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AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Highest level of schooling

In Australia, 56.8% of people aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was greater than Greater Darwin.

Australia's school completion data is a useful indicator of socio-economic status. With other indicators, such as Proficiency in English, the data informs planners and decision-makers about people's ability to access services. Combined with Educational Qualifications it also allows assessment of the skill base of the population.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?'

Highest level of secondary schooling completed
Australia - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Level of schoolingNumber%Greater Darwin %Number%Greater Darwin %2016 to 2021
Year 8 or below820,2363.92.9913,8214.83.1-93,585
Year 9 or equivalent1,075,1455.23.91,063,2575.63.9+11,888
Year 10 or equivalent3,722,92817.915.73,649,44519.216.6+73,483
Year 11 or equivalent1,808,2378.711.01,724,9679.111.6+83,270
Year 12 or equivalent11,795,94456.856.09,879,96151.950.2+1,915,983
Did not go to school200,7521.00.8164,6930.90.6+36,059
Not stated1,361,5426.69.61,641,1598.614.0-279,617
Total persons aged 15+20,784,784100.0100.019,037,303100.0100.0+1,747,481
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the highest level of schooling attained by the population in Australia in 2021 compared to Greater Darwin shows that there was a higher proportion of people who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) as well as a higher proportion of people who completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Overall, 28.0% of the population left school at Year 10 or below, and 56.8% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 23.3% and 56.0% respectively for Greater Darwin.

The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the population in Australia and Greater Darwin were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 10 or equivalent (17.9% compared to 15.7%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 9 or equivalent (5.2% compared to 3.9%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 8 or below (3.9% compared to 2.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 11 or equivalent (8.7% compared to 11.0%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the level of schooling attained by the population in Australia, between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Year 12 or equivalent (+1,915,983 persons)
  • Year 8 or below (-93,585 persons)
  • Year 11 or equivalent (+83,270 persons)
  • Year 10 or equivalent (+73,483 persons)

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