Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland

Ireland: Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates was 141,260 Persons in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
141,260 Persons
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
24th
of 27 countries
All-time high
172,954 Persons
in 2018
All-time low
125,550 Persons
in 2021
Years of data
8
2017–2024

Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland, 2017–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k2017202020242017: 127.5k Persons2018: 173.0k Persons2019: 171.4k Persons2020: 154.9k Persons2021: 125.5k Persons2022: 130.1k Persons2023: 137.3k Persons2024: 141.3k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

The most recent figure for total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland is 141,260 Persons, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 10.8% over ten years.

That places Ireland 24th out of 27 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates — Students enrolled in Ireland, 2017 to 2024.
Year Persons Change
2017 127,461 Persons
2018 172,954 Persons +35.7%
2019 171,439 Persons -0.9%
2020 154,893 Persons -9.7%
2021 125,550 Persons -18.9%
2022 130,140 Persons +3.7%
2023 137,268 Persons +5.5%
2024 141,260 Persons +2.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 157,285 Persons 127,461 Persons 172,954 Persons 3
2020s 137,822 Persons 125,550 Persons 154,893 Persons 5

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 21 Bulgaria 216,857 Persons compare
  2. 22 New Zealand 187,529 Persons compare
  3. 23 Switzerland 184,539 Persons compare
  4. 25 Costa Rica 132,176 Persons compare
  5. 26 Luxembourg 36,211 Persons compare
  6. 27 Iceland 19,771 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland?
Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland was 141,260 Persons in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 172,954 Persons in 2018.
What is the lowest total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 125,550 Persons in 2021.
How does Ireland rank for total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates?
Ireland ranks 24th out of 27 countries with data for 2024.
Is total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates — Students enrolled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/total-number-of-enrolled-students-new-entrants-and-graduates-students-enrolled/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Total number of enrolled students, new entrants and graduates — Students enrolled
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
37 places, 417 data points, 2013–2024
Last refreshed

This dataset contains data on the number of new entrants, enrolled students and graduates . The default table displays data on enrolled students for the latest year available and for a subset of education levels. The selection can be changed to display data: by year, by intensity, by sex and measure (graduates). Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on 29 September 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.