Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 120,154 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 120,154 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in 2018. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland peaked at 120,154 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 9,767 number, in 1971.
Ireland ranks 83rd of 187 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9,767 number | — |
| 1972 | 10,238 number | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 10,826 number | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 11,486 number | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 15,842 number | +37.9% |
| 1977 | 17,735 number | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 17,631 number | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 18,709 number | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 19,944 number | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 22,248 number | +11.6% |
| 1982 | 24,085 number | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 26,427 number | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 27,692 number | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 29,088 number | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 30,385 number | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 32,173 number | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 34,222 number | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 35,960 number | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 38,547 number | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 41,440 number | +7.5% |
| 1992 | 47,568 number | +14.8% |
| 1993 | 52,182 number | +9.7% |
| 1994 | 56,816 number | +8.9% |
| 1995 | 59,849 number | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 64,913 number | +8.5% |
| 1997 | 69,482 number | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 75,309 number | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 80,900 number | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 86,904 number | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 91,158 number | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 97,173 number | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 101,155 number | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 103,941 number | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 102,501 number | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 102,589 number | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 105,043 number | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 96,795 number | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 98,483 number | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 101,638 number | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 101,553 number | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 97,981 number | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 100,622 number | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 103,032 number | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 109,264 number | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 112,404 number | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 116,073 number | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 120,154 number | +3.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 120,154 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,350 number, 1.2× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 120,154 number is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 141,679 number, 85% of the median. (51 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 number | 15,842 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14,029 number | 9,767 number | 18,709 number | 8 |
| 1980s | 28,222 number | 19,944 number | 35,960 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,701 number | 38,547 number | 80,900 number | 10 |
| 2000s | 98,574 number | 86,904 number | 105,043 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 106,969 number | 97,981 number | 120,154 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 80 Bulgaria 126,871 number compare
- 81 Puerto Rico 126,571 number compare
- 82 Kyrgyzstan 120,240 number compare
- 84 Costa Rica 119,754 number compare
- 85 Angola 115,884 number compare
- 86 Tajikistan 111,535 number compare
More education data for Ireland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.47 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.19 (2022)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Ireland was 120,154 number in 2018, 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 120,154 number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,767 number in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Ireland ranks 83rd out of 187 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. 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 — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The total number of female students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.