Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia

Australia: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 43.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
43.8%
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
13th
of 129 countries
All-time high
44.0%
in 2022
All-time low
29.0%
in 2004
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia, 2001–2024

0102030402001201220242001: 29.2 cumulative2002: 29.5 cumulative2003: 29.8 cumulative2004: 29 cumulative2005: 30.2 cumulative2006: 30.6 cumulative2007: 31.4 cumulative2008: 32.7 cumulative2009: 33.8 cumulative2010: 34.1 cumulative2011: 34.6 cumulative2012: 37.6 cumulative2013: 33.5 cumulative2014: 36.7 cumulative2015: 36.8 cumulative2016: 38 cumulative2017: 38.3 cumulative2018: 38.7 cumulative2019: 40.5 cumulative2020: 41.8 cumulative2021: 42.6 cumulative2022: 44 cumulative2023: 42.3 cumulative2024: 43.8 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia is 43.8%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia peaked at 44.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 29.0%, in 2004.

That places Australia 13th out of 129 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Australia, 2001 to 2024.
Year cumulative Change
2001 29.2%
2002 29.5% +1.0%
2003 29.8% +1.0%
2004 29.0% -2.5%
2005 30.2% +4.1%
2006 30.6% +1.3%
2007 31.4% +2.5%
2008 32.7% +4.0%
2009 33.8% +3.6%
2010 34.1% +0.9%
2011 34.6% +1.4%
2012 37.6% +8.6%
2013 33.5% -10.8%
2014 36.7% +9.7%
2015 36.8% +0.1%
2016 38.0% +3.3%
2017 38.3% +0.9%
2018 38.7% +0.9%
2019 40.5% +4.7%
2020 41.8% +3.1%
2021 42.6% +1.9%
2022 44.0% +3.4%
2023 42.3% -3.8%
2024 43.8% +3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.7% 29.0% 33.8% 9
2010s 36.9% 33.5% 40.5% 10
2020s 42.9% 41.8% 44.0% 5

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 10 Canada 45.4% compare
  2. 11 Ireland 45.1% compare
  3. 12 Saudi Arabia 44.6% compare
  4. 14 Ukraine 42.9% compare
  5. 15 Cyprus 42.4% compare
  6. 16 Armenia 41.7% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia was 43.8% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 44.0% in 2022.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 29.0% in 2004.
How does Australia rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Australia ranks 13th out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. 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 short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-male-percent/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
129 places, 2,126 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.