The statistics in this chapter were obtained from the Department of Education and Skills, and the State Examination Commission. The data includes details of participation in, and expenditure on, first, second and third level education and participation in further education. Results from the CSO’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) are also included.
The statistics on Higher and Further Education outcomes were produced using the Educational Longitudinal Database (ELD). The ELD is a framework for linking datasets on learners that have completed courses or programmes to other administrative datasets on education, employment and benefits which describe their outcomes in subsequent years.
In 2021, 45.0% of those aged 15 to 64 years (excluding Other/Not Stated) had a third level qualification while 81.6% of all persons aged between 15 and 64 years attained education levels of higher secondary level or above. Under 5% (4.6%) of persons aged 15 to 64 years had not progressed beyond primary level education.
Table 7.1 Persons aged 15-64 years classified by the highest level of education attained 1,2,3 | |||||
Thousands | |||||
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
Males | |||||
Primary or below | 102.5 | 110.4 | 116.9 | 107.2 | 77.6 |
Lower secondary | 267.9 | 263.1 | 252.1 | 238.2 | 254.9 |
Higher secondary | 382.6 | 392.3 | 405.4 | 394.1 | 396.9 |
Post secondary non-tertiary | 186.2 | 204.6 | 208.4 | 203.9 | 203.0 |
Third level non-honours degree | 146.3 | 139.5 | 138.9 | 152.1 | 137.2 |
Third level honours degree or above | 412.8 | 421.6 | 431.6 | 482.2 | 504.8 |
Other/Not stated | 55.9 | 42.8 | 41.4 | 35.2 | 48.2 |
Total | 1,554.0 | 1,574.3 | 1,594.7 | 1,612.9 | 1,622.8 |
Females | |||||
Primary or below | 82.6 | 89.4 | 98.2 | 82.1 | 67.1 |
Lower secondary | 215.1 | 208.3 | 208.8 | 203.5 | 183.7 |
Higher secondary | 361.2 | 366.4 | 372.3 | 354.6 | 360.3 |
Post secondary non-tertiary | 196.3 | 206.8 | 218.4 | 221.3 | 204.1 |
Third level non-honours degree | 171.0 | 161.6 | 169.1 | 177.6 | 188.1 |
Third level honours degree or above | 515.6 | 526.1 | 519.2 | 572.0 | 599.6 |
Other/Not stated | 39.6 | 42.0 | 35.8 | 29.6 | 47.9 |
Total | 1,581.5 | 1,600.6 | 1,621.6 | 1,640.7 | 1,650.9 |
All Persons | |||||
Primary or below | 185.1 | 199.8 | 215.1 | 189.3 | 144.8 |
Lower secondary | 483.0 | 471.4 | 460.8 | 441.8 | 438.6 |
Higher secondary | 743.8 | 758.7 | 777.7 | 748.7 | 757.2 |
Post secondary non-tertiary | 382.6 | 411.4 | 426.8 | 425.2 | 407.2 |
Third level non-honours degree | 317.3 | 301.1 | 307.9 | 329.7 | 325.4 |
Third level honours degree or above | 928.3 | 947.7 | 950.8 | 1,054.3 | 1,104.4 |
Other/Not stated | 95.5 | 84.8 | 77.2 | 64.7 | 96.1 |
Total | 3,135.6 | 3,174.9 | 3,216.3 | 3,253.6 | 3,273.6 |
Source: CSO | |||||
1 Reference period: Q2=April-June | |||||
2 A new Labour Force Survey (LFS) replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) in Q3 2017 and, as a result, care should be taken when comparing data from before and after this period. | |||||
3 A new framework regulation governing the production of European Statistics on persons and households (Integration European Social Statistics framework regulation – IESS FR) came into force on 01 January 2021. This has led to some minor changes to the previously published series on the publication of the Q1 2021 Labour Force Survey. Users should note that some further changes may be necessary by the end of 2021. |
The number of students in first level education totalled 572,941 in 2019/20. In the case of second level students, the participation rate rose strongly from 2005/06 until 2019/20, with 397,548 persons in full-time second level education in the academic year 2019/20. There were 189,904 persons in full-time third level education in 2019/20.
Table 7.2 Persons in full-time education by level | |||
Number | |||
School year | First level1 | Second level2 | Third level3 |
1965/66 | 504,865 | 142,983 | 20,698 |
1970/71 | 520,129 | 197,142 | 24,496 |
1975/76 | 550,078 | 270,956 | 33,148 |
1980/81 | 568,364 | 300,601 | 41,928 |
1985/86 | 576,576 | 338,207 | 55,088 |
1990/91 | 552,528 | 345,941 | 69,988 |
1995/96 | 485,923 | 373,665 | 102,662 |
2000/01 | 444,782 | 349,274 | 126,300 |
2005/06 | 462,811 | 335,134 | 145,287 |
2010/11 | 514,852 | 359,653 | 169,209 |
2011/12 | 521,677 | 363,136 | 166,574 |
2012/13 | 531,973 | 367,372 | 166,637 |
2013/14 | 540,232 | 371,211 | 170,364 |
2014/15 | 548,542 | 376,289 | 173,286 |
2015/16 | 557,107 | 381,615 | 179,354 |
2016/17 | 562,724 | 386,699 | 180,610 |
2017/18 | 567,614 | 390,564 | 183,642 |
2018/19 | 571,964 | 394,322 | 185,474 |
2019/20 | 572,941 | 397,548 | 189,904 |
Source: Department of Education and Skills | |||
1 Includes total enrolments in State-aided and non-aided primary schools | |||
2 Includes Post Leaving Certificate courses and total enrolments in State-aided and Non-aided schools and colleges. Excludes FETAC qualifications. | |||
3 Source: Higher Education Authority |
In 2018, the total net expenditure on education by the State was €9,192m.
Table 7.3 Real current public expenditure on education, 2006-2018 | |||||
€ per student at 2019 prices | €m at 2019 prices | ||||
Level | |||||
Year | Primary | Second1 | Third | Real current public expenditure | |
2006 | 5,229 | 7,390 | 9,610 | 7,666 | |
2007 | 5,796 | 8,430 | 10,329 | 7,997 | |
2008 | 6,455 | 9,343 | 11,160 | 8,242 | |
2009 | 6,684 | 9,417 | 10,565 | 8,530 | |
2010 | 6,058 | 8,406 | 9,339 | 8,479 | |
2011 | 6,134 | 8,468 | 8,797 | 8,388 | |
2012 | 6,133 | 8,543 | 8,323 | 8,185 | |
2013 | 5,959 | 7,837 | 7,702 | 8,286 | |
2014 | 5,755 | 7,777 | 7,245 | 8,166 | |
2015 | 5,973 | 7,835 | 6,999 | 8,451 | |
2016 | 5,906 | 7,771 | 6,774 | 8,451 | |
2017 | 6,342 | 8,208 | 7,092 | 8,703 | |
2018 | 6,788 | 8,797 | 7,252 | 9,192 | |
Source: Department of Education, CSO | |||||
1 Second level includes further education, e.g. Post Leaving Certificate programmes |
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