Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 456,625 in 2022. ▲ Rising
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 (number) 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% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 456,625 is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 1.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 456,625 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 543,350, 84% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +25.4% | 392,294 | 491,761 |
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
- 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 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release