Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland
Ireland: Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary was 2.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland, 2001–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland stood at 2.1%.
That represents a change of up 62.6% on the previous year and up 256.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland peaked at 4.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2016.
That places Ireland 152nd out of 171 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4.2% | — |
| 2002 | 4.1% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -17.4% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | -25.6% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -44.1% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | +25.3% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -21.0% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | -18.7% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -39.4% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -25.2% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | -48.7% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | +115.5% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | +24.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | +58.5% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | +62.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 2.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.6%, 57% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 2.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.7%, 55% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.6% | 4.2% | 9 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.3% | 1.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.4% | 0.8% | 2.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 149 Grenada 2.4% compare
- 150 Slovenia 2.2% compare
- 151 United Kingdom 2.2% compare
- 153 Australia 1.9% compare
- 154 South Korea 1.8% compare
- 155 Saudi Arabia 1.8% 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 out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland?
- Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary in Ireland was 2.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2016.
- How does Ireland rank for out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary?
- Ireland ranks 152nd out of 171 countries with data for 2022.
- Is out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 256.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children, adolescents and youth of primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school age, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release