Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) Per Share Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
Loss from continuing operations	$ 39,414	$ (115,885)	$ (6,001)	$ (280,410)
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(136)	2	333	27
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	39,278	(115,883)	(5,668)	(280,383)
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	0	(68)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	39,278	(115,951)	(5,668)	(280,471)
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,145	86,661	4,880	86,243
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	222	0	212
Net income from discontinued operations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 4,145	$ 86,883	$ 4,880	$ 86,455
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic weighted average share outstanding (in shares)	167,119	191,990	172,511	196,085
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	167,463	191,990
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Loss from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.60)	$ (0.03)	$ (1.43)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic (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:
Loss from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.23	(0.60)	(0.03)	(1.43)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.45	0.03	0.44
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ (0.15)	$ 0	$ (0.99)
Stock options, net of estimated forfeitures
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of shares	224	0
Dilutive effect of restricted stock units
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of shares	120	0