Share of population with no formal education in Australia
Australia: Share of population with no formal education was 0.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population with no formal education in Australia, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population with no formal education in Australia is 0.9%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 80.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in Australia peaked at 50.9% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2010.
Australia ranks 90th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population with no formal education in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 50.9% | — |
| 1875 | 46.3% | -9.0% |
| 1880 | 41.8% | -9.7% |
| 1885 | 36.2% | -13.4% |
| 1890 | 29.8% | -17.7% |
| 1895 | 24.8% | -16.8% |
| 1900 | 24.9% | +0.4% |
| 1905 | 22.3% | -10.4% |
| 1910 | 17.7% | -20.6% |
| 1915 | 14.3% | -19.2% |
| 1920 | 11.3% | -21.0% |
| 1925 | 9.3% | -17.7% |
| 1930 | 7.1% | -23.7% |
| 1935 | 5.1% | -28.2% |
| 1940 | 3.7% | -27.5% |
| 1945 | 2.3% | -37.8% |
| 1950 | 1.2% | -47.8% |
| 1955 | 1.0% | -16.7% |
| 1960 | 0.8% | -20.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 1970 | 0.6% | -14.3% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | +66.7% |
| 1980 | 0.7% | -30.0% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | +42.9% |
| 1990 | 0.9% | -10.0% |
| 1995 | 1.1% | +22.2% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -27.3% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | -25.0% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -16.7% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | +40.0% |
| 2020 | 0.9% | +28.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 48.6% | 46.3% | 50.9% | 2 |
| 1880s | 39.0% | 36.2% | 41.8% | 2 |
| 1890s | 27.3% | 24.8% | 29.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 23.6% | 22.3% | 24.9% | 2 |
| 1910s | 16.0% | 14.3% | 17.7% | 2 |
| 1920s | 10.3% | 9.3% | 11.3% | 2 |
| 1930s | 6.1% | 5.1% | 7.1% | 2 |
| 1940s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.1% | 1.0% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.4191 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 105,469 (1999)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8279 % change on previous year (1999)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.26 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.579 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with no formal education in Australia?
- Share of population with no formal education in Australia was 0.9% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 50.9% in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for share of population with no formal education?
- Australia ranks 90th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.