Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) Per Share Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ (115,885)	$ (11,559)	$ (280,410)	$ 194,537
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	27	27	38
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	(115,883)	(11,532)	(280,383)	194,575
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(68)	201	(88)	157
Net loss from continuing operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	(115,951)	(11,331)	(280,471)	194,732
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	86,661	(300,069)	86,243	(407,849)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	222	3,778	212	5,066
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 86,883	$ (296,291)	$ 86,455	$ (402,783)
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic weighted average share outstanding			196,085	209,863
Basic and diluted weighted average share outstanding	191,990	209,929	196,085	210,050
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.05)	$ (1.43)	$ 0.93
Loss from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0.45	(1.41)	0.44	(1.92)
Basic loss per share (in dollars per share)	(0.15)	(1.46)	$ (0.99)	$ (0.99)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.60)	(0.05)
Loss from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.45	(1.41)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (1.46)
Dilutive effect of restricted stock units
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Dilutive effect of shares			0	187