Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland
Ireland: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 11.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland, 1992–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland stood at 11.9%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of up 28.6% on the previous year and up 178.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland peaked at 11.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1992.
Ireland ranks 10th of 49 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 0.7% | — |
| 1993 | 0.8% | +15.6% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | +11.1% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 0.9% | -10.9% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | +22.9% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | +203.3% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | +22.0% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | +22.4% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 4.3% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 3.5% | -19.4% |
| 2010 | 4.2% | +22.0% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 3.7% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | +15.6% |
| 2014 | 3.9% | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 10.7% | +220.1% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | -23.8% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +11.6% |
| 2022 | 9.2% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 11.9% | +28.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 11.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.7%, 3.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 11.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.7%, 1.5× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +220.1% | 3.3% | 10.7% |
| 2002 | +203.3% | 1.1% | 3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 4.3% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 7 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 3.3% | 10.7% | 8 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 8.1% | 11.9% | 4 |
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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Ireland was 11.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1992.
- How does Ireland rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Ireland ranks 10th out of 49 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 178.4%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 55-64 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release