Education Trends:
Key Indicators on Education in Ireland and Europe
 

1. The Context of Education

1.1 Change in Population aged 0-29 from 1975 to 2000 (Percentage)

The vast majority of EU-25 countries have experienced a decrease in their young population (0-29 years) between 1975 and 2000. Ireland is one of only 3 countries that have experienced an increase in their young population in this period.

Change in the population aged 0-9, 10-19, 20-29 and 0-29 years from 1975 to 2000 (Percentage)
 

EU-15

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

 
0-9 years -24 -14 -30 -10 -23 -31 -29 -42 -13 -20 -39 : -29 -20 25 -25 4 -12 -20 -14 -33 -31 -19 -5 -6 -13 3 -5 0-9 years
10-19 years -19 -22 -4 -24 -24 1 -9 -23 -9 4 -30 : 1 -6 -8 -11 -9 -21 -22 1 -23 -5 0 -18 -2 -13 -6 -11 10-19 years
20-29 years 1 -9 1 -10 -6 -13 27 31 -6 41 5 : -7 4 3 -5 -4 -7 1 -2 22 1 13 -28 -10 -4 16 -1 20-29 years
0-29 years -14 -15 -11 -14 -18 -14 -5 -14 -10 4 -23 : -11 -8 6 -13 -3 -14 -14 -5 -14 -11 -2 -18 -6 -10 4 -6 0-29 years

Source: Eurostat - Population statistics

1.2 Percentage of young people in the 0-9 and 0-29 age groups, 2005

The proportion of young people aged under 30 years in 2005 was highest in Ireland, with 45 percent of our population in this age group.

 

EU-25

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

0 to 9 10% 11% 9% 12% 9% 9% 9% 10% 13% 14% 9% 12% 9% 10% 12% 10% 11% 12% 10% 10% 10% 9% 10% 11% 11% 12% 14% 13%
0 to 29 36% 36% 37% 36% 32% 38% 34% 35% 38% 45% 31% 42% 37% 39% 37% 37% 39% 36% 35% 41% 36% 35% 42% 36% 36% 37% 44% 38%

Note

CY: Data refer to government controlled area

Source: Eurostat, population statistics

1.3 Projected growth rates in the number of pupils aged 5-9 between 2000-2010, and between 2000-2015

Projected growth rates in the number of pupils aged 5-9 between 2000 and 2010, and between 2000 and 2015

 

EU-25

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

2000-2010 -8 -6 -24 -3 -12 -21 -7 14 6 14 1 -25 -31 -37 0 -20 -19 3 -16 -30 4 -13 -30 -13 -18 -13 (:) (:)
2000-2015 -9 -9 -24 -10 -16 -17 -3 20 2 22 -1 -25 -24 -37 -1 -20 -11 -5 -18 -31 6 -14 -31 -13 -12 -12 (:) (:)

Source: Eurostat, population statistics

1.4 Actual and Projected Annual Number of Births in Ireland, 1980-2012

Year

Births

1980 74,388
1981 72,355
1982 70,933
1983 66,815
1984 64,237
1985 62,250
1986 61,452
1987 58,864
1988 54,300
1989 51,659
1990 52,954
1991 52,690
1992 51,584
1993 49,456
1994 47,929
1995 48,530
1996 50,390
1997 52,311
1998 53,551
1999 53,354
2000 54,239
2001 57,882
2002 60,521
2003 61,517
2004 61,684
  F1 F2
2005 62,974 62,363
2006 64,182 62,943
2007 65,396 63,513
2008 66,553 64,008
2009 67,614 64,397
2010 68,579 64,683
2011 69,404 64,827
2012 70,181 64,917

Note

The Projected Live Births data for the years 2005 to 2012 assume that net inward migration will remain at its current annual rate of about 30,000 (M1). In addition, 2 Total Period Fertility Rate (TPFR) assumptions, F1 and F2, are shown. F1 assumes the the TPFR increases from its 2003 level of 1.98 to 2 by 2011, while F2 allows for some modest reduction in fertility from its present level of 1.98 to 1.85 by 2011.

