Stockholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 1,893,489	$ 2,263,934	$ 2,569,808	$ 2,804,151
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Laureate Education, Inc
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,011,199)	(951,456)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	941	958
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,010,258)	(950,498)
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	(1,114)	(946)
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	(1,114)	(946)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,001,897)	(941,986)	$ (1,405,788)	$ (1,073,981)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	941	958
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (1,000,956)	$ (941,028)