Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2021

The latest available EU figures showed that, in 2020, 84% of all 20-24 year olds in the EU-27 member states had attained at least a higher secondary level of education. The corresponding figure for Ireland was 95%, ranking the country joint second with Greece among EU member states. Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1.

The latest available EU figures (2020) show that 41% of 30-34 year olds in the EU-27 had a third level qualification. Ireland had the fourth highest third level educational attainment level at 58%, behind Luxembourg (62%), Cyprus (60%) and Lithuania (60%).

Looking at the gender gap in third level attainment for 30-34-year olds in the EU-27, the latest figures show that for every country except Germany females have higher third level attainment. For the EU-27 average the difference is 10 percentage points with 46% of females and 36% of males having a third level qualification. Ireland has the second lowest difference between the sexes at only 6 percentage points, with females at 61% third level attainment and males at 55%. Estonia has the largest gap, here the difference is 24 percentage points, with females having a 57% third level attainment rate compared to males at 33% in Estonia. See Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2.

The latest available EU figures showed that in 2020, 10% of all 18-24 year olds in the EU-27 member states were classified as early school leavers. The Irish equivalent rate was 5% in the same period. This ranked the country fourth lowest among EU member states. See Table 4.3 and Figure 4.3.