Australia
Education institution attending
In 2016, 1,160,625 people in Australia were attending university. This represents 5.0% of the population, compared to 6.0% in Greater Capital Cities.
The share of 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.
Derived from the Census question:
'What type of educational institution is the person attending?'
Total population
| Education institution attending | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - Total persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Type of institution | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | Number | % | Greater Capital Cities % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Pre-school | 347,625 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 7001 | 332,798 | 1.5 | 1.6 | +14,827 |
| Primary school | 1,926,881 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 7002 | 1,755,011 | 8.2 | 8.0 | +171,870 |
| Primary - Government | 1,314,787 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 7003 | 1,181,593 | 5.5 | 5.3 | +133,194 |
| Primary - Catholic | 380,603 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 7004 | 359,062 | 1.7 | 1.7 | +21,541 |
| Primary - Independent | 231,491 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7005 | 214,356 | 1.0 | 1.1 | +17,135 |
| Secondary school | 1,446,504 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7006 | 1,335,918 | 6.2 | 6.2 | +110,586 |
| Secondary - Government | 827,506 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 7007 | 773,950 | 3.6 | 3.4 | +53,556 |
| Secondary - Catholic | 338,386 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 7008 | 307,143 | 1.4 | 1.5 | +31,243 |
| Secondary - Independent | 280,612 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 7009 | 254,825 | 1.2 | 1.3 | +25,787 |
| TAFE/Vocational | 424,864 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 7010 | 473,578 | 2.2 | 2.2 | -48,714 |
| University | 1,160,625 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7011 | 932,490 | 4.3 | 5.2 | +228,135 |
| Other | 198,382 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 7012 | 161,644 | 0.8 | 0.9 | +36,738 |
| Not attending | 16,189,982 | 69.2 | 68.7 | 7013 | 15,002,503 | 69.8 | 69.2 | +1,187,479 |
| Not stated | 1,707,028 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 7014 | 1,510,746 | 7.0 | 6.8 | +196,282 |
| Total | 23,401,891 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 21,504,688 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,897,203 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 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 Australia in 2016 compared to Greater Capital Cities 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, 8.2% of the population were attending primary school, 6.2% of the population were attending secondary institutions, and 6.8% were learning at a tertiary level, compared with 8.2%, 6.2% and 7.8% respectively for Greater Capital Cities.
The major difference between the share of the population attending learning institutions in Australia and Greater Capital Cities was:
- A smaller percentage of persons attending University (5.0% compared to 6.0%)
Emerging groups
From 2011 to 2016, Australia's population increased by 1,897,203 people (+8.8%). This represents an average annual change of 1.71% per year over the period.
The largest changes in the number of persons attending education institutions in Australia, between 2011 and 2016 were in those who nominated:
- University (+228,135 persons)
- Primary school (+171,870 persons)
- Primary - Government (+133,194 persons)
- Secondary school (+110,586 persons)