Education in Townsville, Australia: official figures
54.1% of residents of the City of Townsville aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 9th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the City of Townsville local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
How many people in Townsville left school before Year 10?
8.1% of residents of the City of Townsville 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 Townsville have a postgraduate degree?
3.5% of residents of the City of Townsville aged 15 and over held a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, joint 2nd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (6.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have a university degree?
12.7% of residents of the City of Townsville aged 15 and over held a bachelor degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 3rd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (17.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have a diploma?
8.2% of residents of the City of Townsville aged 15 and over held an advanced diploma or diploma as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, joint 3rd lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville have a trade or certificate qualification?
24.0% of residents of the City of Townsville aged 15 and over held a certificate (levels I to IV, including trade qualifications) as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 5th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (19.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many teenagers in Townsville are in work or study?
76.1% of 15 to 19 year olds in the City of Townsville were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (33.2% 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 Townsville?
2,211 four-year-olds and 184 five-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program in the City of Townsville in 2024; 2,052 children attended 15 hours or more a week.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Townsville are repaying student loans?
10,202 residents of the City of Townsville made a repayment on a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt in 2021-22, which is 52 per 1,000 residents (13th highest of 26 areas; Australia 45).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Townsville compares with other cities in Australia
Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Townsville ranks 23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 56.0% |
| 21 | Geelong | 55.2% |
| 22 | Cairns | 54.7% |
| 23 | Townsville | 54.1% |
| 24 | Wollongong | 53.7% |
| 25 | Ballarat | 52.7% |
| 26 | Toowoomba | 51.5% |
Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Townsville ranks 29 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Newcastle-Maitland | 14.2% |
| 26 | Cairns | 13.4% |
| 27 | Bendigo | 13.1% |
| 28 | Toowoomba | 13.0% |
| 29 | Townsville | 12.7% |
| 30 | Central Coast | 12.6% |
| 31 | Albury-Wodonga | 12.0% |
Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Townsville ranks 23 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Bendigo | 79.0% |
| 21 | Sunshine Coast | 78.7% |
| 22 | Central Coast | 77.5% |
| 23 | Townsville | 76.1% |
| 24 | Darwin | 75.0% |
| 25 | Cairns | 74.3% |
| 26 | Greater Darwin | 73.9% |
More on Townsville: 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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