Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,484,288	$ 1,242,271	$ 1,086,701
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	1,089,781	907,365	814,490
General and administrative expenses	52,612	64,750	204,370
Loss on impairment of assets	3,073	144	72,488
Operating income (loss)	338,822	270,012	(4,647)
Interest income	9,085	7,567	4,378
Interest expense	(20,986)	(16,418)	(46,275)
Other (expense) income, net	(325)	770	(1,695)
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(75,702)	(17,444)	13,791
Gain (loss) on disposals of subsidiaries, net	3,567	1,364	(602)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	0	(77,940)
Loss on derivatives, net	0	0	(24,517)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	254,461	245,851	(137,507)
Income tax expense	(137,603)	(185,391)	(145,573)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	171	258	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	117,029	60,718	(283,080)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit (expense) of $0, $508 and $(234,326), respectively	(9,762)	8,260	486,865
Net income	107,267	68,978	203,785
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	323	595	(11,339)
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 107,590	$ 69,573	$ 192,446
Basic earnings per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.37	$ (1.56)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	0.05	2.57
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.69	0.42	1.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.74	0.36	(1.56)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.06)	0.05	2.57
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.41	$ 1.01