Source: Central Statistics Office: Vital Statistics and 'Population and Labour Force Projections, 2006-2036'

1.5 Projected Age-cohort aged 17 in Ireland (1000s)

Year

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

Number in thousands 70 60 55 58 65

Note:

Projections are based on the F1M2 assumptions of fertility and migration. The fertility assumption F1, assumes the total fertility rate will increase very slightly from its 2003 level of 1.98 to 2 by 2011 and will remain constant thereafter. The migration scenario M2, assumes annual net migration will remain at the current level of 30,000 for the period 2002 to 2006, falling back to 20,000 in the period 2006 to 2011. Net migration is assumed to fall further to 10,000 during 2011 to 2016, falling again to 5,000 per annum thereafter.

Source: Central Statistics Office, Population and Labour Force Projections 2006-2030

1.6 Educational Attainment of the population aged 25-34, 2003 (Percentage)

 

EU-25

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

 
  25-64  
Low 31.7 38.6 11.6 18.1 16.5 11.7 44.2 56.9 35.2 38.2 53.1 34.0 17.7 14.0 30.4 26.0 80.7 30.8 21.7 17.9 77.8 21.5 13.4 24.4 17.9 : 32.6 13.5 Low
Medium 46.9 33.1 76.5 50.1 59.5 58.0 37.2 18.1 41.3 35.0 36.1 36.5 64.2 62.8 54.4 58.8 10.6 41.9 63.0 68.2 11.8 60.7 75.0 42.7 54.8 : 38.3 55.2 Medium
High 21.4 28.2 11.9 31.8 24.0 30.3 18.6 25.0 23.5 26.8 10.8 29.5 18.1 23.3 15.2 15.2 8.7 27.3 15.2 13.9 10.5 17.8 11.6 32.8 27.2 30.7 29.1 31.3 High
  25-34  
Low 22.2 22.6 6.2 13.6 15.0 9.1 25.2 40.0 20.0 21.5 38.4 15.8 16.1 14.0 22.7 17.1 64.7 20.9 14.7 9.4 62.8 10.8 6.0 12.4 8.7 : 30.8 6.4 Low
Medium 51.4 39.6 81.9 52.0 63.2 62.6 51.7 23.2 42.7 41.0 48.5 40.6 64.0 58.3 59.1 66.4 19.6 47.2 68.5 70.7 20.9 64.9 80.7 49.8 58.9 : 35.9 53.9 Medium
High 26.4 37.9 12.1 34.3 21.8 28.3 23.1 36.9 37.2 37.6 13.1 44.6 19.3 27.7 19.7 16.5 15.7 31.8 16.8 19.9 16.3 24.0 13.2 37.9 32.5 35.9 30.8 39.7 High
  35-44  
Low 27.1 33.1 8.2 16.8 13.9 6.4 36.9 51.9 31.1 32.7 48.7 24.3 8.6 4.1 27.6 19.1 79.6 27.8 16.9 10.8 78.2 18.1 8.6 15.1 12.3 : 28.6 9.6 Low
Medium 50.5 36.4 77.0 48.9 59.8 65.8 40.9 21.4 46.8 39.5 40.0 45.8 74.3 74.4 56.6 65.1 13.0 44.2 66.2 75.7 11.5 64.2 80.1 47.9 61.4 : 35.7 57.7 Medium
High 22.4 30.5 14.9 34.3 26.3 27.8 22.2 26.7 22.1 27.8 11.3 29.9 17.2 21.4 15.8 15.8 7.4 28.0 16.9 13.4 10.4 17.7 11.3 37.1 26.3 30.6 35.7 32.7 High
  45-54  
Low 34.7 45.2 14.1 16.6 15.9 9.2 52.7 66.8 41.2 48.1 57.3 43.6 16.5 9.5 35.5 24.7 85.9 35.0 25.5 19.9 84.5 26.5 16.0 26.8 20.5 : 30.6 15.8 Low
Medium 45.8 31.0 75.1 50.8 58.6 55.1 31.2 15.2 40.2 31.0 31.9 30.9 65.7 65.9 51.6 60.9 7.8 38.9 59.5 69.2 7.5 58.5 71.6 42.1 53.0 : 41.7 55.1 Medium
High 19.6 23.8 10.7 32.6 25.5 35.7 16.1 18.1 18.6 20.8 10.8 25.5 17.8 24.6 12.9 14.3 6.3 26.1 15.0 10.9 8.0 15.1 12.3 31.1 26.5 30.0 27.8 29.0 High
  55-64  
Low 46.7 58.3 19.3 26.2 22.0 24.7 69.6 80.8 52.5 62.2 73.6 62.9 32.3 34.1 40.0 47.2 94.7 42.2 32.9 37.6 90.6 33.2 29.7 44.5 31.0 : 44.0 25.0 Notes
Medium 37.7 23.1 70.6 48.5 56.4 46.0 19.8 8.0 33.4 22.9 19.4 24.3 49.6 47.4 48.9 38.9 0.0 35.7 55.9 52.0 4.2 53.5 62.1 30.6 45.5 : 40.0 53.8 Notes
High 15.6 18.6 10.1 25.3 21.6 29.3 10.6 11.3 14.1 14.9 7.0 12.9 18.0 18.5 11.1 13.9 5.3 22.1 11.2 10.4 5.2 13.4 8.2 25.0 23.5 23.8 16.0 21.2 Notes

