Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia
Australia: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 3.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia is 3.64 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia peaked at 3.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.93 million, in 2000.
Australia ranks 62nd of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.93 million | — |
| 2001 | 2.96 million | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 2.97 million | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 2.98 million | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 2.99 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 3.00 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 3.01 million | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 3.02 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 3.02 million | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 3.03 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.04 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 3.06 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 3.08 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 3.12 million | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 3.16 million | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 3.21 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 3.26 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 3.32 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 3.37 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.43 million | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 3.49 million | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 3.53 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 3.57 million | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 3.61 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 3.64 million | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.99 million | 2.93 million | 3.03 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.21 million | 3.04 million | 3.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.57 million | 3.49 million | 3.64 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 59 Zambia 3.94 million compare
- 60 Republic of Korea 3.87 million compare
- 61 Sri Lanka 3.81 million compare
- 63 Kazakhstan 3.54 million compare
- 64 Poland 3.52 million compare
- 65 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 3.41 million compare
More education data for Australia
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.2746 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 609,231 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 2.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 79,796 (1997)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 23,978 (1997)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 6.55 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Australia was 3.64 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.64 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.93 million in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 62nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release