Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 729,450 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland is 729,450, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 732,196 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 552,825, in 2004.
Ireland ranks 115th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 565,742 | — |
| 2002 | 557,921 | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 554,167 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 552,825 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 554,630 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 561,248 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 568,868 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 580,189 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 590,395 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 598,554 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 606,252 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 618,977 | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 626,628 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 637,222 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 648,587 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 660,017 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 675,083 | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 685,807 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 695,824 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 704,636 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 708,965 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 719,175 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 732,196 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 729,450 | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 565,109 | 552,825 | 590,395 | 9 |
| 2010s | 645,295 | 598,554 | 695,824 | 10 |
| 2020s | 718,884 | 704,636 | 732,196 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 270,411 (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0519 units per person (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 278,462 (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.81 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0534 units per person (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.55 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,162 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 3.17 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Ireland was 729,450 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 732,196 in 2023.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 552,825 in 2004.
- How does Ireland rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 115th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. 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 Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release