9 answers, 5 from Australia's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
Around 2 in 3 students achieved at the "Strong" or "Exceeding" level in reading, numeracy and writing in NAPLAN 2026, with one in 10 at the "Needs additional support" level, according to ACARA, released on 5 August 2026. There were no reportable changes in national average scores compared with 2025 or 2023.
In numeracy, around 29,000 more students were at "Exceeding" than in 2023, and average scores in Years 5 and 7 were the highest since the scale was reset in 2023; Year 3 numeracy was the lowest since 2023. NAPLAN tests students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Results by state and school are on the NAP and My School sites.
4,160,918 students were enrolled in 9,673 schools in Australia in 2025, an increase of 28,912 (0.7%) on 2024, according to the ABS Schools release of 5 March 2026. 62.8% were in government schools, with the rest in Catholic and independent schools.
The average ratio of students to teaching staff across all schools was 12.8 to 1. Enrolments by state, sector and year level are in the release's data tables.
The apparent retention rate for full-time students from Years 7/8 to Year 12 was 81.3% in 2025, according to the ABS Schools release. This compares the number of students in Year 12 with the number who started secondary school in the same cohort.
The rate is "apparent" because it does not track individual students: it is affected by migration, repeating, movement between states and part-time study, and it does not show whether students completed Year 12.
64% of people aged 15 to 74 had a non-school qualification, such as a certificate, diploma or degree, in May 2025, according to the ABS Education and Work survey. 80% of people with a non-school qualification were employed, compared with 58% of those without.
84% of people who finished a non-school qualification in 2024 were employed in 2025. The ABS says the 2025 survey is the last release from this annual collection. Census data on qualifications, including by field of study, are also available, and the 2026 Census results will follow from 2027.
8% of people aged 15 to 24 were not engaged in any work or study in May 2025, according to the ABS Education and Work survey, while 63% were currently studying.
People who are not in employment, education or training are often referred to as NEET. The measure counts work or study at the time of the survey, so it includes people between courses or jobs as well as those disengaged for long periods. The survey covers people living in private dwellings, and the ABS says the 2025 survey is the last annual release.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
96.4%: that is net primary school enrolment in Australia for 2017, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 97.9% in 2012 and the low 95.5% in 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 94.6%, and Australia placed 7th highest of 16. Of 134 countries with 2017 data, 38th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Australia was 131.9% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2015. East Asia & Pacific median: 92.0%; Australia is 1st highest of 16. Worldwide: 4th of 100.
108.4%: that is gross tertiary enrolment in Australia for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2015 it has ranged from 103.3% (2018) to 119.7% (2016). East Asia & Pacific median: 47.4%; Australia is 2nd highest of 15. Of 90 countries with 2024 data, 5th highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2022, is 5.1% of GDP. It is 11th highest of 22 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 4.5% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 46th of 155.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error