Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Australia
Australia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 948,506 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Australia, 1970–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Australia recorded 948,506 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in 2018.
The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and down 13.5% over five years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Australia peaked at 1.10 million number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 58,771 number, in 1970.
That places Australia 27th out of 187 countries with data for 2018, 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, female in Australia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 58,771 number | — |
| 1971 | 66,091 number | +12.5% |
| 1972 | 73,354 number | +11.0% |
| 1973 | 81,808 number | +11.5% |
| 1974 | 98,269 number | +20.1% |
| 1975 | 111,596 number | +13.6% |
| 1976 | 123,098 number | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 128,667 number | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 135,896 number | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 141,979 number | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 146,676 number | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 150,825 number | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 154,133 number | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 161,419 number | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 166,797 number | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 176,178 number | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 190,387 number | +8.1% |
| 1987 | 197,350 number | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 215,026 number | +9.0% |
| 1989 | 229,791 number | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 255,655 number | +11.3% |
| 1991 | 284,862 number | +11.4% |
| 1992 | 298,812 number | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 450,561 number | +50.8% |
| 1994 | 460,307 number | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 483,596 number | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 507,091 number | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 529,335 number | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 1.10 million number | +107.2% |
| 2016 | 1.10 million number | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 1.02 million number | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 948,506 number | -7.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 948,506 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,350 number, 9.7× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Australia's 948,506 number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 104,254 number, 9.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female 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 | +107.2% | 529,335 number | 1.10 million number |
| 1993 | +50.8% | 298,812 number | 450,561 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 101,953 number | 58,771 number | 141,979 number | 10 |
| 1980s | 178,858 number | 146,676 number | 229,791 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 408,777 number | 255,655 number | 529,335 number | 8 |
| 2010s | 1.04 million number | 948,506 number | 1.10 million number | 4 |
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, female in Australia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Australia was 948,506 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.10 million number in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 58,771 number in 1970.
- How does Australia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Australia ranks 27th out of 187 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total number of female students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.