How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Italy?

30 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Australia vs Italy: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

Australia

1.68 million number

in 2018

Italy

1.90 million number

in 2018

Australia rank

27th

Italy rank

24th

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

Australia
Italy

How they compare

Italy currently reports 1.90 million number against 1.68 million number in Australia, a difference of 218,750 number.

That makes Italy's figure about 1.1 times Australia's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 30 shared years of data; in 1971 it was Italy ahead.

Australia ranks 27th and Italy ranks 24th of 193 countries.

Italy has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Australia	Italy	Difference	Ahead
1970s	263,362 number	911,395 number	648,033 number	Italy
1980s	375,766 number	1.16 million number	787,722 number	Italy
1990s	805,471 number	1.65 million number	843,104 number	Italy
2010s	1.82 million number	1.84 million number	25,328 number	Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, Australia or Italy?: Italy, at 1.90 million number against 1.68 million number in Australia as of 2018.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between Australia and Italy?: 218,750 number, with Italy ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Italy?: 30 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2018.
How do Australia and Italy rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?: Australia ranks 27th and Italy ranks 24th of 193 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs Italy: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/australia/italy/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/australia/italy/">Australia vs Italy: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed: 21 August 2026

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.