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Ireland
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Ireland
Overview of the education system (EAG 2024)
  • In Ireland, the share of 25-34 year-olds without upper secondary educational attainment decreased by 3 percentage points between 2016 and 2023. At5%, it is 9 percentage points below the OECD average in 2023.
  • In eight OECD countries, there is no childcare gap as free early childhood education or compulsory education starts immediately following the end of paid parental leave. In contrast, Ireland has an above average childcare gap of 5 years between the end of paid parental leave and the start of free compulsory education.
  • Ireland did not increase the duration of compulsory education. Compulsory education in Ireland lasts from the age of 6 to 16 for a total of 10 years, which is below the OECD average of 11 years.
  • The average annual expenditure per student from primary to tertiary education in Ireland is USD 13 059 compared to an average of USD 14 209 in OECD countries. In Ireland, spending per student is USD 10 959 in primary education, USD 12 390 in secondary education and USD 16 700 in tertiary education.
  • Among countries with available data, between 2% and 12% of teachers leave the profession each year. In Ireland, the share is at the lower end of this range with 3%. Although typically around 2% of teachers retire each year (2% in Ireland), the share of teachers resigning is 1% in 2022/23 in Ireland.
    • | Education at a Glance 2024 | Country note | Annexes from Education at a Glance 2024 | OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics 2018 | OECD Education Policy Outlook: Ireland | Department of Education and Skills | Open Data Unit, Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform |
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    The following list displays indicators for which your selected country shows the highest and lowest values among countries. The list can be sorted by level of education or by age group. All rankings are calculated including available data from OECD and partner countries. Find out more about the methodology here.

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    Attainment

    The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.1 %, rank 42/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The level of tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (55.3 %, rank 3/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The level of tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (63.4 %, rank 4/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (39.1 %, rank 8/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-olds who have attained a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary qualification is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (14 %, rank 28/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Ireland has one of the lowest percentages of 25-64 year-old adults with less than primary education. (0.2 %, rank 28/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (35.3 %, rank 1/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-olds who attained a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (1.6 %, rank 8/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-olds who have attained a vocational degree at the upper secondary or post-secondary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (12.3 %, rank 28/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.4 %, rank 24/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (41.3 %, rank 4/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (1.2 %, rank 4/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Attainment by gender

    The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (51.5 %, rank 4/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-old women who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (58.9 %, rank 2/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained at least upper secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (94 %, rank 3/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained at least upper secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (95.7 %, rank 5/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (59.5 %, rank 3/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained tertiary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (67.1 %, rank 6/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the largest among countries with available data. (33.4 %, rank 3/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old women who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the largest among countries with available data. (37.2 %, rank 1/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-34 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6 %, rank 42/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-34 year-old women who attained below upper secondary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.3 %, rank 40/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Ireland has one of the largest share of women among 25-34 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education. (53.8 %, rank 2/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Ireland has one of the largest share of women among 55-64 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education. (54.3 %, rank 3/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of 25-34 year-old women who have attained a short cycle tertiary degree is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (2.5 %, rank 24/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained a short cycle tertiary degree is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (2.2 %, rank 23/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (11.5 %, rank 32/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Entrance

    The share of female students entering bachelor's programmes in Ireland is relatively small. (53.3 %, rank 31/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering doctoral or equivalent programmes in Ireland is one of the largest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (55.1 %, rank 4/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the average age of new entrants in bachelor's programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (19.9 Years, rank 36/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes younger than 25 is relatively low. (32.6 %, rank 30/33 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the average age of new entrants in master's programmes is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (31.5 Years, rank 9/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Entrance by field of education and gender

    In Ireland, the share of male among new entrants in doctoral programmes enrolled in the field of information and communication technologies is relatively small. (65.4 %, rank 31/35 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of women among new entrants in bachelor's programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (20.7 %, rank 36/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in information and communication technologies in Ireland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (12.2 %, rank 26/29 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes in engineering, manufacturing and construction in Ireland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (65.7 %, rank 29/31 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (60.3 %, rank 32/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (58.4 %, rank 18/22 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of services is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (21.7 %, rank 27/29 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Participation in education

