Number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland
Ireland: Number of pre-primary education enrolments was 102,720 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
102,720
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
48th
of 73 countries
All-time high
147,908
in 1986
All-time low
71,098
in 2015
Years of data
38
1971–2022
Number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland, 1971–2022
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 102,720 for number of pre-primary education enrolments in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and up 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland peaked at 147,908 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 71,098, in 2015.
That places Ireland 48th out of 73 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 131,500 | — |
| 1972 | 134,000 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 135,200 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 135,951 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 131,731 | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 135,783 | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 141,392 | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 141,454 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 139,278 | -1.5% |
| 1980 | 137,133 | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 137,533 | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 139,846 | +1.7% |
| 1983 | 142,501 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 146,581 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 147,686 | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 147,908 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 145,576 | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 142,018 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 135,923 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 129,983 | -4.4% |
| 1991 | 127,512 | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 126,168 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 123,711 | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 118,205 | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 114,363 | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 116,004 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 115,569 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 72,347 | -37.4% |
| 2013 | 78,056 | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 78,056 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 71,098 | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 82,245 | +15.7% |
| 2017 | 112,646 | +37.0% |
| 2018 | 122,893 | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 124,569 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 121,355 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 109,526 | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 102,720 | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 136,254 | 131,500 | 141,454 | 9 |
| 1980s | 142,270 | 135,923 | 147,908 | 10 |
| 1990s | 121,439 | 114,363 | 129,983 | 8 |
| 2010s | 92,739 | 71,098 | 124,569 | 8 |
| 2020s | 111,200 | 102,720 | 121,355 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2022)
- 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 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland?
- Number of pre-primary education enrolments in Ireland was 102,720 in 2022, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of pre-primary education enrolments recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 147,908 in 1986.
- What is the lowest number of pre-primary education enrolments recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 71,098 in 2015.
- How does Ireland rank for number of pre-primary education enrolments?
- Ireland ranks 48th out of 73 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of pre-primary education enrolments rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of pre-primary education enrolments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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