Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 65.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
In 2023, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland stood at 65.9%. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 72.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland peaked at 65.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1971.
Ireland ranks 4th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3.6% | — |
| 1981 | 6.5% | +79.9% |
| 1991 | 12.7% | +96.1% |
| 2006 | 43.8% | +243.8% |
| 2007 | 42.9% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 42.1% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 44.7% | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 45.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 38.3% | -15.9% |
| 2015 | 54.1% | +41.3% |
| 2017 | 43.9% | -18.9% |
| 2023 | 65.9% | +50.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.7% | 12.7% | 12.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 43.3% | 42.1% | 44.7% | 4 |
| 2010s | 45.5% | 38.3% | 54.1% | 4 |
| 2020s | 65.9% | 65.9% | 65.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 223,493 (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.54 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 102,720 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -6.21 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 247,231 (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -0.9368 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 35,618 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,544 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 134,541 (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 0.1981 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland?
- Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland was 65.9% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 65.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- Ireland ranks 4th out of 111 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.