    The enrolment rate of 6-14 year-olds in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among 15-19 year-olds in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (93 %, rank 5/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The proportion of upper secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21.1 %, rank 39/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of four-year-olds in early childhood and primary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (75.6 %, rank 36/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students in public tertiary educational institutions is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (97.8 %, rank 5/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students in government-dependent private tertiary educational institutions is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 19/23 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students in independent private tertiary educational institutions is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.2 %, rank 28/34 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of upper secondary 15-19-year-old students enrolled in vocational programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.5 %, rank 40/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of students enrolled in school- and work-based programmes among all upper secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/24 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 17 in general upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (91.6 %, rank 1/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 17 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.2 %, rank 3/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 17 in vocational upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3.3 %, rank 38/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 18 in general upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (46.3 %, rank 9/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 18 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3.7 %, rank 4/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 18 in vocational upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8.7 %, rank 31/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 19 in general upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.5 %, rank 36/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 19 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.5 %, rank 6/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 20 in general upper secondary programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.1 %, rank 39/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 20 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.9 %, rank 6/31 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of students enrolled in private institutions at all early childhood education level is comparatively high. (99.3 %, rank 1/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of students enrolled in private institutions at early childhood educational and development level is comparatively high. (100 %, rank 1/25 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of students enrolled in private institutions at pre-primary level is comparatively high. (99.1 %, rank 1/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The average age of lower secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes in Ireland is one of the highest compared to other countries with available data. (41.8 %, rank 2/22 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The average age of upper secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes in Ireland is relatively high compared to the other countries. (31.4 %, rank 2/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of upper secondary students enrolled in programmes giving full level completion without access to tertiary education in Ireland is relatively high compared to the other countries. (100 %, rank 1/27 , 2022) Download Indicator

    (100 %, rank 1/30 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The average age of post-secondary non-tertiary students enrolled in vocational programmes in Ireland is among the lowest. (26.3 %, rank 22/27 , 2022) Download Indicator

    (97.6 %, rank 4/17 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The average age of short-cycle tertiary students enrolled in vocational programmes is comparativele high. (34.4 %, rank 3/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in upper secondary general programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (54.1 %, rank 2/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in upper secondary vocational programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.4 %, rank 38/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.3 %, rank 5/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 20-24 in upper secondary general programmes in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 39/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 20-24 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.3 %, rank 4/31 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 20-24 in bachelor's programmes in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (31.6 %, rank 6/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    (0.3 %, rank 2/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of four-year-olds in pre-primary in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (75.6 %, rank 37/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of four-year-olds in primary education in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (17.6 %, rank 2/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of five-year-olds in ECEC in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.8 %, rank 39/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of five-year-olds in pre-primary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.8 %, rank 43/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of five-year-olds in primary education in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (97.8 %, rank 2/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of six-year-olds in ECEC in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 34/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of six-year-olds in pre-primary education in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 37/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of six-year-olds in primary education in Ireland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (100 %, rank 1/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female students enrolled in lower secondary vocational programmes is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (59.1 %, rank 4/22 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female students enrolled in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (22.3 %, rank 28/30 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Graduation

    The average age of graduates from general programmes at the upper secondary level in Ireland is comparatively low. (17.5 Years, rank 33/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The average age of graduates from vocational programmes at the upper secondary level in Ireland is comparatively high. (29.9 Years, rank 5/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the average age of post-secondary non-tertiary graduates from vocational programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (29.3 Years, rank 18/25 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of bachelor's or equivalent graduates in public institutions is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (91 %, rank 8/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of doctorate graduates in public institutions is relatively high in Ireland. (100 %, rank 1/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Graduation by gender

    The share of female graduates from upper secondary general programmes is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (52.3 %, rank 9/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (60 %, rank 1/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of female graduates among post-secondary non-tertiary graduates from vocational programmes in Ireland is relatively low. (38.1 %, rank 23/27 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of arts and humanities is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (10 %, rank 10/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.5 %, rank 37/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.9 %, rank 6/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of information and communication technologies is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8.3 %, rank 3/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (10 %, rank 33/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary vocational graduates in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.9 %, rank 36/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary vocational graduates in the field of health and welfare is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (35.9 %, rank 1/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary vocational graduates in the field of services is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.3 %, rank 31/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of services is relatively low. (5.2 %, rank 23/25 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of STEM is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (17.1 %, rank 36/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of health and welfare is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (32.4 %, rank 1/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of services is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.7 %, rank 33/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of arts and humanities is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (10.4 %, rank 10/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education and gender

