Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2024

This chapter looks at how educational attainment rates in Ireland compare across the EU-27 in 2023. It shows that Ireland’s attainment rates compare favourably to rates seen across the EU-27. For 20-24 year olds, Ireland has the third highest attainment level up to higher secondary and in the 30-34 year old cohort Ireland has the second highest third level attainment rate. It also shows the Ireland has one of the lowest levels for early school leavers across the EU-27.

Ireland joint second highest in the EU for 20-24 year olds with at least higher secondary education

Main findings for secondary level education attainment of 20-24 year olds across EU-27:

• In 2023, 84% of all 20–24 year olds in the EU-27 member states had attained at least a higher secondary level of education. 
• Ireland had a rate of 95% of 20–24 year olds with at least higher secondary level of education, ranking the country joint second with Greece and behind Croatia among EU member states. See Figure 4.1 and Table 4.1.

In 2023, Ireland had a higher rate of third level education in comparison to the EU-27 average across all age groupings

Main findings for tertiary level educational attainment olds across the EU-27 in 2023:

• In 2023 Ireland was well above the EU-27 average for third level attainment across all age groupings.
• In 2023 Ireland had a 20 percentage point difference in the 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 age groups for tertiary level attainment over the EU-27 average.
• The 55-64 year old grouping had the smallest difference of 14 percentage points over the EU-27 average. See Table 4.2.

Tertiary educational attainment of 30–34 year olds – Ireland second highest in the EU

Main findings for tertiary level education attainment of 30-34 year olds across the EU-27 in 2023: 

• In 2023, the latest available EU figures show that 44% of 30-34 year olds in the EU-27 had a third level qualification.
• Ireland has a third level attainment rate for 30–34 year olds of 64% , marginally behind Cyprus on 66%.
• Across all countries in the EU-27, females have higher third level attainment levels for 30–34 year olds.
• The EU-27 average has a difference of 10 percentage points between the sexes, with 49% of females and 39% of males having a third level qualification.
• Ireland has the second lowest difference between the sexes at only 4 percentage points, with 66% of females having third level attainment and 62% of males in Ireland.
• Estonia and Slovenia have the largest gap in the sexes, with Estonia having a 28 percentage point difference and Slovenia a 24 percentage point difference. See Figure 4.2 and Table 4.3.

Early School Leavers– Ireland has one of the lowest rates in the EU

Main findings for early school leavers aged 18-24 across the EU-27 in 2023:

• The latest available EU figures showed that in 2023, 10% of all 18-24 year olds in the EU-27 member states were classified as early school leavers (Early school leavers are persons aged 18 to 24 whose highest level of educational attainment is lower secondary or below and are not currently in education).
• The Irish rate for early school leavers of 18-24 year olds in 2023 was 4%.
• Croatia had the lowest rate of early school leavers at 2% and Romania the highest at 17%. See Figure 4.3 and Table 4.4.