Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 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 … tertiary 5 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% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 19,774 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,736, 1.8× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 19,774 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,778, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
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
- 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, 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release