Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 63.3% 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
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland is 63.3%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 67.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland peaked at 63.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1971.
That places Ireland 3rd out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Ireland, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.6% | — |
| 1981 | 7.9% | +69.4% |
| 1991 | 13.6% | +72.4% |
| 2006 | 41.6% | +206.9% |
| 2007 | 43.1% | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 40.4% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 43.2% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 44.3% | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 37.8% | -14.6% |
| 2015 | 52.0% | +37.6% |
| 2017 | 42.9% | -17.4% |
| 2022 | 61.7% | +43.5% |
| 2023 | 63.3% | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 13.6% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 42.1% | 40.4% | 43.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 44.3% | 37.8% | 52.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 62.5% | 61.7% | 63.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 1 Kazakhstan 79.0% compare
- 2 Canada 68.8% compare
- 4 Lithuania 63.2% compare
- 5 Singapore 63.1% compare
- 6 United Arab Emirates 57.0% compare
More education data for Ireland
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 42,162 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 65.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.1% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 13 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 96.48 (2022)
- School enrollment, primary 96.5% (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 63.3% 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 63.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- Ireland ranks 3rd out of 110 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 67.5%. 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+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.