Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,086,701	$ 1,024,917	$ 1,212,070
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	814,490	802,458	949,471
General and administrative expenses	204,370	199,790	226,331
Loss on impairment of assets	72,488	351,971	248
Operating (loss) income	(4,647)	(329,302)	36,020
Interest income	4,378	2,169	3,294
Interest expense	(46,275)	(100,894)	(125,042)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(77,940)	(610)	(22,601)
(Loss) gain on derivatives	(24,517)	(25,980)	8,300
Other (expense) income, net	(1,695)	(2,420)	8,922
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net	13,791	13,474	(8,125)
Loss on disposals of subsidiaries, net	(602)	(7,276)	(20,429)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	(137,507)	(450,839)	(119,661)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(145,573)	130,069	(31,041)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	0	172	219
Loss from continuing operations	(283,080)	(320,598)	(150,483)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $234,326, $114,257 and $33,681, respectively	486,865	(298,104)	1,088,147
Net income (loss)	203,785	(618,702)	937,664
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11,339)	5,371	820
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 192,446	$ (613,331)	$ 938,484
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Loss from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.56)	$ (1.53)	$ (0.68)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	2.57	(1.40)	4.91
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.01	(2.93)	4.23
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ (2.93)	$ 4.23