Over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland
Ireland: Over-qualification rates by country of birth was 27.1 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
The most recent figure for over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland is 27.1, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland peaked at 33.7 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 24.5, in 2000.
That places Ireland 5th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 30.8 | — |
| 1996 | 33.2 | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 33.7 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 24.8 | -26.4% |
| 2000 | 24.5 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 25.3 | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 25.9 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 26.5 | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 27.2 | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 30 | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 30.8 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 30.2 | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 30 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 29.3 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 28.9 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 30.1 | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 28.9 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 30.2 | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 29.8 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 29.2 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 28.6 | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 29.4 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 29.6 | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 30 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 29.5 | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 28.6 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 28.4 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 28 | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 27.4 | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 27.1 | -1.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 27.1 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.15, 1.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 27.1 is above the median for high income countries, which is 20, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Over-qualification rates by country of birth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | -26.4% | 33.7 | 24.8 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.62 | 24.8 | 33.7 | 4 |
| 2000s | 27.97 | 24.5 | 30.8 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.47 | 28.6 | 30.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.17 | 27.1 | 29.5 | 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 over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland?
- Over-qualification rates by country of birth in Ireland was 27.1 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest over-qualification rates by country of birth recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7 in 1997.
- What is the lowest over-qualification rates by country of birth recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.5 in 2000.
- How does Ireland rank for over-qualification rates by country of birth?
- Ireland ranks 5th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is over-qualification rates by country of birth rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Over-qualification rates by country of birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).