Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Loss Contingencies Laureate is subject to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business. In management's opinion, we have adequate legal defenses, insurance coverage and/or accrued liabilities with respect to the eventuality of such actions. We do not believe that any settlement would have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Contingent Liabilities for Taxes As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, Laureate has recorded cumulative liabilities totaling $1,252 and $38,355, respectively, for taxes other-than-income tax, principally payroll-tax-related uncertainties recorded at the time of an acquisition, of which $37,794 was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020. The majority of the liability balance at December 31, 2020 related to our operations in Brazil which were sold on May 28, 2021. See Note 5, Dispositions, for more information. The terms of the statutes of limitations on these contingencies vary but can be up to 10 years. These liabilities were included in current and long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the recorded values of non-income tax contingencies impact operating income and interest expense, while changes in the related indemnification assets impact only operating income. For Continuing Operations, the total decrease to operating income for adjustments to non-income tax contingencies and indemnification assets was $13,613, $5,619, and $6,381 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, Laureate has recorded cumulative liabilities for income tax contingencies of $91,585 and $40,668, respectively, of which $11,752 was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, indemnification assets primarily related to acquisition contingencies were $82 and $55,940, respectively, of which $40,877 was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2020. These indemnification assets primarily cover contingencies for income taxes and taxes other-than-income taxes. The majority of the indemnification assets at December 31, 2020 related to our operations in Brazil, which were sold on May 28, 2021. We have identified certain contingencies that we have assessed as being reasonably possible of loss, but not probable of loss, and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations if the outcomes are unfavorable. In most cases, Laureate has received indemnifications from the former owners of the acquired businesses for contingencies, and therefore, we do not believe we will sustain an economic loss even if we are required to pay these additional amounts. In cases where we are not indemnified, the unrecorded contingencies are not material. Other Loss Contingencies Laureate has accrued liabilities for certain civil actions against our institutions, a portion of which existed prior to our acquisition of these entities. Laureate intends to vigorously defend against these matters. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, approximately $7,200 and $8,300, respectively, of loss contingencies were included in Other long-term liabilities and Other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Guarantees In connection with a loan agreement entered into by a Laureate subsidiary in Peru, all of the shares of Universidad Privada del Norte, one of our universities, were pledged to the third-party lender as a guarantee of the payment obligations under the loan. During the first quarter of 2021, one of our Peruvian institutions issued a bank guarantee in order to appeal a preliminary tax assessment received related to tax audits of 2014 and 2015. As of December 31, 2021, the amount of the guarantee was PEN 23,411 ($5,885 at December 31, 2021). Standby Letters of Credit As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, Laureate's outstanding letters of credit (LOCs) primarily consisted of the items discussed below. As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately $83,600 posted as a LOC in favor of the DOE, and the restricted cash used to collateralize this LOC was held by a corporate entity. Prior to the sale of Walden, this LOC was required to allow Walden to participate in the DOE Title IV program. The Walden sale closed during the third quarter of 2021, and this restricted cash was released during the fourth quarter. Spanish Tax Audits As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had approximately $10,700 and $11,500, respectively, posted as cash collateral for LOCs related to the Spanish tax audits. This was recorded in Continuing Operations and classified as Restricted cash on our December 31, 2021 and 2020 Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cash collateral is related to final assessments issued by the Spanish Taxing Authority (STA) in October 2018 and January 2020 to Iniciativas Culturales de España, S.L. (ICE), our former Spanish holding company. During the second quarter of 2020, ICE was migrated to the Netherlands, and its name was changed to Laureate Netherlands Holding B.V. In October 2021, the Company made a payment to the STA of approximately $9,300, in order to reduce the amount of future interest that could be incurred as the appeals process continues. Following the payment, the LOCs are no longer required and therefore are expected to be released during the first half of 2022.