Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 300,999			$ 267,691			$ 895,943	$ 789,971
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	229,361			181,978			655,055	577,141
General and administrative expenses	15,321			47,315			48,752	139,270
Loss on impairment of assets	0			3,292			144	67,161
Operating income	56,317			35,106			191,992	6,399
Interest income	1,970			1,268			5,623	2,456
Interest expense	(3,694)			(3,736)			(11,589)	(40,795)
Other income (expense), net	1,393			(46)			413	(67)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	15,146			6,085			(2,906)	18,749
Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries, net	0			(949)			1,461	(922)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	71,132			37,728			184,994	(116,637)
Income tax expense	(39,280)			(48,118)			(159,213)	(174,163)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	31,852			(10,390)			25,851	(290,800)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense	(816)			370,527			4,064	456,770
Net income	31,036	$ 43,559	$ (44,680)	360,137	$ (29,224)	$ (164,943)	29,915	165,970
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	81			269			414	508
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 31,117			$ 360,406			$ 30,329	$ 166,478
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19			$ (0.06)			$ 0.15	$ (1.51)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0.19			(0.06)			0.15	(1.51)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0			2.00			0.02	2.37
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0			2.00			0.02	2.37
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.19			1.94			0.17	0.86
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19			$ 1.94			$ 0.17	$ 0.86