Greater Adelaide
Education institution attending
In 2016, 73,789 people in Greater Adelaide were attending university. This represents 5.7% of the population, compared to 5.0% in Australia.
The share of Greater Adelaide'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 Adelaide - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2001 | Change | |||||
| Type of institution | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2001 to 2016 | |
| Pre-school | 15,949 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 7001 | 13,414 | 1.2 | 1.5 | +2,535 |
| Primary school | 110,304 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 7002 | 108,276 | 9.7 | 9.4 | +2,028 |
| Primary - Government | 70,299 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 7003 | 72,709 | 6.5 | 6.7 | -2,410 |
| Primary - Catholic | 21,916 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 7004 | 20,387 | 1.8 | 1.8 | +1,529 |
| Primary - Independent | 18,089 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 7005 | 15,178 | 1.4 | 0.9 | +2,911 |
| Secondary school | 72,731 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 7006 | 68,127 | 6.1 | 6.8 | +4,604 |
| Secondary - Government | 37,340 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 7007 | 40,059 | 3.6 | 4.2 | -2,719 |
| Secondary - Catholic | 17,152 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 7008 | 13,993 | 1.3 | 1.4 | +3,159 |
| Secondary - Independent | 18,239 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 7009 | 14,073 | 1.3 | 1.1 | +4,166 |
| TAFE/Vocational | 25,722 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 7010 | 28,807 | 2.6 | 2.6 | -3,085 |
| University | 73,789 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 7011 | 46,078 | 4.1 | 3.8 | +27,711 |
| Other | 9,748 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 7012 | 9,352 | 0.8 | 0.8 | +396 |
| Not attending | 913,568 | 70.5 | 69.2 | 7013 | 803,093 | 72.0 | 70.3 | +110,475 |
| Not stated | 73,908 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 7014 | 38,170 | 3.4 | 4.8 | +35,738 |
| Total | 1,295,719 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,115,317 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +180,402 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2001 and 2016. 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 population attending educational institutions in Greater Adelaide in 2016 compared to Australia shows that there was a similar proportion attending primary school, a lower proportion attending secondary school, and a higher proportion engaged in tertiary level education.
Overall, 8.5% of the population were attending primary school, 5.6% of the population were attending secondary institutions, and 7.7% were learning at a tertiary level, compared with 8.2%, 6.2% and 6.8% respectively for Australia.
The major difference between the share of the population attending learning institutions in Greater Adelaide and Australia was:
- A larger percentage of persons not attending (70.5% compared to 69.2%)
Emerging groups
From 2001 to 2016, Greater Adelaide's population increased by 180,406 people (+16.2%). This represents an average annual change of 1.0% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the number of persons attending education institutions in Greater Adelaide, between 2001 and 2016 were in those who nominated:
- University (+27,711 persons)
- Secondary school (+4,604 persons)
- Secondary - Independent (+4,166 persons)
- Secondary - Catholic (+3,159 persons)