Distribution of population aged 18 … educational in Ireland

Ireland: Distribution of population aged 18 … educational was 11.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
11.5
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
35th
of 49 countries
All-time high
37.5
in 2004
All-time low
11.5
in 2025
Years of data
23
2003–2025

Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland, 2003–2025

102030402003201420252003: 37.12004: 37.52005: 36.62006: 34.72007: 33.92008: 33.32009: 31.22010: 29.82011: 26.92012: 24.82013: 23.32014: 22.32015: 20.82016: 19.82017: 18.82018: 162019: 17.22020: 12.92021: 15.22022: 142023: 13.52024: 12.22025: 11.5

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

In 2025, distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland stood at 11.5. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 44.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland peaked at 37.5 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 11.5, in 2025.

Ireland ranks 35th of 49 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Distribution of population aged 18 … educational in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group in Ireland, 2003 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2003 37.1 —
2004 37.5 +1.1%
2005 36.6 -2.4%
2006 34.7 -5.2%
2007 33.9 -2.3%
2008 33.3 -1.8%
2009 31.2 -6.3%
2010 29.8 -4.5%
2011 26.9 -9.7%
2012 24.8 -7.8%
2013 23.3 -6.0%
2014 22.3 -4.3%
2015 20.8 -6.7%
2016 19.8 -4.8%
2017 18.8 -5.1%
2018 16 -14.9%
2019 17.2 +7.5%
2020 12.9 -25.0%
2021 15.2 +17.8%
2022 14 -7.9%
2023 13.5 -3.6%
2024 12.2 -9.6%
2025 11.5 -5.7%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 11.5 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.25, 81% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 11.5 is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2, 81% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 34.9 31.2 37.5 7
2010s 21.97 16 29.8 10
2020s 13.22 11.5 15.2 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 33 Cyprus 12 compare
  2. 34 Montenegro 11.7 compare
  3. 36 Latvia 10.6 compare
  4. 36 Latvia 10.6 compare
  5. 38 Slovenia 10.4 compare
  6. 38 Slovenia 10.4 compare

See the full ranking of 55 places →

More population data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland?
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland was 11.5 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 37.5 in 2004.
What is the lowest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 11.5 in 2025.
How does Ireland rank for distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment?
Ireland ranks 35th out of 49 countries with data for 2025.
Is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. 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 Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/distribution-of-population-aged-18-and-over-by-educational-attainment-level-and-age-group/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
55 places, 1,029 data points, 2003–2025
Last refreshed