Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38002
Entity Registrant Name	Laureate Education, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	52-1492296
Entity Address, Address Line One	78 SW 7th Street, Suite 900
Entity Address, City or Town	Miami,
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	33130
City Area Code	(786)
Local Phone Number	209-3368
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.004 per share
Trading Symbol	LAUR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,406
Documents Incorporated by Reference	The registrant incorporates by reference its definitive proxy statement with respect to its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days following the end of its fiscal year, into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000912766
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		178,503,512