Share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland
Ireland: Share of population 15 years and older with no education was 0.4 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland is 0.4, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland peaked at 81.9 in 1870 and was at its lowest, 0.4, in 2020.
Ireland ranks 97th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 81.9 | — |
| 1875 | 79.3 | -3.2% |
| 1880 | 76.6 | -3.4% |
| 1885 | 73.8 | -3.7% |
| 1890 | 69.9 | -5.3% |
| 1895 | 65.6 | -6.2% |
| 1900 | 61.5 | -6.2% |
| 1905 | 56.7 | -7.8% |
| 1910 | 52.4 | -7.6% |
| 1915 | 47.4 | -9.5% |
| 1920 | 42.4 | -10.5% |
| 1925 | 37.3 | -12.0% |
| 1930 | 32.1 | -13.9% |
| 1935 | 24.4 | -24.0% |
| 1940 | 15.8 | -35.2% |
| 1945 | 9.7 | -38.6% |
| 1950 | 5.2 | -46.4% |
| 1955 | 4.5 | -13.5% |
| 1960 | 4 | -11.1% |
| 1965 | 3.4 | -15.0% |
| 1970 | 3.3 | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 3.3 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.9 | -42.4% |
| 1985 | 1.7 | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 1.7 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 4.1 | +141.2% |
| 2000 | 4.2 | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 0.6 | -85.7% |
| 2010 | 0.6 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.5 | -16.7% |
| 2020 | 0.4 | -20.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 0.4 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1, 40% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 0.4 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.05, 38% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population 15 years and older with no education 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +141.2% | 1.7 | 4.1 |
| 2005 | -85.7% | 4.2 | 0.6 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 80.6 | 79.3 | 81.9 | 2 |
| 1880s | 75.2 | 73.8 | 76.6 | 2 |
| 1890s | 67.75 | 65.6 | 69.9 | 2 |
| 1900s | 59.1 | 56.7 | 61.5 | 2 |
| 1910s | 49.9 | 47.4 | 52.4 | 2 |
| 1920s | 39.85 | 37.3 | 42.4 | 2 |
| 1930s | 28.25 | 24.4 | 32.1 | 2 |
| 1940s | 12.75 | 9.7 | 15.8 | 2 |
| 1950s | 4.85 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.7 | 3.4 | 4 | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.9 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.4 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1 |
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 population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland?
- Share of population 15 years and older with no education in Ireland was 0.4 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population 15 years and older with no education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 81.9 in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population 15 years and older with no education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4 in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for share of population 15 years and older with no education?
- Ireland ranks 97th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population 15 years and older with no education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population 15 years and older with no education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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