Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 361,533	$ 300,999	$ 1,074,855	$ 895,943
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	291,052	229,361	810,362	655,055
General and administrative expenses	11,772	15,321	34,046	48,752
Loss on impairment of assets			1,620	144
Operating income	58,709	56,317	228,827	191,992
Interest income	2,830	1,970	6,939	5,623
Interest expense	(5,169)	(3,694)	(17,258)	(11,589)
Other income, net	66	1,393	198	413
Foreign currency exchange loss, net	9,755	15,146	(51,554)	(2,906)
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries, net	3,260	0	3,567	1,461
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	69,451	71,132
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	69,451	71,132	170,719	184,994
Income tax expense	(33,716)	(39,280)	(101,379)	(159,213)
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates, net of tax			(3)	70
Income from continuing operations	35,735	31,852	69,337	25,851
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax of $0 for both periods	246	(816)	(3,805)	4,064
Net income	35,981	31,036	65,532	29,915
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	177	81	196	414
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	$ 36,158	$ 31,117	$ 65,728	$ 30,329
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.19	$ 0.44	$ 0.15
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic (in dollars per share)	0	0	(0.02)	0.02
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.23	0.19	0.42	0.17
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0.23	0.19	0.44	0.15
Income (loss) income from discontinued operations, diluted (in dollars per share)	0	0	(0.02)	0.02
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.19	$ 0.42	$ 0.17

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.