School enrollment, primary in Australia
Australia: School enrollment, primary was 96.4% in 2017. ▬ Flat
School enrollment, primary in Australia, 1971–2017
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % net.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in Australia is 96.4%, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Australia peaked at 100.0% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 93.9%, in 2001.
That places Australia 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
School enrollment, primary in Australia, year by year
| Year | % net | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 96.5% | — |
| 1973 | 95.2% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 94.5% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 97.3% | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 98.3% | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 100.0% | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 99.1% | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 98.1% | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 96.3% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 96.3% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 97.0% | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 97.6% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 98.2% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 98.4% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 98.0% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 97.4% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 97.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 96.7% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 96.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 95.0% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 95.4% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 95.0% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 94.8% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 94.4% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 94.4% | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 93.9% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 93.9% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 94.9% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 95.2% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 95.5% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 95.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 96.4% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 96.5% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 96.7% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 97.0% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 97.6% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 97.9% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 97.4% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 97.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 97.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 96.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 96.4% | -0.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 96.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 95.7%, 1.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 96.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 94.7%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 97.7% | 94.5% | 100.0% | 8 |
| 1980s | 98.1% | 96.3% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 96.0% | 94.4% | 98.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 95.3% | 93.9% | 96.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.1% | 96.4% | 97.9% | 8 |
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 school enrollment, primary in Australia?
- School enrollment, primary in Australia was 96.4% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1978.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.9% in 2001.
- How does Australia rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Australia ranks 51st out of 186 countries with data for 2017.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.