Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia
Australia: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 12.78 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia stood at 12.78 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia peaked at 12.78 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 11.48 years, in 2000.
Australia ranks 25th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.49 years | — |
| 1991 | 11.52 years | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 11.54 years | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 11.57 years | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 11.59 years | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 11.62 years | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 11.59 years | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 11.56 years | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 11.54 years | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 11.51 years | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 11.48 years | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 11.53 years | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 11.58 years | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 11.62 years | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 11.67 years | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 11.69 years | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 11.73 years | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 11.79 years | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 11.97 years | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 12.01 years | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 12.03 years | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 12.08 years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 12.28 years | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 12 years | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 12.2 years | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 12.26 years | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 12.34 years | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 12.29 years | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 12.39 years | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 12.52 years | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 12.56 years | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 12.72 years | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 12.78 years | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 12.78 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.55 years | 11.49 years | 11.62 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.71 years | 11.48 years | 12.01 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.24 years | 12 years | 12.52 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.71 years | 12.56 years | 12.78 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3914 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0406 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.17 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4786 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0429 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.4191 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 105,469 (1999)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8279 % change on previous year (1999)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Australia was 12.78 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.78 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.48 years in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Australia ranks 25th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) men over 25 years participated in formal education.