Primary education, teachers in Ireland
Ireland: Primary education, teachers was 42,162 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary education, teachers in Ireland, 1975–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, teachers in Ireland is 42,162, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 30.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, teachers in Ireland peaked at 42,162 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13,060, in 1976.
That places Ireland 92nd out of 204 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Primary education, teachers in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 13,397 | — |
| 1976 | 13,060 | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 13,076 | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 13,242 | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 13,803 | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 14,233 | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 14,636 | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 14,829 | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 15,117 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 15,484 | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 15,521 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 15,674 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 15,852 | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 15,880 | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 15,393 | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 15,513 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 15,614 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 15,775 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 16,212 | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 16,212 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 16,339 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 16,311 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 16,202 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 18,002 | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 21,148 | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 21,865 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 22,979 | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 23,972 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 24,792 | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 25,416 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 26,833 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 29,852 | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 30,697 | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 31,549 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 32,043 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 32,848 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 32,267 | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 39,152 | +21.3% |
| 2022 | 40,865 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 42,162 | +3.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 42,162 is above the median for high income countries, which is 17,584, 2.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 42,162 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31,624, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,316 | 13,060 | 13,803 | 5 |
| 1980s | 15,262 | 14,233 | 15,880 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,733 | 15,513 | 21,148 | 10 |
| 2000s | 26,439 | 21,865 | 31,549 | 9 |
| 2010s | 32,386 | 32,043 | 32,848 | 3 |
| 2020s | 40,726 | 39,152 | 42,162 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 89 Burundi 43,226 compare
- 90 Costa Rica 43,058 compare
- 91 Libya 42,696 compare
- 93 Denmark 42,105 compare
- 94 Papua New Guinea 40,888 compare
- 95 United Arab Emirates 39,735 compare
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, teachers in Ireland?
- Primary education, teachers in Ireland was 42,162 in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, teachers recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 42,162 in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary education, teachers recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,060 in 1976.
- How does Ireland rank for primary education, teachers?
- Ireland ranks 92nd out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, teachers rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.7%. 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, teachers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education, teachers refers to the total number of teachers at primary level, including full-time and part-time teachers.