net loss attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ (164,928)	$ 99,615
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.82)	$ 0.98
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	(0.51)
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.82)	$ 0.47