Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes was 456,625 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
456,625
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
114th
of 219 countries
All-time high
491,761
in 2018
All-time low
208,705
in 1971
Years of data
51
1971–2022
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland is 456,625, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 34.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 491,761 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 208,705, in 1971.
That places Ireland 114th out of 219 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 208,705 | — |
| 1972 | 215,359 | +3.2% |
| 1973 | 229,875 | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 241,767 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 256,652 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 270,956 | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 281,121 | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 288,110 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 292,658 | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 295,592 | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 300,601 | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 309,600 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 316,878 | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 324,409 | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 332,565 | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 338,256 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 341,681 | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 342,791 | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 341,800 | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 342,364 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 345,941 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 352,408 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 381,630 | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 387,813 | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 390,680 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 389,374 | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 389,353 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 354,252 | -9.0% |
| 1999 | 346,316 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 338,247 | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 328,424 | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 323,043 | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 320,620 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 320,560 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 317,337 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 313,479 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 316,015 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 318,382 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 326,543 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 336,464 | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 331,047 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 340,829 | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 348,116 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 354,670 | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 360,088 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 392,294 | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 491,761 | +25.4% |
| 2019 | 445,485 | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 442,827 | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 449,673 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 456,625 | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 253,911 | 208,705 | 292,658 | 9 |
| 1980s | 324,417 | 295,592 | 342,791 | 10 |
| 1990s | 368,013 | 342,364 | 390,680 | 10 |
| 2000s | 322,265 | 313,479 | 338,247 | 10 |
| 2010s | 377,862 | 331,047 | 491,761 | 9 |
| 2020s | 449,708 | 442,827 | 456,625 | 3 |
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 enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Ireland was 456,625 in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 491,761 in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 208,705 in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 114th out of 219 countries with data for 2022.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.0%. 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 Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release