School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland
Ireland: School age population, early childhood education, both sexes was 293,631 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland is 293,631, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 317.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland peaked at 328,108 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 52,371, in 2001.
That places Ireland 120th out of 207 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 52,371 | — |
| 2002 | 54,648 | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 56,672 | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 58,347 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 57,852 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 59,134 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 60,713 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 61,802 | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 61,785 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 62,144 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 65,578 | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 69,861 | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 70,652 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 70,366 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 69,626 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 70,901 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 328,108 | +362.8% |
| 2018 | 321,429 | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 316,815 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 310,956 | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 303,092 | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 296,694 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 298,007 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 293,631 | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 58,147 | 52,371 | 61,802 | 9 |
| 2010s | 144,548 | 62,144 | 328,108 | 10 |
| 2020s | 300,476 | 293,631 | 310,956 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 117 New Zealand 301,470 compare
- 118 Equatorial Guinea 300,875 compare
- 119 Finland 295,160 compare
- 121 Palestine, State of 285,913 compare
- 122 Mongolia 282,921 compare
- 123 Singapore 280,360 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 school age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland?
- School age population, early childhood education, both sexes in Ireland was 293,631 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 328,108 in 2017.
- What is the lowest school age population, early childhood education, both sexes recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,371 in 2001.
- How does Ireland rank for school age population, early childhood education, both sexes?
- Ireland ranks 120th out of 207 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, early childhood education, both sexes rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 317.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, early childhood education, both sexes (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