Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland

Ireland: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 67,297 number in 2019. ▬ Flat

Latest (2019)
67,297 number
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
121st
of 206 countries
All-time high
73,024 number
in 2015
All-time low
49,614 number
in 1997
Years of data
50
1970–2019

Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland, 1970–2019

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k197019942019

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland is 67,297 number, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland peaked at 73,024 number in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49,614 number, in 1997.

That places Ireland 121st out of 206 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number) in Ireland, 1970 to 2019.
Year number Change
1970 59,829 number
1971 60,735 number +1.5%
1972 61,284 number +0.9%
1973 61,456 number +0.3%
1974 61,501 number +0.1%
1975 61,660 number +0.3%
1976 62,278 number +1.0%
1977 63,669 number +2.2%
1978 65,766 number +3.3%
1979 68,122 number +3.6%
1980 70,254 number +3.1%
1981 71,550 number +1.8%
1982 72,392 number +1.2%
1983 72,579 number +0.3%
1984 72,253 number -0.4%
1985 71,603 number -0.9%
1986 70,887 number -1.0%
1987 70,313 number -0.8%
1988 69,721 number -0.8%
1989 68,979 number -1.1%
1990 67,963 number -1.5%
1991 66,495 number -2.2%
1992 64,499 number -3.0%
1993 61,926 number -4.0%
1994 59,086 number -4.6%
1995 56,290 number -4.7%
1996 53,986 number -4.1%
1997 49,614 number -8.1%
1998 50,120 number +1.0%
1999 51,597 number +2.9%
2000 51,247 number -0.7%
2001 52,568 number +2.6%
2002 54,166 number +3.0%
2003 55,936 number +3.3%
2004 56,993 number +1.9%
2005 57,950 number +1.7%
2006 58,205 number +0.4%
2007 60,083 number +3.2%
2008 62,136 number +3.4%
2009 62,588 number +0.7%
2010 62,180 number -0.7%
2011 62,287 number +0.2%
2012 66,438 number +6.7%
2013 71,022 number +6.9%
2014 72,617 number +2.2%
2015 73,024 number +0.6%
2016 72,575 number -0.6%
2017 71,268 number -1.8%
2018 68,822 number -3.4%
2019 67,297 number -2.2%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 67,297 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 44,436 number, 1.5× the median. (76 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 67,297 number is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 77,228 number, 87% of the median. (52 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 62,630 number 59,829 number 68,122 number 10
1980s 71,053 number 68,979 number 72,579 number 10
1990s 58,158 number 49,614 number 67,963 number 10
2000s 57,187 number 51,247 number 62,588 number 10
2010s 68,753 number 62,180 number 73,024 number 10

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 118 Lebanon 70,909 number compare
  2. 119 Bulgaria 69,992 number compare
  3. 120 Gambia 68,703 number compare
  4. 122 Serbia 65,284 number compare
  5. 123 Namibia 63,843 number compare
  6. 124 Kuwait 63,792 number compare

See the full ranking of 251 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland?
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland was 67,297 number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 73,024 number in 2015.
What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 49,614 number in 1997.
How does Ireland rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
Ireland ranks 121st out of 206 countries with data for 2019.
Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/population-of-the-official-entrance-age-to-primary-education-both-sexes-number/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
251 places, 12,277 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

Population of the age-group theoretically corresponding to the official entrance age to primary education. The official entrance age is the age at which students would enter a given programme or level of education assuming they start at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, study full-time throughout and progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade. The theoretical entrance age to a given programme or level is typically, but not always, the most common entrance age.