Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 385,381	$ 327,579	$ 594,944	$ 522,280
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	242,814	213,315	425,694	395,163
General and administrative expenses	15,926	49,361	33,431	91,955
Loss on impairment of assets	0	7,219	144	63,869
Operating income (loss)	126,641	57,684	135,675	(28,707)
Interest income	1,685	477	3,653	1,188
Interest expense	(4,164)	(13,541)	(7,895)	(37,059)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(77,927)	0	(77,940)
Loss on derivatives	0	(53,847)	0	(24,517)
Other expense, net	246	(55)	(980)	(21)
Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)	(14,451)	(15,519)	(18,052)	12,664
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries, net	1,461	27	1,461	27
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	111,418	(102,701)	113,862	(154,365)
Income tax expense	(71,966)	(13,184)	(119,933)	(126,045)
Equity in net loss of affiliates, net of tax	(38)	0	70	0
Loss from continuing operations	39,414	(115,885)	(6,001)	(280,410)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $0 and $8,602, respectively	4,145	86,661	4,880	86,243
Net loss	43,559	(29,224)	(1,121)	(194,167)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(136)	224	333	239
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 43,423	$ (29,000)	$ (788)	$ (193,928)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Loss from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.60)	$ (0.03)	$ (1.43)
Loss from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.23	(0.60)	(0.03)	(1.43)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.45	0.03	0.44
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.45	0.03	0.44
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.26	(0.15)	0	(0.99)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ (0.15)	$ 0	$ (0.99)