Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 267,691	$ 243,523	$ 789,971	$ 739,698
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	181,978	185,758	577,141	614,125
General and administrative expenses	47,315	52,603	139,270	140,812
Loss on impairment of assets	3,292	323,397	67,161	350,939
Operating income (loss)	35,106	(318,235)	6,399	(366,178)
Interest income	1,268	684	2,456	1,594
Interest expense	(3,736)	(24,703)	(40,795)	(75,698)
Loss on debt extinguishment			(77,940)	0
Loss on derivatives			(24,517)	(626)
Other (expense) income, net	(46)	1,300	(67)	814
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net	6,085	(2,907)	18,749	71,074
(Loss) gain on disposal of subsidiaries, net	(949)	622	(922)	(1,178)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	37,728	(343,239)	(116,637)	(370,198)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(48,118)	72,199	(174,163)	293,514
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax			0	181
Loss from continuing operations	(10,390)	(271,040)	(290,800)	(76,503)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $248,838 and $103,794, respectively	370,527	(513,390)	456,770	(921,239)
Net income (loss)	360,137	(784,430)	165,970	(997,742)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	269	(12)	508	5,092
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 360,406	$ (784,442)	$ 166,478	$ (992,650)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Loss from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (1.29)	$ (1.51)	$ (0.36)
Loss from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	(1.29)	(1.51)	(0.36)
Loss from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	2.00	(2.44)	2.37	(4.36)
Loss from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	2.00	(2.44)	2.37	(4.36)
Basic loss per share (in dollars per share)	1.94	(3.73)	0.86	(4.72)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.94	$ (3.73)	$ 0.86	$ (4.72)