Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,242,271	$ 1,086,701	$ 1,024,917
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	907,365	814,490	802,458
General and administrative expenses	64,750	204,370	199,790
Loss on impairment of assets	144	72,488	351,971
Operating income (loss)	270,012	(4,647)	(329,302)
Interest income	7,567	4,378	2,169
Interest expense	(16,418)	(46,275)	(100,894)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(77,940)	(610)
Loss on derivatives, net	0	(24,517)	(25,980)
Other income (expense), net	770	(1,695)	(2,420)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(17,444)	13,791	13,474
Gain (loss) on disposals of subsidiaries, net	1,364	(602)	(7,276)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	245,851	(137,507)	(450,839)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(185,391)	(145,573)	130,069
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	258	0	172
Income (loss) from continuing operations	60,718	(283,080)	(320,598)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit (expense) of $508, $(234,326) and $(114,257), respectively	8,260	486,865	(298,104)
Net income (loss)	68,978	203,785	(618,702)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	595	(11,339)	5,371
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 69,573	$ 192,446	$ (613,331)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ (1.56)	$ (1.53)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0.05	2.57	(1.40)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.42	1.01	(2.93)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.36	(1.56)	(1.53)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.05	2.57	(1.40)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 1.01	$ (2.93)