Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 102,720 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Ireland, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 102,720 for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2022.
That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and up 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 147,908 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 71,098, in 2015.
That places Ireland 118th out of 214 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 131,500 | — |
| 1972 | 134,000 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 135,200 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 135,951 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 131,731 | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 135,783 | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 141,392 | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 141,454 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 139,278 | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 137,133 | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 137,533 | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 139,846 | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 142,501 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 146,581 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 147,686 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 147,908 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 145,576 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 142,018 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 135,923 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 129,983 | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 127,512 | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 126,168 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 123,711 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 118,205 | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 114,363 | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 116,004 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 115,569 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 72,347 | -37.4% |
| 2013 | 78,056 | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 78,056 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 71,098 | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 82,245 | +15.7% |
| 2017 | 112,646 | +37.0% |
| 2018 | 122,893 | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 124,569 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 121,355 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 109,526 | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 102,720 | -6.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 102,720 is above the median for high income countries, which is 96,852, 1.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 102,720 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 181,903, 56% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | -37.4% | 115,569 | 72,347 |
| 2017 | +37.0% | 82,245 | 112,646 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 136,254 | 131,500 | 141,454 | 9 |
| 1980s | 142,270 | 135,923 | 147,908 | 10 |
| 1990s | 121,439 | 114,363 | 129,983 | 8 |
| 2010s | 92,739 | 71,098 | 124,569 | 8 |
| 2020s | 111,200 | 102,720 | 121,355 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1053 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Ireland?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Ireland was 102,720 in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 147,908 in 1986.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 71,098 in 2015.
- How does Ireland rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 118th out of 214 countries with data for 2022.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release