Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Australia
Australia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.68 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Australia, 1970–2018
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.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Australia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 179,664 number | — |
| 1971 | 193,532 number | +7.7% |
| 1972 | 208,149 number | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 223,855 number | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 252,972 number | +13.0% |
| 1975 | 274,738 number | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 289,701 number | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 300,030 number | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 309,783 number | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 317,496 number | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 323,716 number | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 334,030 number | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 337,953 number | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 349,243 number | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 358,498 number | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 370,048 number | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 390,706 number | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 393,734 number | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 420,845 number | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 441,076 number | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 485,075 number | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 534,530 number | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 559,365 number | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 922,699 number | +65.0% |
| 1994 | 932,969 number | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 964,998 number | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 1.00 million number | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 1.04 million number | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 1.90 million number | +82.7% |
| 2016 | 1.92 million number | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.77 million number | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 1.68 million number | -5.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.68 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 10.2× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.68 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 176,648 number, 9.5× the median. (28 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 number | 1.90 million number |
| 1993 | +65.0% | 559,365 number | 922,699 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Australia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.9 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.88 (2024)
- 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)
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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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.