Photo: derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Ireland: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Ireland is placed 23rd of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 1.813 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 95.03 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
23rd
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 1.813Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 95.03Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 95.09Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Ireland on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Ireland’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0
1.813
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Ireland: 1.813. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Northern Europe
- 0.07 United Kingdom
- Land neighbours
- United Kingdom 0.07
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Ireland’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0
95.03
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Ireland: 95.03. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Northern Europe
- 99.56 Lithuania
- Land neighbours
- United Kingdom 98.6
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
95.09
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Ireland: 95.09. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Northern Europe
- 95.09 Ireland
- Land neighbours
- United Kingdom 90.29
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2023 figure for Ireland, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
02Over time
Which way Ireland is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
IrelandWorld median
Ireland rose from 0.183 in 2001 to 1.813 in 2022; the world median went from 4.051 to 3.002.
Every year’s figures
Year Ireland World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 — 3.393 2022 1.813 3.002 2021 0.854 3.330 2020 0.113 2.678 2019 0.294 2.758 2018 0.098 2.439 2017 0.082 2.907 2016 0.012 2.954 2015 0.049 3.052 2014 0.037 3.904 2013 0.073 3.413 2012 0.058 3.408 2011 0.125 3.626 2010 0.200 3.491 2009 0.026 3.577 2008 0.074 3.878 2007 0.175 4.029 2006 0.117 4.338 2005 0.259 4.571 2004 0.092 3.791 2003 0.019 4.412 2002 0.220 4.144 2001 0.183 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
IrelandWorld median
Ireland fell from 99.83 in 2011 to 95.03 in 2022; the world median went from 86.19 to 87.69.
Every year’s figures
Year Ireland World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 95.0 87.7 2021 96.0 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 99.7 88.8 2018 99.0 89.6 2017 100.0 87.4 2016 97.9 87.9 2015 96.5 88.2 2014 97.5 89.2 2013 98.4 88.0 2012 97.8 85.4 2011 99.8 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
IrelandWorld median
Ireland rose from 86 in 2000 to 95.09 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Ireland World median 2025 95.09 64.9 2024 94.83 65.0 2023 94.51 64.2 2022 94.23 63.6 2021 93.90 62.9 2020 93.58 62.2 2019 93.26 61.5 2018 92.92 60.9 2017 92.58 60.5 2016 92.27 60.1 2015 91.89 58.9 2014 91.43 57.0 2013 90.85 54.7 2012 90.15 52.4 2011 89.38 50.9 2010 88.65 49.5 2009 88.00 48.5 2008 87.48 47.4 2007 87.05 46.2 2006 86.65 45.0 2005 86.44 43.8 2004 86.41 42.9 2003 86.47 41.6 2002 86.42 40.3 2001 86.24 39.0 2000 86.00 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
IrelandWorld median
Ireland fell from 4.132 in 2000 to 2.905 in 2021; the world median went from 3.886 to 4.261.
Every year’s figures
Year Ireland World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 2.90 4.2611 2020 3.19 4.4056 2019 3.23 4.1407 2018 3.30 4.2159 2017 3.38 4.1401 2016 3.66 4.2342 2015 3.62 4.2386 2014 4.74 4.2005 2013 5.23 4.3493 2012 5.71 4.0348 2011 5.77 3.9987 2010 6.05 4.1396 2009 6.16 4.6638 2008 5.46 4.4226 2007 4.72 4.1717 2006 4.55 4.0593 2005 4.52 4.0557 2004 4.48 3.9745 2003 4.20 4.1595 2002 4.10 4.0173 2001 4.09 4.1002 2000 4.13 3.8861
03In context
Ireland beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Ireland and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom | 6th | 0.07 | 98.6 | 90.29 | — |
| Ireland | 23rd | 1.813 | 95.03 | 95.09 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Ireland in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Ireland is ahead of the world, and behind
22 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median17
Statistics on which Ireland does better than the middle country measured.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.022.33134.02No earlier reading
Ireland: 2.331 · world median 34.02 · 10-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple text (%). World Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.331 to 98.5; lower is better.
Position 125th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5988.5658.59No earlier reading
Ireland: 88.56 · world median 58.59 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 5.043 to 88.83; higher is better.
Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.8641.8519.86▲ Improved since 2014
Ireland: 41.85 · world median 19.86 · Adults 25+ who completed a bachelor's degree or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.135 to 52.72; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 90 · derived.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35516.01440.35▲ Improved since 2012
Ireland: 516.01 · world median 440.35 · Mean reading score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 328.84 to 542.55; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 79 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3419.1813.34No real change since 2013
Ireland: 19.18 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 7th of 195 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.94111.597.941▲ Improved since 2010
Ireland: 11.59 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 8th of 172 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.9220.619▲ Improved since 2015
Ireland: 0.922 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 10th of 176 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32521.33414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Ireland: 521.33 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 10th of 172 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.980.9748.9No earlier reading
Ireland: 80.97 · world median 48.9 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.73 to 91.73; higher is better.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.955,753701.95No earlier reading
Ireland: 5,753 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 16th of 145 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.897.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Ireland: 99.8 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 18th of 165 · derived.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09491.65442.09▲ Improved since 2012
Ireland: 491.65 · world median 442.09 · Mean mathematics score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 336.4 to 574.66; higher is better.
Position 11th of 79 · derived.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93503.85446.93▲ Improved since 2012
Ireland: 503.85 · world median 446.93 · Mean science score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 347.1 to 561.43; higher is better.
Position 12th of 79 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2198.8589.21▲ Improved since 2015
Ireland: 98.85 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 24th of 164 · derived.
Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.768365.76▲ Improved since 2013
Ireland: 83 · world median 65.76 · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.26 to 97.89; higher is better.
Position 18th of 95 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.729.933No real change since 2013
Ireland: 11.72 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 47th of 193 · derived.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8141.5880.814▼ Worsened since 2013
Ireland: 1.588 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 24th of 84 · derived.
Behind the world median1
Statistics on which Ireland does worse than the middle country measured.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.4740.446No earlier reading
Ireland: 0.474 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 61st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3561.3734.35Moved since 2018
Ireland: 61.37 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24020,1352,240No real change since 2022
Ireland: 20,135 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 252No earlier reading
Ireland: 5 · world median 2 · Laureates born in the country, 1901 to date (people). Nobel Prize Outreach, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 296.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1740.2938.17No earlier reading
Ireland: 40.29 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
No current reading for Ireland
Adult Literacy Rate, Female Share of STEM Graduates (last 2022), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2022), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2021), Government Spending on Education (last 2021), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2022), Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2022), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2022), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2022), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2022), Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2022), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, School Life Expectancy (last 2022), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2022), Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes (last 2022), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2022), Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Youth Literacy Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Ireland’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Ireland’s 9th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Development & Human Capital6th of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 8th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 1944/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality9th of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security13th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture17th of 1844/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation19th of 1764/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience22nd of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge23rd of 1983/4 keys
- Gender & Equality22nd of 1834/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 28th of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade33rd of 1774/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing40th of 2003/4 keys
- Energy41st of 1653/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 83rd of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability101st of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Ireland can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
Greece2nd3/4 keysHighest in Northern Europe
Lithuania5th3/4 keysThis page
Ireland23rd3/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Ireland on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Ireland rank on education & knowledge?
Ireland is placed 23rd of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary and Upper Secondary Completion Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Ireland?
1.813 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Ireland?
95.03 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Ireland compare with United Kingdom on education & knowledge?
United Kingdom is placed 6th of 198, and Ireland 23rd. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: United Kingdom 0.07, Ireland 1.813; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: United Kingdom 98.6, Ireland 95.03; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: United Kingdom 90.29, Ireland 95.09.
How have Ireland’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.183 in 2001 to 1.813 in 2022; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 99.83 in 2011 to 95.03 in 2022; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 86 in 2000 to 95.09 in 2025; Government Spending on Education fell from 4.132 in 2000 to 2.905 in 2021.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Ireland?
No current reading is published for Ireland on Adult Literacy Rate, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Primary, Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Primary, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Share of Graduates from ICT Programmes, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Youth Literacy Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 22 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Ireland’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Ireland (banner) — derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 2.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Ireland: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ireland/education