Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 19,774 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland, 1998–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland is 19,774, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 12.9% on the previous year and down 50.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 68,599 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 16,493, in 2016.
Ireland ranks 76th of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 54,205 | — |
| 1999 | 60,894 | +12.3% |
| 2000 | 65,329 | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 62,718 | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 68,599 | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 64,873 | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 63,194 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 55,938 | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 54,128 | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 54,499 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 48,448 | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 48,494 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 44,078 | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 42,367 | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 39,780 | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 41,618 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 17,963 | -56.8% |
| 2015 | 16,505 | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 16,493 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 19,549 | +18.5% |
| 2018 | 19,872 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 21,482 | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 23,241 | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 22,715 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 19,774 | -12.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57,550 | 54,205 | 60,894 | 2 |
| 2000s | 58,622 | 48,448 | 68,599 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27,971 | 16,493 | 44,078 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,910 | 19,774 | 23,241 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 42,162 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 65.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.1% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 13 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 96.48 (2022)
- School enrollment, primary 96.5% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in Ireland was 19,774 in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 68,599 in 2002.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,493 in 2016.
- How does Ireland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 76th out of 149 countries with data for 2022.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release