Education in Gold Coast, Australia: official figures
59.3% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 14th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the City of Gold Coast local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
How many people in Gold Coast left school before Year 10?
6.4% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over had left school at Year 9 or below, or never attended school, at the 2021 Census, below the national figure (9.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast have a postgraduate degree?
4.6% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over held a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 10th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (6.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast have a university degree?
15.2% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over held a bachelor degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 12th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (17.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast have a diploma?
11.3% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over held an advanced diploma or diploma as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, the highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast have a trade or certificate qualification?
22.2% of residents of the City of Gold Coast aged 15 and over held a certificate (levels I to IV, including trade qualifications) as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 12th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (19.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many teenagers in Gold Coast are in work or study?
79.6% of 15 to 19 year olds in the City of Gold Coast were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (38.3% were studying full-time and not working), against 81.4% fully engaged across Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children attend preschool in Gold Coast?
6,272 four-year-olds and 1,478 five-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program in the City of Gold Coast in 2024; 6,581 children attended 15 hours or more a week.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Gold Coast are repaying student loans?
30,360 residents of the City of Gold Coast made a repayment on a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt in 2021-22, which is 47 per 1,000 residents (10th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 45).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Gold Coast compares with other cities in Australia
Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Gold Coast ranks 14 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Greater Brisbane | 63.9% |
| 12 | Darwin | 63.9% |
| 13 | Greater Perth | 61.8% |
| 14 | Gold Coast | 59.3% |
| 15 | Greater Adelaide | 59.2% |
| 16 | Greater Darwin | 57.9% |
| 17 | Newcastle | 57.8% |
Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Gold Coast ranks 20 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Greater Darwin | 16.3% |
| 18 | Geelong | 16.1% |
| 19 | Wollongong | 15.7% |
| 20 | Gold Coast | 15.2% |
| 21 | Sunshine Coast | 15.1% |
| 22 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 15.0% |
| 23 | Ballarat | 14.9% |
Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Gold Coast ranks 18 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Newcastle | 80.5% |
| 16 | Ballarat | 80.3% |
| 17 | Greater Hobart | 79.9% |
| 18 | Gold Coast | 79.6% |
| 19 | Toowoomba | 79.3% |
| 20 | Bendigo | 79.0% |
| 21 | Sunshine Coast | 78.7% |
More on Gold Coast: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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