Education in Northern Territory, Australia: official figures
The Northern Territory had 194 schools in 2025 (150 government, 18 Catholic and 26 independent) with 40,005 students enrolled, -0.1% on 2024.
How many students go to public schools in Northern Territory?
71.8% of school students in the Northern Territory attended government schools in 2025 (national share 62.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many Indigenous students are there in Northern Territory?
There were 15,556 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Northern Territory schools in 2025, 38.9% of all students (Australia 6.8%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the student-teacher ratio in Northern Territory?
In 2025 there were 11.0 full-time-equivalent students for every full-time-equivalent teacher in the Northern Territory schools, compared with 12.8 for Australia (the lowest of 8; a lower ratio means smaller classes on average).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat percentage of students finish Year 12 in Northern Territory?
The apparent retention rate from Year 10 to Year 12 in the Northern Territory was 64.2% in 2025 and from Year 7/8 to Year 12 was 54.7% (Australia: 81.5% and 81.3%). It compares students enrolled in each year and is not a graduation rate.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat percentage of people in Northern Territory completed Year 12?
At the 2021 Census 49.8% of people in the Northern Territory had completed Year 12 or equivalent, 2nd lowest of 8 states and territories.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Northern Territory have a university degree?
13.5% of people in the Northern Territory held a bachelor degree and 5.6% a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census; 61.2% had any non-school qualification.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children attend preschool in Northern Territory?
3,052 four-year-olds in the Northern Territory were enrolled in a preschool program in 2024.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many young people in Northern Territory are in work or study?
61.6% of 15 to 24 year olds in the Northern Territory were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (the lowest of 8 states and territories).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Northern Territory compares with other territories
People who completed Year 12 or equivalent, Census 2021 (2021)
Northern Territory ranks 7 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who completed Year 12 or equivalent, Census 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Victoria | 61.8% |
| 3 | New South Wales | 58.9% |
| 4 | Western Australia | 58.0% |
| 5 | Queensland | 57.1% |
| 6 | South Australia | 54.6% |
| 7 | Northern Territory | 49.8% |
| 8 | Tasmania | 47.1% |
Apparent retention rate, Year 10 to Year 12, 2025 (2025)
Northern Territory ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Apparent retention rate, Year 10 to Year 12, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South Australia | 87.2% |
| 3 | Western Australia | 86.7% |
| 4 | Victoria | 85.0% |
| 5 | Queensland | 83.1% |
| 6 | New South Wales | 75.1% |
| 7 | Tasmania | 70.0% |
| 8 | Northern Territory | 64.2% |
Students per teacher (full-time equivalent), 2025 (2025)
Northern Territory ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Students per teacher (full-time equivalent), 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | New South Wales | 13.2 |
| 3 | South Australia | 13.0 |
| 4 | Australian Capital Territory | 13.0 |
| 5 | Queensland | 12.9 |
| 6 | Victoria | 11.9 |
| 7 | Tasmania | 11.8 |
| 8 | Northern Territory | 11.0 |
People with a bachelor degree, Census 2021 (2021)
Northern Territory ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People with a bachelor degree, Census 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Victoria | 18.8% |
| 3 | New South Wales | 18.4% |
| 4 | Western Australia | 16.4% |
| 5 | South Australia | 15.2% |
| 6 | Queensland | 15.0% |
| 7 | Tasmania | 13.8% |
| 8 | Northern Territory | 13.5% |
More on Northern Territory: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Census of Population and Housing 2021, state and territory results (via ABS Data by region): health conditions, education, housing costs, homelessness, disadvantage, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7f6d87de31d5…)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Schools, 2025: Table 90a key information by state, Table 53a student-teacher ratios, Table 64a retention rates, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3ecf57c8e83…)
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