Educational attainment rate … female post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment rate … female post-secondary non-tertiary was 65.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland is 65.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 72.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland peaked at 65.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 1971.
That places Ireland 4th out of 111 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Educational attainment rate … female post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 65.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.0%, 1.6× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 65.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 38.3%, 1.7× the median. (40 countries reporting)
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
- 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 post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Ireland was 65.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 65.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- Ireland ranks 4th out of 111 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary 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 UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, female (%). 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