Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 80.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland, 1991–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland is 80.8%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland peaked at 80.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 34.9%, in 1992.
That places Ireland 38th out of 140 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.5% | — |
| 1992 | 34.9% | -13.8% |
| 1993 | 36.7% | +5.0% |
| 1994 | 37.3% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 39.2% | +5.0% |
| 1996 | 42.1% | +7.4% |
| 1997 | 41.3% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 51.8% | +25.5% |
| 2003 | 53.4% | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 54.3% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 56.0% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 63.0% | +12.5% |
| 2007 | 66.2% | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 60.6% | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 61.9% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 64.8% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 63.9% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 65.5% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 67.1% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 71.0% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 71.5% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 71.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 68.1% | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 72.6% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 73.6% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 75.4% | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 77.1% | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 78.5% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 80.8% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.9% | 34.9% | 42.1% | 7 |
| 2000s | 58.4% | 51.8% | 66.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 68.9% | 63.9% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.0% | 75.4% | 80.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.55 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,162 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.17 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 233,132 (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.56 % change on previous year (2022)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Ireland was 80.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 80.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.9% in 1992.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- Ireland ranks 38th out of 140 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. 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 upper secondary, population 25+, male (%) (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 upper secondary education.