    In Ireland, the share of female tertiary graduates in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.8 %, rank 36/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of female tertiary graduates in the field of sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.6 %, rank 10/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of male tertiary graduates in the field of arts and humanities is relatively large. (8.6 %, rank 9/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of male tertiary graduates in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is relatively small. (4.8 %, rank 34/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of female post-secondary non-tertiary graduates in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.5 %, rank 26/27 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of female post-secondary non-tertiary graduates in the field of services is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (34.3 %, rank 24/27 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of information and communication technologies is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (32.5 %, rank 9/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Fields of education

    In Ireland, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is relatively low. (10.3 %, rank 34/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of social sciences, journalism and information among all national tertiary students in Ireland is relatively low. (6.3 %, rank 32/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of information and communication technologies is relatively high, compared to other countries with available data. (5.9 %, rank 6/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of new entrants in social sciences, journalism and information bachelor's programmes is slightly low, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.6 %, rank 35/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of new entrants in engineering, manufacturing and construction master's programmes is relatively low in Ireland among countries with available data. (7.4 %, rank 35/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of new entrants in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary master's programmes is especially low. (0.1 %, rank 39/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Student mobility

    The percentage of national tertiary students enrolled abroad in Ireland is relatively high. (7.5 %, rank 7/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of international and foreign students enrolled in doctoral or equivalent programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (38.8 %, rank 7/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, international or foreign students from North America are most represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.6 %, rank 4/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, international or foreign students from Oceania are most represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.6 %, rank 5/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The proportion of international students among the new entrants in master's programmes in Ireland is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (27.2 %, rank 8/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in master's programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21.9 %, rank 8/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of international or foreign students coming from neighbouring countries is comparatively low . (5 Students, rank 35/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Student mobility by field of education

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of education among all international or foreign tertiary students in Ireland is relatively low. (1.2 %, rank 31/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of arts and humanities among all international or foreign tertiary students in Ireland is relatively high. (12.8 %, rank 10/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of international doctoral graduates in the field of Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (28.1 %, rank 10/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of international doctoral graduates in the field of Information and communication technologies is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.9 %, rank 5/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Expenditure in education and national wealth

    In Ireland, expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies. (2.9 %, rank 35/36 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, expenditure on primary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively low. (1.1 %, rank 27/36 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, expenditure on secondary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively low. (0.9 %, rank 34/34 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, expenditure on post secondary non-tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively high. (0.2 %, rank 1/20 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, expenditure on tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively low. (0.7 %, rank 35/37 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, public and private expenditure on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively low. (2.2 %, rank 35/36 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, public expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively low. (2 %, rank 39/41 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, public expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively low. (0.5 %, rank 38/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, public expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary to tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively low. (2.4 %, rank 40/41 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the public expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds on primary to post-secondary non-tertiary level is small. (2 %, rank 29/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The public expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds at primary to tertiary education is relatively low in Ireland. (2.6 %, rank 29/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The proportion of private expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds for primary to tertiary education is comparatively low in Ireland. (0.2 %, rank 22/27 , 2021) Download Indicator

    From 2012 to 2018, the average annual growth in total expenditure per full-time equivalent student on primary to tertiary education in Ireland is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.7 %, rank 23/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The percentage of capital expenditure on secondary education is relatively small in Ireland. (0 %, rank 26/28 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Government and private expenditure in education

    In Ireland, total public expenditure on primary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively high. (4.3 %, rank 7/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, total public expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively high. (0.3 %, rank 3/22 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Teachers

    The number of hours per year primary teachers spend teaching in public institutions is comparatively high in Ireland. (905 Hours, rank 4/24 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The number of days of instruction in a school year in lower secondary public school is especially low. (165 Days, rank 35/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The number of days of instruction in a school year in upper secondary public school is especially low. (165 Days, rank 36/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Who the teachers are

    The percentage of secondary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (1.4 %, rank 38/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff in upper secondary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (68.4 %, rank 10/43 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (77.5 %, rank 8/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of upper secondary teachers younger than 30 is especially low. (1.4 %, rank 39/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is especially high. (65.6 %, rank 3/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (16.5 %, rank 39/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers older than 50 is especially low. (27 %, rank 33/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of teachers under 30 in Ireland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.4 %, rank 33/34 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of teachers aged 50 or more in post secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in Ireland, compared to the other countries with available data. (50.8 %, rank 4/19 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of post secondary non-tertiary education teachers under 30 is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (4.1 %, rank 15/19 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of teachers aged between 30 and 49 in post secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in Ireland, compared to other countries with available data. (45.1 %, rank 13/19 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries

