Canberra is widely considered Australia's most educated city, boasting the highest percentage of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher, the most patents per capita, and a strong presence of national institutions and research centers. While specific suburbs like North Sydney might have higher local percentages, Canberra as a whole consistently ranks as the top for educational attainment and intellectual capital in the nation, according to sources like Study Australia, ID (Informed Decisions), and id Profile.
Melbourne is not just Australia's best student city, it is also ranked as Australia's 'most liveable' city and #4 in the world's behind Copenhagen, Vienna and Zurich. Across 5 broad categories, Melbourne scored a perfect 100/100 in Healthcare and Education.
Victoria is Australia's most educated state. We produce highly skilled professionals who promote our institutions globally. Six Victorian universities ranked in the top 300 universities in the world, with 2 in the top 50 (QS World University Rankings 2026: Top global universities).
Ann Arbor, Michigan held steady at No. 1 for the second year in a row. With nearly 96% of adults holding a high school diploma, 58% with a bachelor's, and 31% with an advanced degree, this city continues to dominate both the “Educational Attainment” and “Quality of Education & Attainment Gap” categories.
In the 2024 Global Liveability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Melbourne is ranked as the 4th most liveable city in the world and the most liveable city in Australia. The EIU assessed 173 cities based on 5 major categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Adelaide has been ranked Australia's happiest city in the global Happy City Index, scoring highly across 82 measures of liveability and wellbeing. Our beloved South Australian capital seems to find itself on lists like these rather frequently, and we don't think it's by coincidence.
Toorak – The Undisputed Richest Suburb in Melbourne
From multi-million-dollar mansions to elite private schools and exclusive shopping strips, it has long been regarded as the richest area in Melbourne. Toorak is also home to Australia's wealthiest business leaders, celebrities, and international investors.
📚 The 10 Most Educated Countries in the World (2025) Based on tertiary education attainment among adults (ages 25–64) As of 2025, Canada leads the world in education, with 63% of its adult population holding a post-secondary qualification — the highest among OECD nations.
11 Best Cities for Students & Education in the U.S.
Australia's most educated areas
No, Australia is not 90% white; while a large majority identify with European ancestry (around 76-80% in recent years), a significant and growing portion identifies as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous, making it a highly multicultural nation with diverse ethnic backgrounds, not overwhelmingly white. Recent census data shows European ancestry (English, Irish, etc.) makes up a large chunk, but Asian ancestries are also substantial, with over 17% Asian population and around 3.8% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, per the 2021 census data from Wikipedia.
Canberra is Australia's education capital, and home to our nation's best globally ranked university.
Kudos to Canberra! Australia's capital has been named the third smartest city in the world in 2024. Think you're smarter than a fifth grader?
While both Sydney and Melbourne are two of the largest cities in Australia, each offers their own unique experiences. For starters, Sydney is an ideal destination for those who love sunshine, coastal adventures, and scenic walks.
Australia ranks highly globally for education, particularly in higher education where its system is considered third strongest (after the US & UK), with many universities in top 100/50 subject rankings. For K-12, Australian students perform well in PISA tests, ranking in the top 10 for reading, science, and math in recent assessments, though system-wide proficiency varies, notes the ABC News. Overall, Australia is a top destination for international students and boasts a highly educated population, per the Australian Government DFAT and Secret Brisbane.
State of Literacy Around the World
Burkina Faso (38%), Niger (19%) and South Sudan (32%) are the countries with the lowest literacy (CIA World Factbook).
Abdul Karim Bangura is considered the most educated man on earth. Dr. Abdul is an author, academic administrator, researcher, and scientist. He holds a B.A. in International Studies, an M.A.
Top 10 Cities in India for Higher Education
Most Educated Countries in the World According to CBRE Research, Ireland tops the list with the highest percentage of college-educated adults- followed by Switzerland, Singapore, and Belgium. Education truly shapes a nation.
Sydney is the most expensive major city in Australia and the most expensive city overall.