Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 134,541 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland is 134,541, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 37.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland peaked at 134,541 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9,767, in 1971.
Ireland ranks 87th 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, female (number) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9,767 | — |
| 1972 | 10,238 | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 10,826 | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 11,486 | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 15,842 | +37.9% |
| 1977 | 17,735 | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 17,631 | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 18,709 | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 19,944 | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 22,248 | +11.6% |
| 1982 | 24,085 | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 26,427 | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 27,692 | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 29,088 | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 30,385 | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 32,173 | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 34,222 | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 35,960 | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 38,547 | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 41,440 | +7.5% |
| 1992 | 47,568 | +14.8% |
| 1993 | 52,182 | +9.7% |
| 1994 | 56,816 | +8.9% |
| 1995 | 59,849 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 64,913 | +8.5% |
| 1997 | 69,482 | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 75,309 | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 80,900 | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 86,904 | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 91,158 | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 97,173 | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 101,155 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 103,941 | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 102,501 | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 102,589 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 105,043 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 96,795 | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 98,483 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 101,638 | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 101,553 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 97,981 | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 100,622 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 103,032 | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 109,264 | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 112,404 | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 116,073 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 120,154 | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 121,915 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 126,081 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 134,275 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 134,541 | +0.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 134,541 is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,133, 1.4× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 134,541 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 157,648, 85% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +37.9% | 11,486 | 15,842 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14,029 | 9,767 | 18,709 | 8 |
| 1980s | 28,222 | 19,944 | 35,960 | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,701 | 38,547 | 80,900 | 10 |
| 2000s | 98,574 | 86,904 | 105,043 | 10 |
| 2010s | 108,464 | 97,981 | 121,915 | 10 |
| 2020s | 131,632 | 126,081 | 134,541 | 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 tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland was 134,541 in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 134,541 in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,767 in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Ireland ranks 87th out of 195 countries with data for 2022.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (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