    After 15 years of experience, a lower secondary teacher with minimum qualification can expect to have one of the highest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (68907 USD Equivalent, rank 7/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the change in statutory lower secondary education teachers' salaries with 15 years of experience, based on most prevalent qualifications at different points in teachers' careers is relatively small. (94 Index, rank 24/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual primary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the highest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (67665 USD Equivalent, rank 6/23 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual lower secondary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the highest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (71569 USD Equivalent, rank 4/23 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual upper secondary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the highest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (71569 USD Equivalent, rank 6/23 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a lower secondary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the highest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (71026 USD Equivalent, rank 8/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, an upper secondary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the highest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (71026 USD Equivalent, rank 9/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a primary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the highest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (70337 USD Equivalent, rank 7/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries progression

    The salary progression from the start to the top of the salary scale for a lower secondary school teacher is among the most rewarding among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.9 Ratio, rank 7/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of primary school teachers with minimum training at the top of scale are especially high. (81128 USD Equivalent, rank 9/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    It takes lower secondary teachers longer to progress through the salary scale in Ireland compared to other OECD and partner countries. (35 Years, rank 10/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In lower secondary education, the salary ratio of teachers with maximum qualifications at the top of the salary scale to those with minimum training and starting salaries is comparatively high. (1.94 Ratio, rank 9/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Principals' salaries

    The average actual salaries of 25-64 year-old lower secondary education school heads is one of the highest in Ireland. (122987 USD Equivalent, rank 3/19 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average upper-secondary school heads' actual salary is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (122987 USD Equivalent, rank 5/19 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Migrant background

    The employment rate of foreign-born aged between 25 and 64 and without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (48.4 %, rank 28/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate of native-born aged between 25-64 with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low. (51.1 %, rank 29/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of foreign-born aged between 25 and 64 who work full-time full-year without upper secondary education are low compared to those of native-born workers with the same characteristics (85 Index, rank 25/26 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Earnings of foreign-born aged between 25 and 64 who work full-time full-year with tertiary education are low compared to those of native-born with the same characteristics. (93 Index, rank 26/27 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Earnings of foreign-born aged between 25 and 64 who work full-time full-year with upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education are low compared to those of native-born with the same characteristics. (85 Index, rank 26/26 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Ratio of student to teaching staff

    In Ireland, the number of students per teacher in public institutions tertiary education is one of the highest among countries with available data. (19.6 Ratio, rank 8/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Organisation of the education system

    Classes in public primary institutions are comparatively large in Ireland. (23 Students, rank 8/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Employment and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (91.3 %, rank 28/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Ireland. (44.2 %, rank 43/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is compartively high in Ireland. (89.8 %, rank 9/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education is comparatively high. (89 %, rank 8/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (55.7 %, rank 40/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Employment by gender and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (40.2 %, rank 37/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Ireland. (55.5 %, rank 42/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Ireland. (29 %, rank 42/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of employed 25-64 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (65.4 %, rank 30/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of employed 25-64 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (88.7 %, rank 6/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Unemployment and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (1.7 %, rank 10/13 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is one of the highest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (8.9 %, rank 10/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in Ireland. (4.5 %, rank 6/7 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-old with a short cycle tertiary education degree is relatively low in Ireland. (3.2 %, rank 19/22 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Unemployment by gender and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Ireland. (16.2 %, rank 10/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low. (4.1 %, rank 27/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in Ireland. (10.1 %, rank 8/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Inactivity and educational attainment

    The inactivity rate of 25-34 years-old adults with below upper secondary education is high in Ireland. (47.8 %, rank 2/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high. (17.3 %, rank 7/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is one of the highest among countries with available data. (40.8 %, rank 10/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (7 %, rank 4/25 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with a short cycle tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8 %, rank 20/26 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Inactivity by gender and educational attainment

