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Related Party Transactions (Details) ر.س in Thousands, د.م. in Thousands, ¥ in Thousands |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 06, 2017 shares | Feb. 22, 2016 CNY (¥) | Dec. 16, 2015 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2017 shares | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares | Jun. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) loan | Dec. 31, 2017 SAR (ر.س) loan | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 27, 2017 | Jan. 19, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 19, 2017 MAD (د.م.) | Mar. 31, 2016 SAR (ر.س) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 32,182,000 |  |  |  | $ 12,118,000 |  | $ 32,182,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 917,000 |  | 613,000 | $ 4,613,000 |  |  |  |  |
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17,443,000 |  | 25,665,000 | 5,351,000 |  |  |  |  |
Payment of dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,371,000 |  | 1,505,000 | 20,472,000 |  |  |  |  |
Payments of deferred purchase price for acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (94,891,000) |  | $ (22,236,000) | (25,582,000) |  |  |  |  |
Laureate Somed Education Holdings SA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
INTI Education Holdings Sdn Bhd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Class A Common Stock | IPO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares | 35,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Series A Preferred Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock dividends declared and paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,052,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Affiliated Entity | INTI Education Holdings Sdn Bhd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment of dividends to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 77,000 |  | $ 550,000 | 450,000 |  |  |  |  |
Affiliated Entity | Series A Preferred Stock | KKR And Snow Phipps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock dividends declared and paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,644,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Affiliated Entity | Series A-2 Preferred Stock | KKR And Snow Phipps |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Majority Shareholder | Notes Payable | Wengen |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note payable to related party |  |  | $ 11,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of related party loan |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Majority Shareholder | Notes Payable | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Wengen |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis spread on variable rate |  |  | 4.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Floor interest rate |  |  | 1.25% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | Chilean Real Estate Subsidiary | UDLA Ecuador |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments of dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,242,000 |  | 955,000 | 1,047,000 |  |  |  |  |
Transactions Between Laureate And Santa Fe University of Arts and Design (SFUAD) | Affiliated Entity | Santa Fe University of Arts and Design (SFUAD) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,250,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction Between Laureate and Sylvan Laureate Foundation | Affiliated Entity | Sylvan Laureate Foundation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction Between Laureate And An Affiliate Of One Of The Wengen Investors | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,768,000 |  | 185,000 | 700,000 |  |  |  |  |
Transaction Between Laureate And An Affiliate Of One Of The Wengen Investors | Affiliated Entity | Class A Common Stock | IPO |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,571,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Notes Payable | Former Executive Officer |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note payable to a former executive |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,280,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Note payable to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,771,000
Transaction Between Laureate and I/O Data Centers, LLC (I/O) | Affiliated Entity | I/O Data Centers, LLC And Affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Costs incurred in transactions with related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000 |  | 900,000 | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Consulting Services Associated With EiP Initiative | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 | 196,000 |  |  |  |  |
Consulting And Market Research | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for services from related parties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 | 158,000 |  |  |  |  |
Clinical Studies | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments for services from related parties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 639,000 |  | 617,000 | 497,000 |  |  |  |  |
Chilean Real Estate Transactions | Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | UDLA Ecuador |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 22,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Repurchase Of Chilean Non-controlling Interest | Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  | $ 36,247,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  | $ 6,085,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions Between Laureate and a VIE Formerly Consolidated | Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other revenues from transactions with related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,927,000 |  | 13,970,000 | 13,879,000 |  |  |  |  |
Transactions Between Laureate and a VIE Formerly Consolidated | Majority-Owned Subsidiary, Unconsolidated | UDLA Ecuador |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,190,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 9,190,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Due from related parties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,273,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,273,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions between Laureate and Noncontrolling Interest Holder of Laureate Somed Education Holding SA | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,936,000 |  |  |  | $ 8,953,000 |  | 7,936,000 |  |  | $ 7,885,000 | د.م. 74,262 |  |
Number of loans made by noncontrolling interest holders (loan) | loan |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party loan, interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.50% | 4.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related parties, current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,016,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related parties, noncurrent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,937,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions between China businesses and Noncontrolling Interest Holders of Hunan International Economics University | Affiliated Entity | Hunan International Economics University |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party transaction, amounts of transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling equity interest pledged in agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Encumbered real property, carrying value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,000,000 |  |  |  | 12,000,000 |  | 12,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions between China businesses and Noncontrolling Interest Holders of Hunan International Economics University | Affiliated Entity | Hunan International Economics University | Pending Litigation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought, noncontrolling interest, ownership by noncontrolling owners |  | 22.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount awarded to other party in the auction |  | ¥ 508,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 77,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Laureate-Obeikan Ltd | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions Between Laureate and Laureate-Obeikan Ltd. | Corporate Joint Venture [Member] | Laureate-Obeikan Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,807,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | ر.س 14,279 |
Note payable to a former executive |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,600,000 | ر.س 6,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due from related parties |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,245,000 |  |  |  | 0 |  | 2,245,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related parties, amounts written offs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 645,000 | ر.س 2,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transactions between Laureate and Noncontrolling Interest Holder of Monash South Africa (MSA) | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Due to related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,020,000 |  |  |  | 3,371,000 |  | 2,020,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Related party loan, interest rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments of deferred purchase price for acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 943,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, LLC (St. Augustine) | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  | $ 24,997,000 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  | $ 0 | $ 3,952,000 |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
HIEU; Hunan Lie Ying Mechanic School; Hunan Lie Ying Property Management Co., Ltd.; And Hunan International Economics University Vocational Skills Training Center | Hunan Lie Ying Industry Co., Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Hunan Lie Ying Industry Co., Ltd | LEI Lie Ying Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 70.00% |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, LLC (St. Augustine) | Affiliated Entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to purchase noncontrolling interests |  |  |  | $ 370,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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