Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland

Ireland: Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training was 74.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
74.4%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
10th
of 119 countries
All-time high
74.4%
in 2023
All-time low
46.9%
in 2007
Years of data
22
2002–2023

Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland, 2002–2023

0204060802002201220232002: 54 %2003: 61.5 %2004: 57.9 %2005: 57.1 %2006: 57.1 %2007: 46.9 %2008: 47.8 %2009: 51 %2010: 54.6 %2011: 57 %2012: 58.8 %2013: 60.3 %2014: 61 %2015: 60.3 %2016: 60 %2017: 65.1 %2018: 67.8 %2019: 69.1 %2020: 69.2 %2021: 73.7 %2022: 73.6 %2023: 74.4 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

Ireland recorded 74.4% for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in 2023. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland peaked at 74.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 46.9%, in 2007.

Ireland ranks 10th of 119 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%) in Ireland, 2002 to 2023.
Year % Change
2002 54.0%
2003 61.5% +14.1%
2004 57.9% -5.9%
2005 57.1% -1.4%
2006 57.1% -0.0%
2007 46.9% -17.8%
2008 47.8% +1.8%
2009 51.0% +6.8%
2010 54.6% +6.9%
2011 57.0% +4.5%
2012 58.8% +3.1%
2013 60.3% +2.5%
2014 61.0% +1.2%
2015 60.3% -1.0%
2016 60.0% -0.6%
2017 65.1% +8.5%
2018 67.8% +4.2%
2019 69.1% +1.9%
2020 69.2% +0.1%
2021 73.7% +6.5%
2022 73.6% -0.0%
2023 74.4% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 54.2% 46.9% 61.5% 8
2010s 61.4% 54.6% 69.1% 10
2020s 72.7% 69.2% 74.4% 4

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 7 Denmark 76.2% compare
  2. 8 Estonia 74.8% compare
  3. 9 Greece 74.5% compare
  4. 11 Portugal 74.1% compare
  5. 12 Luxembourg 74.1% compare
  6. 13 Bulgaria 73.7% compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland?
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland was 74.4% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 74.4% in 2023.
What is the lowest participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 46.9% in 2007.
How does Ireland rank for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training?
Ireland ranks 10th out of 119 countries with data for 2023.
Is participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-by-sex-percent/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
139 places, 2,463 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed