Children in formal: % over the population of each age group in Ireland
Ireland: Children in formal: % over the population of each age group was 73 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
73
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
17th
of 47 countries
All-time high
85.5
in 2006
All-time low
68
in 2019
Years of data
21
2005–2025
Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland, 2005–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 73 for children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland peaked at 85.5 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 68, in 2019.
That places Ireland 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Children in formal: % over the population of each age group in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 85.3 | — |
| 2006 | 85.5 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 82.8 | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 83.6 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 85.5 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 80.5 | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 83.2 | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 77.4 | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 79.5 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 76.8 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 75.8 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 79.1 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 76.5 | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 69.1 | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 68 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 82.1 | +20.7% |
| 2021 | 85.2 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 81.8 | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 77.9 | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 75.6 | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 73 | -3.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 73 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 62.85, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 73 is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.6, 1.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.54 | 82.8 | 85.5 | 5 |
| 2010s | 76.59 | 68 | 83.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.27 | 73 | 85.2 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.455 (2100)
- Population density 76.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 217,052 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland?
- Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland was 73 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 85.5 in 2006.
- What is the lowest children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 68 in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration?
- Ireland ranks 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration - % over the population of each age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).