Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland

Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 3.59 units per square kilometre in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
3.59 units per square kilometre
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
72nd
of 195 countries
All-time high
3.62 units per square kilometre
in 2021
All-time low
0.4137 units per square kilometre
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2022

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland, 1971–2022

01234197119962022

Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland is 3.59 units per square kilometre, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland peaked at 3.62 units per square kilometre in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.4137 units per square kilometre, in 1971.

Ireland ranks 72nd of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), per square kilometre in Ireland, 1971 to 2022.
Year units per square kilometre Change
1971 0.4137 units per square kilometre
1972 0.4285 units per square kilometre +3.6%
1973 0.4358 units per square kilometre +1.7%
1974 0.4607 units per square kilometre +5.7%
1975 0.5501 units per square kilometre +19.4%
1976 0.6703 units per square kilometre +21.8%
1977 0.6752 units per square kilometre +0.7%
1978 0.6765 units per square kilometre +0.2%
1979 0.6859 units per square kilometre +1.4%
1980 0.7158 units per square kilometre +4.4%
1981 0.7947 units per square kilometre +11.0%
1982 0.8684 units per square kilometre +9.3%
1983 0.9307 units per square kilometre +7.2%
1984 0.9372 units per square kilometre +0.7%
1985 0.9781 units per square kilometre +4.4%
1986 1.02 units per square kilometre +4.3%
1987 1.07 units per square kilometre +4.5%
1988 1.12 units per square kilometre +4.7%
1989 1.18 units per square kilometre +5.5%
1990 1.24 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1991 1.31 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1992 1.47 units per square kilometre +12.0%
1993 1.57 units per square kilometre +7.2%
1994 1.71 units per square kilometre +8.5%
1995 1.76 units per square kilometre +3.2%
1996 1.86 units per square kilometre +5.7%
1997 1.95 units per square kilometre +4.9%
1998 2.07 units per square kilometre +6.1%
1999 2.19 units per square kilometre +5.9%
2000 2.33 units per square kilometre +6.3%
2001 2.42 units per square kilometre +3.7%
2002 2.56 units per square kilometre +5.8%
2003 2.64 units per square kilometre +3.0%
2004 2.73 units per square kilometre +3.7%
2005 2.71 units per square kilometre -0.9%
2006 2.7 units per square kilometre -0.3%
2007 2.76 units per square kilometre +2.3%
2008 2.59 units per square kilometre -6.2%
2009 2.65 units per square kilometre +2.3%
2010 2.82 units per square kilometre +6.2%
2011 2.85 units per square kilometre +1.2%
2012 2.8 units per square kilometre -1.9%
2013 2.89 units per square kilometre +3.5%
2014 2.96 units per square kilometre +2.2%
2015 3.12 units per square kilometre +5.3%
2016 3.17 units per square kilometre +1.8%
2017 3.27 units per square kilometre +3.0%
2018 3.36 units per square kilometre +2.7%
2019 3.38 units per square kilometre +0.6%
2020 3.44 units per square kilometre +1.8%
2021 3.62 units per square kilometre +5.4%
2022 3.59 units per square kilometre -0.9%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 3.59 units per square kilometre is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.37 units per square kilometre, 82% of the median. (76 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 3.59 units per square kilometre is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.14 units per square kilometre, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.5552 units per square kilometre 0.4137 units per square kilometre 0.6859 units per square kilometre 9
1980s 0.9606 units per square kilometre 0.7158 units per square kilometre 1.18 units per square kilometre 10
1990s 1.71 units per square kilometre 1.24 units per square kilometre 2.19 units per square kilometre 10
2000s 2.61 units per square kilometre 2.33 units per square kilometre 2.76 units per square kilometre 10
2010s 3.06 units per square kilometre 2.8 units per square kilometre 3.38 units per square kilometre 10
2020s 3.55 units per square kilometre 3.44 units per square kilometre 3.62 units per square kilometre 3

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 69 Slovenia 3.97 units per square kilometre compare
  2. 70 Cayman Islands 3.8 units per square kilometre compare
  3. 71 Syrian Arab Republic 3.8 units per square kilometre compare
  4. 73 Egypt 3.49 units per square kilometre compare
  5. 74 Malaysia 3.46 units per square kilometre compare
  6. 75 Armenia 3.38 units per square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland was 3.59 units per square kilometre in 2022, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 3.62 units per square kilometre in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.4137 units per square kilometre in 1971.
How does Ireland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
Ireland ranks 72nd out of 195 countries with data for 2022.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-per-square-kilometre/ireland/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page; please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-per-square-kilometre/ireland/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ireland</a> — Statizoid

How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) ÷ Land area (sq. km)

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), per square kilometre
Unit
units per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
195 places, 6,190 data points, 1970–2023
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.