Australia’s most educated areas

Demographics
Australia’s most educated areas
Informed  Decisions

Informed Decisions

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Key Highlights

  • North Sydney (NSW) tops the list, with 48.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
  • Following closely are Subiaco (WA) at 45.9%, Nedlands (WA) at 45.6%, Lane Cove (NSW) at 45.5%, and Mosman (NSW) at 45.4%.
  • Also featuring in the top 10: Yarra (VIC) (44.7%), Woollahra (NSW) (44.5%), Leichhardt (NSW) (44.3%), Cottesloe (WA) (43.9%), and Willoughby (NSW) (43.8%).
  • Of the top 30 most educated areas, a majority are in NSW and Victoria, with WA contributing a notable share as well.

Where are the most educated areas in Australia?

We list the top 30 “Braniac areas”…the local government areas that boast the highest percentage of tertiary educated residents in Australia…

In this article, we investigate the number of tertiary educated residents living in each local government area, and express that number as a percentage of total residents over the age of 15.

(Note: We don’t include under 15’s, as these residents are unlikely (!) to hold Bachelor or higher degrees – Doogie Howser may have been the only exception…)

The “most educated” area in Australia is in NSW, and it is…

Table 1 – residents over 15 years of age with Bachelor or higher degree

RankLocal Government AreaStatePersons%
1North Sydney (A)NSW27,04348.9%
2Subiaco (C)WA6,96845.9%
3Nedlands (C)WA7,52645.6%
4Lane Cove (A)NSW11,61045.5%
5Mosman (A)NSW10,18445.4%
6Yarra (C)VIC29,21244.7%
7Woollahra (A)NSW19,63944.5%
8Leichhardt (A)NSW19,24644.3%
9Cottesloe (T)WA2,75743.9%
10Willoughby (C)NSW23,89643.8%
11Ku-ring-gai (A)NSW37,54543.3%
12Stonnington (C)VIC34,99443.2%
13Boroondara (C)VIC56,70343.2%
14Melbourne (C)VIC37,28342.9%
15Cambridge (T)WA8,42142.5%
16Port Phillip (C)VIC34,31742.2%
17Claremont (T)WA3,27841.9%
18Sydney (C)NSW63,30940.2%
19Manly (A)NSW12,94540.2%
20Waverley (A)NSW21,23339.5%
21Peppermint Grove (S)WA47438.3%
22Perth (CWA5,99637.8%
23Burnside (C)SA13,22537.3%
24Mosman Park (T)WA2,64137.1%
25Hunters Hill (A)NSW3,96237.0%
26Unley (C)SA11,33836.7%
27Adelaide (C)SA6,62335.8%
28Glen Eira (C)VIC38,34235.7%
29Vincent (T)WA9,66435.5%
30Hobart (C)TAS14,76035.5%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011

What about by State?

The table below shows the total number of people in each state or territory with a Bachelor or higher degree  – and also that number expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 and over. 

Table 2 – Person with Bachelor Degree or higher – State totals

StatePersons%
ACT98,65834.0%
VIC905,49220.8%
NSW1,107,04219.9%
WA312,63717.6%
SA207,85615.9%
QLD547,62415.9%
NT23,54215.1%
TAS56,90114.2%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011

ACT is ranked the most educated state or territory based on percentage, although as the largest state in Australia NSW still has largest actual number of persons with a Bachelor degree or higher.

In the traditional NSW/Victoria rivalry, it is Victoria however, that is ranked a little higher than NSW on percentage

 So… how does your area compare?

If you want to know how your council area or suburb compares, check out “qualifications” under “who are we” in profile.id for your area.  You can find your council area in the demographic resource centre. 

If your council doesn’t currently subscribe to profile.id, learn more about how profile.id can provide a comprehensive demographic resource tool for council decision making…

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