Greater Sydney
Education institution attending
In 2021, 159,722 females in Greater Sydney were attending university. This represents 6.0% of the population, compared to 5.2% in Queensland.
The share of Greater Sydney's population attending educational institutions reflects the age structure of the population, as it is influenced by the number of children attending school; proximity to tertiary education, which can mean young adults leaving home to be nearer to educational facilities and; the degree to which people are seeking out educational opportunities in adulthood, especially in their late teens and early twenties.
This data is often combined with Age Structure to identify areas with significant university student populations.
Derived from the Census question:
'What type of educational institution is the person attending?'
Total population
| Education institution attending | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Sydney - Total females (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Type of institution | Number | % | Queensland % | Number | % | Queensland % | 2011 to 2021 | |
| Pre-school | 51,574 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 7001 | 37,812 | 1.7 | 1.1 | +13,762 |
| Primary school | 207,684 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 7002 | 166,382 | 7.5 | 8.4 | +41,302 |
| Primary - Government | 140,417 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 7003 | 109,870 | 4.9 | 5.7 | +30,547 |
| Primary - Catholic | 40,154 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 7004 | 35,897 | 1.6 | 1.6 | +4,257 |
| Primary - Independent | 27,113 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7005 | 20,615 | 0.9 | 1.1 | +6,498 |
| Secondary school | 166,518 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 7006 | 139,632 | 6.3 | 5.9 | +26,886 |
| Secondary - Government | 89,467 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 7007 | 78,405 | 3.5 | 3.5 | +11,062 |
| Secondary - Catholic | 42,894 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 7008 | 36,183 | 1.6 | 1.2 | +6,711 |
| Secondary - Independent | 34,157 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 7009 | 25,044 | 1.1 | 1.2 | +9,113 |
| TAFE/Vocational | 73,730 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 7010 | 54,318 | 2.4 | 2.1 | +19,412 |
| University | 159,722 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 7011 | 125,143 | 5.6 | 4.7 | +34,579 |
| Other | 31,829 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 7012 | 22,930 | 1.0 | 0.8 | +8,899 |
| Not attending | 1,821,731 | 68.9 | 69.4 | 7013 | 1,531,457 | 68.7 | 70.3 | +290,274 |
| Not stated | 133,107 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 7014 | 151,799 | 6.8 | 6.6 | -18,692 |
| Total | 2,645,895 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 2,229,473 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +416,422 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
Analysis of the share of the female population attending educational institutions in Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a similar proportion attending primary school, a similar proportion attending secondary school, and a higher proportion engaged in tertiary level education.
Overall, 7.8% of the female population were attending primary school, 6.3% of the female population were attending secondary institutions, and 8.8% were learning at a tertiary level, compared with 8.0%, 6.6% and 7.7% respectively for Queensland.
There were no major differences between Greater Sydney and Queensland in 2021.
Emerging groups
From 2011 to 2021, Greater Sydney's female population increased by 416,422 people (+18.7%). This represents an average annual change of 1.73% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the number of females attending education institutions in Greater Sydney, between 2011 and 2021 were in those who nominated:
- Primary school (+41,302 females)
- University (+34,579 females)
- Primary - Government (+30,547 females)
- Secondary school (+26,886 females)