Educational attainment rate, completed … Bachelor urban both in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment rate, completed … Bachelor urban both was 46.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed Bachelor's or equivalent in Ireland, 2007–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent in Ireland is 46.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.7% on the previous year and up 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent in Ireland peaked at 46.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 30.4%, in 2011.
Ireland ranks 2nd of 89 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 rate, completed … Bachelor urban both in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 33.8% | — |
| 2011 | 30.4% | -10.1% |
| 2014 | 37.0% | +21.9% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 37.9% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 34.7% | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | +17.0% |
| 2019 | 41.0% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 42.8% | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 45.0% | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 43.6% | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 46.9% | +7.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 46.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.6%, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 46.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.7%, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.8% | 33.8% | 33.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 36.9% | 30.4% | 41.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 44.6% | 42.8% | 46.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 1 Lithuania 49.7% compare
- 3 Georgia 45.8% compare
- 4 Luxembourg 44.9% compare
- 5 Switzerland 42.9% compare
More education data for Ireland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.47 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.19 (2022)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent in Ireland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent in Ireland was 46.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 46.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.4% in 2011.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent?
- Ireland ranks 2nd out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed bachelor's or equivalent rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed Bachelor's or equivalent education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release