Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland
Ireland: Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration was 73.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland, 2005–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 73.0% 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, 68.0%, in 2019.
That places Ireland 15th out of 45 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 childcare or education by age group and duration in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | 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 | 68.0% | -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 | 73.0% | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.5% | 82.8% | 85.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 76.6% | 68.0% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 79.3% | 73.0% | 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)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (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 73.0% 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 68.0% in 2019.
- How does Ireland rank for children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration?
- Ireland ranks 15th out of 45 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.
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