Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland
Ireland: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 99.5% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
99.5%
World rank
15th
of 190 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1950
All-time low
11.9%
in 1820
Years of data
35
1820–2022
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland, 1820–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland is 99.5%, measured in 2022.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland peaked at 100.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 1820.
That places Ireland 15th out of 190 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 11.9% | — |
| 1825 | 13.3% | +11.7% |
| 1830 | 14.8% | +11.4% |
| 1835 | 16.4% | +11.2% |
| 1840 | 18.2% | +11.0% |
| 1845 | 20.2% | +10.7% |
| 1850 | 22.3% | +10.5% |
| 1855 | 24.6% | +10.1% |
| 1860 | 27.0% | +9.8% |
| 1865 | 29.5% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 33.7% | +14.1% |
| 1875 | 37.8% | +12.3% |
| 1880 | 42.0% | +10.9% |
| 1885 | 46.1% | +9.9% |
| 1890 | 50.2% | +9.0% |
| 1895 | 54.4% | +8.2% |
| 1900 | 58.5% | +7.6% |
| 1905 | 62.7% | +7.1% |
| 1910 | 66.8% | +6.6% |
| 1915 | 71.0% | +6.2% |
| 1920 | 75.1% | +5.8% |
| 1925 | 79.3% | +5.5% |
| 1930 | 83.4% | +5.2% |
| 1935 | 87.6% | +5.0% |
| 1940 | 91.7% | +4.7% |
| 1945 | 95.8% | +4.5% |
| 1950 | 100.0% | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 96.3% | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 92.0% | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 92.0% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 91.0% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 91.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 100.0% | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 99.5% | -0.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 99.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 99.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 12.6% | 11.9% | 13.3% | 2 |
| 1830s | 15.6% | 14.8% | 16.4% | 2 |
| 1840s | 19.2% | 18.2% | 20.2% | 2 |
| 1850s | 23.4% | 22.3% | 24.6% | 2 |
| 1860s | 28.2% | 27.0% | 29.5% | 2 |
| 1870s | 35.7% | 33.7% | 37.8% | 2 |
| 1880s | 44.0% | 42.0% | 46.1% | 2 |
| 1890s | 52.3% | 50.2% | 54.4% | 2 |
| 1900s | 60.6% | 58.5% | 62.7% | 2 |
| 1910s | 68.9% | 66.8% | 71.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 77.2% | 75.1% | 79.3% | 2 |
| 1930s | 85.5% | 83.4% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 1940s | 93.8% | 91.7% | 95.8% | 2 |
| 1950s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 94.2% | 92.0% | 96.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 91.5% | 91.0% | 92.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 91.0% | 91.0% | 91.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 2020s | 99.5% | 99.5% | 99.5% | 1 |
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 gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ireland was 99.5% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 1820.
- How does Ireland rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Ireland ranks 15th out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.