Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia
Australia: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 48.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
Australia recorded 48.8% for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia peaked at 49.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 31.0%, in 2004.
That places Australia 13th out of 108 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 33.2% | — |
| 2004 | 31.0% | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 32.9% | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 33.9% | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 35.8% | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 37.3% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 38.5% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 38.8% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 42.8% | +10.4% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 41.0% | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 41.3% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 42.8% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 43.4% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 45.5% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 46.8% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 48.1% | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 49.1% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 47.5% | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 48.8% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.2% | 33.2% | 33.2% | 1 |
| 2000s | 33.9% | 31.0% | 37.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 41.5% | 37.5% | 45.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.1% | 46.8% | 49.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 79,796 (1997)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 23,978 (1997)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 6.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 781,455 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 7.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia?
- Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Australia was 48.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 49.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.0% in 2004.
- How does Australia rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- Australia ranks 13th out of 108 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.