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women without an upper secondary education is relatively high. (66.7 %, rank 3/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate 25-64 year-old women without an upper secondary education is relatively high compared to other countries with available data. (56.8 %, rank 8/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men without an upper secondary education is relatively high compared to other countries with available data. (33.8 %, rank 2/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old men without an upper secondary education is relatively high compared to other countries with available data. (29.6 %, rank 9/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high. (31 %, rank 10/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high. (25 %, rank 10/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high. (8.3 %, rank 4/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (8.5 %, rank 28/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings and educational attainment

    The earnings of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively high compared to those of adults with an upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education. (87 Index, rank 9/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old adults with tertiary education and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is quite high. (172 Index, rank 7/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Compared with other OECD and partner countries, the proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old adults with a bachelor's or equivalent degree and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is high. (161 Index, rank 4/35 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportional difference in earnings between 25-64 year-old men with a bachelor's or equivalent degree and those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is high. (182 Index, rank 4/35 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of 25-64 year-old full and part-time workers with tertiary education are comparatively high. (181.6 %, rank 6/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of young 25-34 year-old adults with a bachelor's or equivalent attainment earnings is relatively high compared to OECD and other members with available data (151 Index, rank 4/35 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers without an upper secondary education earning more than twice the overall median in Ireland is one of the highest among countries with available data. (4 Index, rank 8/38 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers without an upper secondary education earning at or below half the overall median in Ireland is one of the highest among countries with available data. (43 Index, rank 4/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education earning at or below half the overall median in Ireland is one of the highest among countries with available data. (26 Index, rank 4/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers with tertiary education earning at or below half the overall median in Ireland is one of the highest among countries with available data. (15 Index, rank 4/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the distribution of worker earning more than half the median but at or below the median among those with below upper secondary education is comparatively low. (29 Index, rank 37/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the distribution of worker earning more than the median but at or below 1.5 times the median among those with tertiary education is comparatively low. (17 Index, rank 36/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings, gender and educational attainment

    The earnings of men without an upper secondary education are relatively high compared to those of men with an upper secondary education. (88 Index, rank 7/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary education or post-secondary non-tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (84.3 %, rank 8/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (70.7 %, rank 37/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-64 year-olds with income from employment) are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (80.3 %, rank 33/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (61.7 %, rank 39/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (65.6 %, rank 31/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of young women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year), is relatively low compared to OECD and other members with available data (71.1 %, rank 38/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (88.4 %, rank 3/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Neither in education nor employed

    The share of inactive youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in Ireland is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (4.7 %, rank 37/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of men without an upper secondary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively high (44.2 %, rank 6/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively high. (18.8 %, rank 5/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of women who are inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (7.1 %, rank 34/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of women who are inactive NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (5.3 %, rank 36/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of men who are inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (4.5 %, rank 35/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of men who are inactive NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (4.2 %, rank 35/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (5.8 %, rank 34/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training (15-19 year-olds) in Ireland is relatively low. (2.6 %, rank 40/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the share of women neither employed nor in education among 15-29 year-olds is relatively low. (9.6 %, rank 35/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Among 15-29 year-olds, the share of youth without an upper secondary degree who are neither employed nor in education or training in Ireland is relatively low. (8.6 %, rank 38/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the proportion of young men who are neither employed nor in education or training among 15-19 year-olds is comparatively small. (2.5 %, rank 39/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Among 20-24 year-old men in Ireland, a small share of them are neither employed nor in education or training. (10.1 %, rank 33/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of women neither employed nor in education or training among 15-19 year-olds is relatively low. (2.6 %, rank 38/41 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Ireland, the percentage of women neither employed nor in education or training among 20-24 year-olds is relatively low. (9.8 %, rank 35/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training is comparatively small in Ireland. (8.6 %, rank 37/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 18-24 year-old men neither employed nor in education or training is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (8.6 %, rank 37/42 , 2022) Download Indicator


    The data table will display up to six selected countries.
    General findings
    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • Educational and labour-market outcomes for young adults at risk of falling behind have improved. Since 2016, the share of 18-24 year-olds not in employment, education or training has fallen from 16% to 14% on average across the OECD. At the same time, the share of 25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary qualification has decreased from 17% to 14%.

    • Job opportunities have also improved: the employment rate among 25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary qualification has risen from 59% to 61%, and for those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment, it has increased from 76% to 79%.

    • Educational outcomes are transmitted across generations. Inequalities start early and persist through all stages of the education system. In countries with available data, children from low-income families are on average 18 percentage points less likely to be enrolled in early childhood education and care before the age of 3.

