Educational attainment … higher short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant in Ireland
Ireland: Educational attainment … higher short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant was 50.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland, 2006–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland is 50.9%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.9% on the previous year and up 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland peaked at 50.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 26.0%, in 2006.
That places Ireland 4th out of 38 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Educational attainment … higher short-cycle tertiary non-immigrant in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 26.0% | — |
| 2007 | 28.3% | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 30.1% | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 31.4% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 34.1% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 35.2% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 36.9% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 35.7% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 37.2% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 39.8% | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 40.6% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.7% | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 45.4% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 46.3% | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 50.9% | +9.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 50.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 34.5%, 1.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 50.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.2%, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.9% | 26.0% | 31.4% | 4 |
| 2010s | 37.1% | 33.2% | 40.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.3% | 42.7% | 50.9% | 4 |
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 short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Ireland was 50.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 50.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.0% in 2006.
- How does Ireland rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- Ireland ranks 4th out of 38 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.9%. 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 short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, non-immigrant background, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release