idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Highest level of schooling

In Greater Sydney, 65.0% of females aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was greater than Queensland.

Greater Sydney'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
Greater Sydney - Total females (Usual residence)20212016Change
Level of schoolingNumber%Queensland %Number%Queensland %2016 to 2021
Year 8 or below78,9923.63.887,1404.34.7-8,148
Year 9 or equivalent92,3724.24.597,1174.84.5-4,745
Year 10 or equivalent328,63915.120.8340,00516.922.5-11,366
Year 11 or equivalent100,1814.67.195,0644.77.4+5,117
Year 12 or equivalent1,414,67165.056.61,207,68960.151.8+206,982
Did not go to school36,2181.70.630,6521.50.5+5,566
Not stated126,8845.86.6151,7147.68.6-24,830
Total persons aged 15+2,177,957100.0100.02,009,381100.0100.0+168,576
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 female population in Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Queensland shows that there was a lower proportion of females who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a higher proportion of females who completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Overall, 24.6% of the female population left school at Year 10 or below, and 65.0% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 29.7% and 56.6% respectively for Queensland.

The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the female population in Greater Sydney and Queensland were:

  • A larger percentage of females who completed year 12 or equivalent (65.0% compared to 56.6%)
  • A larger percentage of females who did not go to school (1.7% compared to 0.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of females who completed year 10 or equivalent (15.1% compared to 20.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of females who completed year 11 or equivalent (4.6% compared to 7.1%)

Emerging groups

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

  • Year 12 or equivalent (+206,982 females)
  • Year 10 or equivalent (-11,366 females)
  • Year 8 or below (-8,148 females)
  • Did not go to school (+5,566 females)

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.