Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia

Australia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 1.68 million number in 2018. β—† Volatile

Latest (2018)
1.68 million number
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
27th
of 193 countries
All-time high
1.92 million number
in 2016
All-time low
179,664 number
in 1970
Years of data
32
1970–2018

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia, 1970–2018

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1970199420181970: 179.7k number1971: 193.5k number1972: 208.1k number1973: 223.9k number1974: 253.0k number1975: 274.7k number1976: 289.7k number1977: 300.0k number1978: 309.8k number1979: 317.5k number1980: 323.7k number1981: 334.0k number1982: 338.0k number1983: 349.2k number1984: 358.5k number1985: 370.0k number1986: 390.7k number1987: 393.7k number1988: 420.8k number1989: 441.1k number1990: 485.1k number1991: 534.5k number1992: 559.4k number1993: 922.7k number1994: 933.0k number1995: 965.0k number1996: 1.0M number1997: 1.0M number2015: 1.9M number2016: 1.9M number2017: 1.8M number2018: 1.7M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia is 1.68 million number, measured in 2018.

The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 11.9% over five years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia peaked at 1.92 million number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 179,664 number, in 1970.

Australia ranks 27th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 254,992 number 179,664 number 317,496 number 10
1980s 371,985 number 323,716 number 441,076 number 10
1990s 805,471 number 485,075 number 1.04 million number 8
2010s 1.82 million number 1.68 million number 1.92 million number 4

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 24 Italy 1.90 million number compare
  2. 25 Peru 1.90 million number compare
  3. 26 Pakistan 1.88 million number compare
  4. 28 Saudi Arabia 1.65 million number compare
  5. 29 Canada 1.62 million number compare
  6. 30 Ukraine 1.60 million number compare

See the full ranking of 238 places β†’

More education data for Australia

All data for Australia β†’

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 1.68 million number in 2018, 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 number in 2016.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 179,664 number in 1970.
How does Australia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Australia ranks 27th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
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.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/australia/

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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

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