Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Australia
Australia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.83 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Australia recorded 1.83 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia peaked at 1.92 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 179,664, in 1970.
That places Australia 29th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 179,664 | — |
| 1971 | 193,532 | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 208,149 | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 223,855 | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 252,972 | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 274,738 | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 289,701 | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 300,030 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 309,783 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 317,496 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 323,716 | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 334,030 | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 337,953 | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 349,243 | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 358,498 | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 370,048 | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 390,706 | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 393,734 | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 420,845 | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 441,076 | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 485,075 | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 534,530 | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 559,365 | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 922,699 | +65.0% |
| 1994 | 932,969 | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 964,998 | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 1.00 million | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 1.04 million | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 1.90 million | +82.7% |
| 2016 | 1.92 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.77 million | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 1.68 million | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 1.79 million | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 1.76 million | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.73 million | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 1.66 million | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 1.72 million | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 1.83 million | +6.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.83 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 11.5× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.83 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 17.8× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +82.7% | 1.04 million | 1.90 million |
| 1993 | +65.0% | 559,365 | 922,699 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 254,992 | 179,664 | 317,496 | 10 |
| 1980s | 371,985 | 323,716 | 441,076 | 10 |
| 1990s | 805,471 | 485,075 | 1.04 million | 8 |
| 2010s | 1.81 million | 1.68 million | 1.92 million | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.74 million | 1.66 million | 1.83 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 104,110 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 316,638 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 292,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4362 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0835 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia was 1.83 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.92 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 179,664 in 1970.
- How does Australia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release