idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Education institution attending

In 2021, 46,472 males in Western Australia were attending university. This represents 3.5% of the population, compared to 4.0% in Australia.

The share of Western Australia'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.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What type of educational institution is the person attending?'

Education institution attending
Western Australia - Total males (Usual residence)20212001Change
Type of institutionNumber%Australia %Number%Australia %2001 to 2021
Pre-school23,5791.82.014,0251.51.6+9,554
Primary school113,9538.68.594,14410.39.8+19,809
Primary - Government80,6826.15.969,4487.67.1+11,234
Primary - Catholic18,4521.41.616,3761.81.9+2,076
Primary - Independent14,8191.11.08,3200.90.9+6,499
Secondary school89,6446.86.659,2846.56.8+30,360
Secondary - Government52,9504.03.837,7634.14.3+15,187
Secondary - Catholic18,2201.41.511,5831.31.4+6,637
Secondary - Independent18,4741.41.39,9381.11.1+8,536
TAFE/Vocational26,7192.02.225,1692.82.6+1,550
University46,4723.54.031,0483.43.5+15,424
Other9,9850.80.85,1550.60.6+4,830
Not attending917,49569.469.8638,53070.070.1+278,965
Not stated94,9947.26.144,3374.94.9+50,657
Total1,322,841100.0100.0911,692100.0100.0+411,149
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the share of the male population attending educational institutions in Western Australia in 2021 compared to Australia shows that there was a similar proportion attending primary school, a similar proportion attending secondary school, and a lower proportion engaged in tertiary level education.

Overall, 8.6% of the male population were attending primary school, 6.8% of the male population were attending secondary institutions, and 5.5% were learning at a tertiary level, compared with 8.5%, 6.6% and 6.1% respectively for Australia.

There were no major differences between Western Australia and Australia in 2021.

Emerging groups

From 2001 to 2021, Western Australia's male population increased by 411,149 people (+45.1%). This represents an average annual change of 1.88% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the number of males attending education institutions in Western Australia, between 2001 and 2021 were in those who nominated:

  • Secondary school (+30,360 males)
  • Primary school (+19,809 males)
  • University (+15,424 males)
  • Secondary - Government (+15,187 males)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.