    • Students who start an upper secondary programme are 19 percentage points less likely to successfully complete their studies if their parents have not attained upper secondary education than their peers with parents who have a tertiary qualification, and this gap is 13 percentage points for those starting a bachelor’s programmes.

    • These disadvantages result in very different levels of educational attainment. While 72% of adults who have at least one parent with a tertiary qualification have also obtained a tertiary qualification, only 19% of those whose parents have not completed upper secondary education have tertiary attainment.

    • Public expenditure on early childhood education measured as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 9% between 2015 and 2021, significantly more than for other levels of education. Enrolment rates in early childhood education have also continued to rise across all age groups. On average across the OECD, 83% of children aged 3-5 are enrolled in pre-primary education, up from 79% in 2013.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Equity in education and on the labour market | Education policies: Equity | Education policies: Gender | Education policies: Socio-economic status | Education policies: Migrant background | 
    
                            
    
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    • 	In almost all countries with available data, the share of younger adults (25-34 year-olds) without an upper secondary qualification has fallen since 2016 and for Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal and Türkiye these declines have been in double digits in percentage-point terms. This means many more younger adults will have the opportunity to succeed in the labour market.

    • 	On average across OECD countries, the share of women with at least a bachelor's or equivalent degree has almost doubled in a generation: going from 24% among 55-64 year-olds to 47% among 25-34 year-olds, reflecting a substantial increase in educational attainment.

    • 	In most OECD countries, the share of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in formal education or training (NEET) has decreased between 2016 and 2023. Costa Rica and Lithuania are exceptions, having experienced a rise above 3 percentage points in the share over this period.

    • 	Employment rates for younger adults (25-34 year-olds) slightly improved in most countries between 2016 and 2023, irrespective of their educational attainment level. However, the gap in employment rates between younger adults with below upper secondary attainment and those with tertiary attainment has widened in more than half of OECD, partner and/or accession countries with comparable data for both years.

    • 	In OECD countries, workers who have not attained upper secondary education earn, on average, 18% less than those who have attained this level of education. Meanwhile, workers with a tertiary education earn, on average, 56% more than those with only an upper secondary education.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Attainment | Education policies: Labour market outcomes | 
    
                            
    
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    • 	Most children aged 3 to 5 (84%) attend early childhood education (ECE) programmes across the OECD, yet only 32% of those aged 0 to 2 are enrolled in early childhood educational development programmes (ISCED 01) on average. Younger children from low-income families are least likely to attend these programmes, despite being likely to benefit the most.

    • 	Since 2013, 12 countries have extended the length of compulsory education at either pre-primary or upper secondary level. As enrolment rates in the years before and after compulsory education are already generally high, these measures often aim to increase enrolment among disadvantaged groups, where rates are lower.

    • 	The vast majority of primary students are enrolled in public institutions, averaging 85% across OECD countries. In some countries, government-dependent private institutions are prevalent, which often function in similar ways to public institutions.

    • 	Gender disparities at the upper secondary level affect students’ pathways in the labour market and higher education. On average, 51% of graduates from upper secondary general programmes are female, but in vocational programmes female only make up 46% of graduates.

    • 	Family background strongly influences success in upper secondary education. In all countries with available data, students whose parents have lower educational attainment have substantially lower completion rates than students with a tertiary-educated parent. Completion rates for students with immigrant backgrounds are also lower than for non-immigrant students.

    • 	On average, women are over-represented in tertiary education, but they remain under-represented in some fields. Only 15% of female new entrants at tertiary level choose a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field, compared to 41% of male new entrants. In contrast, only 4% of male entrants opted for the field of education and 8% for health and welfare, shares which have not changed since 2015.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Access and Participation  | 
    
                            
    
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    • 	Expenditure per student increases with the educational level in nearly all OECD countries, although by how much varies substantially among countries. On average, expenditure per student amounts to about USD 11 900 at primary level, USD 13 300 at secondary level and USD 20 500 at tertiary level.

    • 	OECD countries spend, on average, the equivalent of 4.9% of their gross domestic product (GDP) (over USD 3.5 trillion in total) on educational institutions from primary to tertiary levels (including tertiary research and development). Iceland, Israel, Norway and the United Kingdom invest over 6% of their national output into education.

