Primary education, pupils in Ireland
Ireland: Primary education, pupils was 548,873 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Primary education, pupils in Ireland, 1971–2022
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2022, primary education, pupils in Ireland stood at 548,873.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Ireland peaked at 570,381 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 358,830, in 1997.
Ireland ranks 108th of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 399,700 | — |
| 1972 | 399,560 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 403,700 | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 399,894 | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 402,219 | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 404,818 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 406,432 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 410,402 | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 414,624 | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 418,247 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 419,998 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 420,871 | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 421,539 | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 420,444 | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 420,665 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 420,236 | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 422,150 | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 423,402 | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 423,662 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 422,396 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 416,747 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 408,567 | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 402,226 | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 391,998 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 380,983 | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 367,689 | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 358,830 | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 465,186 | +29.6% |
| 1999 | 456,564 | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 449,638 | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 443,617 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 445,947 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 447,618 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 450,413 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 454,060 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 461,588 | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 475,836 | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 486,921 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 498,838 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 506,400 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 511,466 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 518,223 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 527,768 | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 536,471 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 544,856 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 553,585 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 559,151 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 564,304 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 568,495 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 570,381 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 557,157 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 548,873 | -1.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 548,873 is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 2.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 548,873 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary education, pupils 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +29.6% | 358,830 | 465,186 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 404,594 | 399,560 | 414,624 | 9 |
| 1980s | 421,121 | 418,247 | 423,662 | 10 |
| 1990s | 407,119 | 358,830 | 465,186 | 10 |
| 2000s | 461,448 | 443,617 | 498,838 | 10 |
| 2010s | 539,072 | 506,400 | 568,495 | 10 |
| 2020s | 558,804 | 548,873 | 570,381 | 3 |
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 primary education, pupils in Ireland?
- Primary education, pupils in Ireland was 548,873 in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 570,381 in 2020.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 358,830 in 1997.
- How does Ireland rank for primary education, pupils?
- Ireland ranks 108th out of 206 countries with data for 2022.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.