Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland

Ireland: Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education was 79.4% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
79.4%
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
2nd
of 46 countries
All-time high
81.8%
in 2000
All-time low
70.3%
in 2009
Years of data
7
2000–2018

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland, 2000–2018

0204060802000200920182000: 81.8 %2003: 76.6 %2006: 78.7 %2009: 70.3 %2012: 80.2 %2015: 81.5 %2018: 79.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland is 79.4%, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland peaked at 81.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 70.3%, in 2009.

That places Ireland 2nd out of 46 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, very poor socioeconomic background, both sexes (%) in Ireland, 2000 to 2018.
Year % Change
2000 81.8%
2003 76.6% -6.3%
2006 78.7% +2.6%
2009 70.3% -10.7%
2012 80.2% +14.2%
2015 81.5% +1.6%
2018 79.4% -2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 76.8% 70.3% 81.8% 4
2010s 80.4% 79.4% 81.5% 3

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 1 Hong Kong, China 82.0% compare
  2. 3 Finland 79.1% compare
  3. 4 Canada 78.3% compare
  4. 5 Poland 76.0% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland?
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland was 79.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 81.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 70.3% in 2009.
How does Ireland rank for proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education?
Ireland ranks 2nd out of 46 countries with data for 2018.
Is proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, very poor socioeconomic background, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-students-at-the-end-of-lower-secondary-education-achieving-at-least-a-18/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading, very poor socioeconomic background, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
46 places, 295 data points, 2000–2018
Last refreshed

Percentage of children at the end of lower secondary education reaching at least a minimum proficiency level in reading. A minimum proficiency level (MPL) is the benchmark of basic knowledge in a domain (mathematics, reading, etc.) measured through learning assessments. The indicator is calculated as the number of children and/or young people at the relevant stage of education n in a given year t achieving or exceeding the pre-defined proficiency level in a given subject s, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children and/or young people at stage of education n, in year t, in any proficiency level in subject s. The higher the value of the indicator, the higher the proportion of children or young adults who have acquired the minimum level of meaningful competencies. Data are calculated by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from sources that include the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Programme for International Student Assessment for Development (PISA-D), Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), El Laboratorio Latino americano de Evaluación de la Calidad de la Educación (LLECE), Programme d’analyse des systèmes éducatifs de la confemen (PASEC), Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality (SACMEQ), Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA), national assessments data collected through the Catalogue of Learning Assessments (CLA) and/or available in national reports, and population-based assessments (Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA), UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), People’s Action for Learning (PAL) NETWORK: e.g. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), UWEZO, etc.)). For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute for Statistics: http://uis.unesco.org/