Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland
Ireland: Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and was 64.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland, 2015–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland is 64.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland peaked at 79.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 2019.
That places Ireland 14th out of 42 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 69.7% | — |
| 2016 | 73.3% | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 72.0% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 62.7% | -12.9% |
| 2019 | 61.6% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 75.1% | +21.9% |
| 2021 | 79.8% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 73.4% | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 68.3% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 66.8% | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 64.8% | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 67.9% | 61.6% | 73.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 71.4% | 64.8% | 79.8% | 6 |
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 children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland?
- Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and in Ireland was 64.8% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 79.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and?
- Ireland ranks 14th out of 42 countries with data for 2025.
- Is children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Children in formal childcare or education by age group, duration and risk of poverty or social exclusion. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).