    • 	Private sources play a much more important role in funding tertiary education, relative to government sources, than at lower levels. On average, private sources of funding amount to 0.3% of GDP for primary to post-secondary non-tertiary institutions, with a similar percentage for tertiary institutions. In contrast, government funding amounts to 3.2% of GDP for primary to post-secondary non-tertiary institutions, well above the 1.0% of GDP that governments spend on tertiary institutions.

    • 	On average, across OECD countries, the government is the primary source of funding for both public and private primary schools. For public institutions, the government covers nearly all expenditure, amounting to about USD 11 900 per student, while it accounts for less than 60% of the costs for private ones, roughly USD 7 900 per student, on average. However, these figure vary considerably across countries. 

    • 	Tuition fees for bachelor's degrees vary considerably from country to country. In one-third of the countries and other participants with data, public institutions either offer tuition-free education to national students or charge less than USD 1 100 per year in fees. In another third of countries, annual tuition fees are relatively modest, averaging between USD 1 400 and USD 3 100 per student. In the remaining countries, fees are considerably higher, exceeding USD 4 500 per year.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Finance and Funding | 
    
                            
    
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    • 	Between 2013 and 2022, the ratio of children to teaching staff at pre-primary level fell across most countries, from 16:1 to 15:1 on average in OECD countries, due to fewer enrolled children and more teachers. In some countries, however, the ratio has increased due to rising child enrolment and teacher shortages.

    • 	In most OECD countries, the salaries of teachers increase with the level of education they teach. On average across OECD countries and other participants, the salaries of teachers with the most prevalent qualifications with 15 years of experience range from USD 52 631 at pre-primary level to USD 60 803 at upper secondary level.

    • 	Between 2015 and 2023, the statutory salaries of teachers at primary and secondary levels increased by 28-29% in nominal terms on average across OECD countries. When adjusted for changes in prices, the rise in real salaries was much smaller, at 4-5%.

    • 	Based on official regulations or agreements, teachers in public schools in OECD countries and other participants are required to teach on average 1 007 hours per year at pre-primary level, 773 hours at primary level, 706 hours at lower secondary level (general programmes) and 679 hours at upper secondary level (general programmes). 

    • 	Of the 21 countries with available data, 18 reported that they faced teacher shortages at the start of the 2022/23 academic year, with only Greece, Korea and Türkiye not reporting any shortages.

    • 	The ageing of the teaching workforce is more pronounced in secondary schools than in primary education. On average across OECD countries, the share of older teachers (aged 50 and over) increases with the education level: from 34% in primary education to 36% in lower secondary and 41% in upper secondary education.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Teachers | Education policies: Teachers | OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)  | 
    
                            
    
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            Diagram of funding flows - Ireland
            
    
            
    
        
    


        
		
    
            
    
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            Country Reviews for Ireland
            
    
            
    
			
    
        
    
		
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
        
    
            Note: These values should be interpreted with care since they are influenced
            by countries' specific contexts and trade-offs. In education, there is often no simple
            most- or least-efficient model. For instance, the share of private expenditure in
            education must be read against other measures designed to mitigate inequities, 
			such as loans and grants; longer learning time is an opportunity to convey
            more and better content to students, but may hinder investments in other important
            areas. If you want further information on the nature of different variables, please
            take the time to read the analysis and contextual information, available at the website
            for each publication.
    
            All rankings for individual variables are compiled on the basis of OECD and G20 countries for which data are available. 
            The OECD average includes only OECD countries which are listed here: http://www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/
            

    
			Reference years displayed in the Education GPS correspond to the most common year of reference among countries for which data is available on each variable. Data for the latest available year is preferred and some 
			countries may have provided data refering to a more recent or late year. To know more about possible exceptions on data please click on the "Download Indicator" link on each variable. When a year of reference corresponds to a school year encompassing two years, the reference reads as follows: 2018 for school year 2017/2018.  
			

    
	    *TALIS averages are based on all countries participating in the TALIS survey, including partner countries and economies. 
		This explains the difference between the OECD average and the TALIS averages.
		Data from the TALIS survey and Education at a Glance (EAG) may differ. See Annex E of the TALIS technical report and 
		Annex 3 
		of EAG 2021 for more details about the data collections.
            

    
			B-S-J-Z (China) refers to the four PISA-participating provinces/municipalities of the People's Republic of China:
Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
			

    
            For additional notes, please refer to annexes in the list of links below the introductory country profile text.