Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland
Ireland: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 11.72 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland stood at 11.72 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland peaked at 11.72 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.13 years, in 1990.
That places Ireland 47th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.13 years | — |
| 1991 | 9.27 years | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 9.41 years | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 9.55 years | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 9.69 years | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 9.83 years | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 9.97 years | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 10.11 years | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 10.25 years | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 10.39 years | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 10.53 years | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 10.67 years | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 10.81 years | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 10.95 years | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 11.09 years | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 11.23 years | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 11.37 years | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 11.35 years | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 11.42 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 11.5 years | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 11.57 years | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 11 years | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 11.07 years | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 11.14 years | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 11.21 years | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 11.29 years | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 11.36 years | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 11.43 years | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 11.5 years | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 11.58 years | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 11.65 years | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 11.72 years | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 11.72 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.72 years | +0.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 11.72 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 95% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 11.72 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 95% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.76 years | 9.13 years | 10.39 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.09 years | 10.53 years | 11.5 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.32 years | 11 years | 11.58 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.71 years | 11.65 years | 11.72 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32,531 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,942 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,745 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49,975 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 548,873 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1053 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Ireland was 11.72 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.72 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.13 years in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Ireland ranks 47th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.