Stockholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 1,044,888	$ 1,139,558	$ 1,893,489	$ 2,263,934
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Laureate Education, Inc
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(479,899)	(529,472)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	948	946
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(478,951)	(528,526)
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416	10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416	10,416
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Laureate Education Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,134)	(1,148)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,134)	(1,148)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(470,617)	(520,204)	$ (1,001,897)	$ (941,986)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	948	946
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (469,669)	$ (519,258)