Education in Sydney, Australia: official figures
80.8% of residents of the City of Sydney aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 2nd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the City of Sydney local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
How many people in Sydney left school before Year 10?
3.2% of residents of the City of Sydney 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 Sydney have a postgraduate degree?
16.2% of residents of the City of Sydney aged 15 and over held a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 3rd highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (6.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have a university degree?
33.6% of residents of the City of Sydney aged 15 and over held a bachelor degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, the highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (17.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have a diploma?
9.6% of residents of the City of Sydney aged 15 and over held an advanced diploma or diploma as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 12th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney have a trade or certificate qualification?
7.8% of residents of the City of Sydney aged 15 and over held a certificate (levels I to IV, including trade qualifications) as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (19.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many teenagers in Sydney are in work or study?
84.2% of 15 to 19 year olds in the City of Sydney were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (54.6% 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 Sydney?
958 four-year-olds and 260 five-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program in the City of Sydney in 2024; 1,161 children attended 15 hours or more a week.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Sydney are repaying student loans?
15,745 residents of the City of Sydney made a repayment on a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt in 2021-22, which is 72 per 1,000 residents (the highest of 26 areas; Australia 45).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Sydney compares with other cities in Australia
Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne | 82.1% |
| 2 | Sydney | 80.8% |
| 3 | Canberra | 77.1% |
| 4 | Adelaide | 76.5% |
| 5 | Perth | 76.4% |
| 6 | Hobart | 75.5% |
| 7 | Brisbane | 74.1% |
Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 33.6% |
| 2 | Melbourne | 32.6% |
| 3 | Perth | 29.6% |
| 4 | Adelaide | 27.9% |
| 5 | Hobart | 27.8% |
| 6 | Brisbane | 25.0% |
| 7 | Canberra | 24.2% |
Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Sydney ranks 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Canberra | 85.4% |
| 6 | Hobart | 85.3% |
| 7 | Greater Sydney | 84.3% |
| 8 | Sydney | 84.2% |
| 9 | Adelaide | 83.7% |
| 10 | Greater Adelaide | 83.1% |
| 11 | Greater Perth | 83.0% |
More on Sydney: 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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