Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 77.6% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland, 2001–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland stood at 77.6%.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 78.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 50.7%, in 2001.
Ireland ranks 36th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50.7% | — |
| 2002 | 53.5% | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 55.8% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 58.9% | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 58.9% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 58.4% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 58.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 54.0% | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 56.5% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 63.1% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 67.8% | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 68.2% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 71.7% | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 73.8% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 77.2% | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 77.6% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 77.5% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 76.8% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 74.4% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 74.2% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 78.5% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 77.6% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56.1% | 50.7% | 58.9% | 9 |
| 2010s | 72.8% | 63.1% | 77.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.8% | 74.2% | 78.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 33 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 78.3% compare
- 34 Puerto Rico 77.9% compare
- 35 Portugal 77.7% compare
- 37 New Zealand 77.2% compare
- 38 China 76.9% compare
- 39 Germany 76.7% compare
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 gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Ireland was 77.6% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 78.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.7% in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 36th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release