Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) Per Share Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 60,718	$ (283,080)	$ (320,598)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	595	(11,839)	17
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	61,313	(294,919)	(320,581)
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	0	(88)	149
Net income (loss) from continuing operations available to common stockholders for basic and diluted earnings per share	61,313	(295,007)	(320,432)
Numerator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	8,260	486,865	(298,104)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	500	5,354
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations for basic earnings per share	8,260	487,365	(292,750)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations for diluted earnings per share	$ 8,260	$ 487,365	$ (292,750)
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	167,670	189,692	209,710
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	168,268	189,692	209,710
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)
Stock options, net of estimated forfeitures
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Effect of dilutive stock (in shares)	310	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Effect of dilutive stock (in shares)	288	0	0