The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal total Tasmanian student numbers have dropped 2906 in 10 years.

The numbers are in line with national figures, which saw non-government schools pick up more than 200,000 students nationwide.

Government schools nationwide only added 26,000 students from 1999 to 2009.

The stats showed:

Tasmanian government schools had 62,954 students in 1999, but 57,504 in 2009.

Private schools had 20,859 students in 1999, and 23,403 in 2009.

Private school enrolments jumped 12.5 per cent, while government school enrolments dropped 8.65 per cent.

28.9 per cent of Tasmanian students are in private schools in 2009, up from 24.9 per cent in 1999.

Nationally, non- government schools picked up 208,500 students from 1999 to 2009, while government schools picked up 26,000.

The ABS stats also showed the Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of non-government full-time students with 43 per cent, while Northern Territory had the lowest at 26 per cent.

The report - Schools, Australia 2009 - showed indigenous student retention rates were increasing, but they were still lower than for non- indigenous students.

It said the apparent retention rate for indigenous students from year 7 through to year 12 has increased from 35 per cent in 1999 to 45 per cent in 2009.

By comparison, the same apparent retention rate for non- indigenous students increased from 73 per cent to 77 per cent in the same period.