Australia's educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) was 52.42% in 2024, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 8.17 percentage points from 44.26% in 2014.
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 52.42% | 2024 |
| Five years earlier | 49.62% | 2019 |
| Ten years earlier | 44.26% | 2014 |
| Highest | 53.86% | 2022 |
| Lowest | 21.5% | 1971 |
| Average since 2015 | 49.93% | 2015–2024 |
| First recorded | 21.5% | 1971 |
What the numbers say
In 2024, Australia's educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) rose 0.76 percentage points on 2023 (from 51.67% to 52.42%).
Across the 19 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2023), the average change was +0.96 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 1.81 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.1 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3.76 percentage points in 2012 and the biggest yearly fall was 4.82 percentage points in 2013. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.88 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 86% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2024, Australia had the 4th highest value of the 15 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
Closest to Australia in the 2024 ranking
- Canada — 1st of 15: 68.85%
- United Arab Emirates — 2nd of 15: 56.99%
- Georgia — 3rd of 15: 52.86%
- South Africa — 5th of 15: 50.66%
- United States — 6th of 15: 49.83%
- Korea, Rep. — 7th of 15: 49.56%
What this measures
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.
Limitations: Caution is required when using this indicator for cross-country comparison, since the countries do not always classify degrees and qualifications at the same International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) levels, even if they are received at roughly the same age or after a similar number of years of schooling. Also, certain educational programmes and study courses cannot be easily classified according to ISCED. This indicator only measures educational attainment in terms of level of education attained, i.e. years of schooling, and does not necessarily reveal the quality of the education (learning achievement and other impacts).
All 23 values
| Year | Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 52.42 |
| 2023 | 51.67 |
| 2022 | 53.86 |
| 2021 | 52.37 |
| 2020 | 51.56 |
| 2019 | 49.62 |
| 2018 | 48.3 |
| 2017 | 47.67 |
| 2016 | 46.47 |
| 2015 | 45.35 |
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in nearby economies
- Brunei Darussalam — 38.85% (2023)
- Cambodia — 6.81% (2023)
- Hong Kong SAR, China — 32.43% (2022)
- Korea, Rep. — 49.56% (2024)
- Malaysia — 25.64% (2022)
- New Zealand — 51.05% (2020)
- Philippines — 26.07% (2022)
More education data for Australia
- Primary school starting age (years) — 5 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils — 2.27 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
- Secondary education, general pupils — 1.68 million (2017)
- Secondary education, general pupils (% female) — 49.5% (2017)
- Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.67% (2017)
- School enrollment, primary (% net)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Australia's educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)?
- 52.42% in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1971?
- It is up 30.92 percentage points from 21.5% in 1971. The highest value was 53.86% in 2022 and the lowest 21.5% in 1971.
- How does Australia rank?
- 4th highest of 15 economies with data for 2024.
- Is the latest change in educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) unusual for Australia?
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.SEC.CUAT.PO.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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