Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland
Ireland: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 98.2% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
98.2%
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
71st
of 209 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1950
All-time low
9.8%
in 1820
Years of data
55
1820–2022
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland, 1820–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland is 98.2%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland peaked at 100.0% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 1820.
That places Ireland 71st out of 209 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 9.8% | — |
| 1825 | 11.2% | +14.0% |
| 1830 | 12.7% | +13.8% |
| 1835 | 14.4% | +13.5% |
| 1840 | 16.4% | +13.2% |
| 1845 | 18.5% | +12.9% |
| 1850 | 20.8% | +12.5% |
| 1855 | 22.0% | +6.1% |
| 1860 | 24.6% | +11.8% |
| 1865 | 29.5% | +19.8% |
| 1870 | 32.5% | +10.0% |
| 1875 | 35.6% | +9.8% |
| 1880 | 43.1% | +21.0% |
| 1885 | 50.6% | +17.3% |
| 1890 | 54.2% | +7.2% |
| 1895 | 61.7% | +13.9% |
| 1900 | 60.3% | -2.3% |
| 1905 | 64.6% | +7.2% |
| 1910 | 64.9% | +0.4% |
| 1915 | 67.6% | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 64.4% | -4.8% |
| 1925 | 78.5% | +21.9% |
| 1930 | 87.0% | +10.9% |
| 1935 | 86.9% | -0.1% |
| 1940 | 82.1% | -5.5% |
| 1945 | 80.7% | -1.8% |
| 1950 | 100.0% | +23.9% |
| 1955 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 75.4% | -24.6% |
| 1965 | 74.0% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 92.0% | +24.3% |
| 1975 | 91.0% | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 90.0% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 99.8% | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 99.8% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 100.0% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 99.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 99.8% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 99.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 99.7% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 99.9% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 99.1% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 98.2% | -1.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 98.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 98.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.6%, 100% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 10.5% | 9.8% | 11.2% | 2 |
| 1830s | 13.6% | 12.7% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 1840s | 17.4% | 16.4% | 18.5% | 2 |
| 1850s | 21.4% | 20.8% | 22.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 27.1% | 24.6% | 29.5% | 2 |
| 1870s | 34.0% | 32.5% | 35.6% | 2 |
| 1880s | 46.8% | 43.1% | 50.6% | 2 |
| 1890s | 58.0% | 54.2% | 61.7% | 2 |
| 1900s | 62.5% | 60.3% | 64.6% | 2 |
| 1910s | 66.3% | 64.9% | 67.6% | 2 |
| 1920s | 71.4% | 64.4% | 78.5% | 2 |
| 1930s | 87.0% | 86.9% | 87.0% | 2 |
| 1940s | 81.4% | 80.7% | 82.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 74.7% | 74.0% | 75.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 91.5% | 91.0% | 92.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.9% | 99.7% | 100.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 99.9% | 99.7% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.1% | 98.2% | 99.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.47 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.19 (2022)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Ireland was 98.2% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 1820.
- How does Ireland rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Ireland ranks 71st out of 209 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. 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 (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.