School enrollment, primary in Ireland

Ireland: School enrollment, primary was 95.8% in 2017. ▬ Flat

Latest (2017)
95.8%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
58th
of 186 countries
All-time high
97.8%
in 1971
All-time low
87.0%
in 1986
Years of data
44
1971–2017

School enrollment, primary in Ireland, 1971–2017

0204060801001971199420171971: 97.8 % net1972: 97 % net1973: 97.2 % net1974: 96.1 % net1975: 95.8 % net1976: 96 % net1977: 95.9 % net1978: 95.8 % net1979: 95 % net1980: 93.8 % net1981: 92 % net1982: 90 % net1983: 88.4 % net1986: 87 % net1987: 87.7 % net1988: 88.6 % net1989: 89 % net1990: 89.4 % net1991: 88.8 % net1992: 88 % net1993: 87.6 % net1994: 87.6 % net1995: 87.9 % net1996: 88.8 % net1998: 94.7 % net1999: 94.7 % net2000: 94.8 % net2001: 94.6 % net2002: 94.8 % net2003: 94.9 % net2004: 94.9 % net2005: 94.8 % net2006: 95.2 % net2007: 95.3 % net2008: 95.4 % net2009: 95.5 % net2010: 95.2 % net2011: 97.5 % net2012: 95.3 % net2013: 95.2 % net2014: 95.4 % net2015: 95.8 % net2016: 95.9 % net2017: 95.8 % net

Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % net.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in Ireland is 95.8%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Ireland peaked at 97.8% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 87.0%, in 1986.

That places Ireland 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

School enrollment, primary in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, primary (% net) in Ireland, 1971 to 2017.
Year % net Change
1971 97.8% —
1972 97.0% -0.8%
1973 97.2% +0.2%
1974 96.1% -1.2%
1975 95.8% -0.2%
1976 96.0% +0.1%
1977 95.9% -0.0%
1978 95.8% -0.1%
1979 95.0% -0.8%
1980 93.8% -1.3%
1981 92.0% -2.0%
1982 90.0% -2.1%
1983 88.4% -1.7%
1986 87.0% -1.6%
1987 87.7% +0.7%
1988 88.6% +1.0%
1989 89.0% +0.5%
1990 89.4% +0.4%
1991 88.8% -0.6%
1992 88.0% -1.0%
1993 87.6% -0.4%
1994 87.6% +0.1%
1995 87.9% +0.3%
1996 88.8% +1.0%
1998 94.7% +6.6%
1999 94.7% +0.1%
2000 94.8% +0.1%
2001 94.6% -0.2%
2002 94.8% +0.2%
2003 94.9% +0.1%
2004 94.9% +0.0%
2005 94.8% -0.1%
2006 95.2% +0.4%
2007 95.3% +0.1%
2008 95.4% +0.1%
2009 95.5% +0.1%
2010 95.2% -0.3%
2011 97.5% +2.4%
2012 95.3% -2.3%
2013 95.2% -0.1%
2014 95.4% +0.2%
2015 95.8% +0.4%
2016 95.9% +0.1%
2017 95.8% -0.1%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 95.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 95.7%, 1.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 95.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 95.0%, 1.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 96.3% 95.0% 97.8% 9
1980s 89.6% 87.0% 93.8% 8
1990s 89.7% 87.6% 94.7% 9
2000s 95.0% 94.6% 95.5% 10
2010s 95.8% 95.2% 97.5% 8

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 55 Belize 95.9% compare
  2. 56 Grenada 95.9% compare
  3. 57 Poland 95.8% compare
  4. 59 Antigua and Barbuda 95.7% compare
  5. 60 Italy 95.7% compare
  6. 61 Peru 95.7% compare

See the full ranking of 229 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, primary in Ireland?
School enrollment, primary in Ireland was 95.8% in 2017, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 97.8% in 1971.
What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 87.0% in 1986.
How does Ireland rank for school enrollment, primary?
Ireland ranks 58th out of 186 countries with data for 2017.
Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% net). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, primary in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-primary-percent-net/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, primary (% net)
Unit
% net
Source
Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
229 places, 6,046 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.