Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland
Ireland: Population of the official entrance age to secondary general was 39,906 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland is 39,906, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland peaked at 39,906 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 27,900, in 2007.
That places Ireland 118th out of 220 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 30,083 | — |
| 2002 | 29,153 | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 28,997 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 29,785 | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 29,058 | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 28,445 | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 27,900 | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 28,198 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 28,936 | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 29,777 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 30,384 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 31,235 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 30,752 | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 31,177 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 31,463 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 32,071 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 32,846 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 33,356 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 33,614 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 34,701 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 36,531 | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 38,037 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 39,627 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 39,906 | +0.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 39,906 is above the median for high income countries, which is 22,855, 1.7× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 39,906 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39,906, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28,951 | 27,900 | 30,083 | 9 |
| 2010s | 31,668 | 29,777 | 33,614 | 10 |
| 2020s | 37,760 | 34,701 | 39,906 | 5 |
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 population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland?
- Population of the official entrance age to secondary general in Ireland was 39,906 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 39,906 in 2024.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to secondary general recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,900 in 2007.
- How does Ireland rank for population of the official entrance age to secondary general?
- Ireland ranks 118th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population of the official entrance age to secondary general rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. 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 the official entrance age to secondary general education, male (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