UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland

Ireland: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 14.4% in 2017. ▼ Falling

Latest (2017)
14.4%
World rank
46th
of 90 countries
All-time high
39.8%
in 1981
All-time low
14.1%
in 2010
Years of data
7
1971–2017

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland, 1971–2017

0102030401971199420171971: 27.41981: 39.81991: 19.12007: 162010: 14.12011: 16.32017: 14.4

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland is 14.4%, measured in 2017.

The figure is down 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland peaked at 39.8% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 14.1%, in 2010.

Ireland ranks 46th of 90 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes in Ireland, 1971 to 2017.
Year Value Change
1971 27.4%
1981 39.8% +45.1%
1991 19.1% -52.0%
2007 16.0% -16.3%
2010 14.1% -12.0%
2011 16.3% +15.9%
2017 14.4% -11.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 27.4% 27.4% 27.4% 1
1980s 39.8% 39.8% 39.8% 1
1990s 19.1% 19.1% 19.1% 1
2000s 16.0% 16.0% 16.0% 1
2010s 14.9% 14.1% 16.3% 3

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 43 Costa Rica 14.9% compare
  2. 44 Australia 14.7% compare
  3. 45 Sweden 14.6% compare
  4. 47 Argentina 14.2% compare
  5. 48 France 14.1% compare
  6. 49 Denmark 14.1% compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland was 14.4% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 39.8% in 1981.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 14.1% in 2010.
How does Ireland rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
Ireland ranks 46th out of 90 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-lower-secondary/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is lower secondary, both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
90 places, 991 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with completed lower secondary education (ISCED 2) as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above who completed lower secondary education as the highest level of educational attainment by the total population of the same age group and multiplying the result by 100. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) educational attainment dataset shows the educational composition of the population aged 25 years and above and hence the stock and quality of human capital within a country. The dataset also reflects the structure and performance of the education system and its accumulated impact on human capital formation. For more information, visit the UNESCO Institute for Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/