Notes

Cyprus: data exclude students abroad (most higher education students study abroad).

United Kingdom: Data are not shown for low and medium. A definition of upper secondary attainment in the United Kingdom is being agreed and will be implemented at the end of 2005.

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey

1.7 Percentage of the population aged 25-64 who have not completed upper second level education by sex 2006

The proportion of the males aged 25-64 without Leaving Certificate or equivalent is higher in Ireland than most other countries. Only 5 other EU countries have a higher proportion of males without the L.C. or equivalent.

Country

EU-25

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

Male 28.4 33.1 6.3 16.6 13.5 14.2 41.7 50.8 31.3 37.1 49.1 29.0 19.8 13.3 31.1 18.3 68.3 24.9 13.4 13.5 74.6 16.2 8.1 22.5 17.9 23.6 :
Female 31.7 33.0 13.2 20.2 20.0 9.1 40.3 50.3 34.9 30.6 48.3 31.8 11.7 10.2 37.9 25.4 78.8 30.4 25.8 14.9 70.2 20.7 14.3 18.2 13.9 31.3 :

Notes

Cyprus: Data exclude students abroad (most higher education students study abroad)

Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey

1.8 Percentages that have attained at least upper second-level education by age-group, Ireland & EU-25 averages, 2004

Percentages that have attained at least upper second-level education by age-group, Ireland & EU-25 averages, 2004

%

EU-25

Ireland

25-34 79.1% 79.3%
35-44 74.0% 68.1%
45-54 66.9% 53.9%
55-64 55.3% 38.8%

Source - Labour Force Survey

1.9 Percentage of the population with Higher Education attainment, by age group, 2004

 

EU-25

BE

CZ

DK

DE

EE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU*

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

25-64 21.9 29.8 12.3 32.3 24.9 31.3 20.6 26.4 23.8 28.2 11.4 29.4 19.3 24.3 22.9 16.6 10.5 27.3 19.2 15.3 12.7 18.8 12.7 34.0 28.1 29.1 27.1 31.9
25-34 27.6 39.6 12.7 34.7 22.9 28.0 24.6 38.4 38.1 40.4 14.6 42.9 19.6 35.0 31.0 18.5 19.6 31.8 21.0 22.6 18.4 24.2 14.4 38.1 34.6 34.9 30.8 39.4
35-44 23.0 32.3 13.8 33.7 26.8 30.5 24.8 28.4 23.6 28.7 11.9 29.6 20.4 21.5 22.5 17.5 8.9 28.0 21.1 14.0 13.3 17.6 12.2 39.9 27.3 29.6 31.7 34.1
45-54 19.8 25.2 12.1 33.0 26.2 34.9 18.8 19.2 18.1 21.6 11.0 26.0 20.4 22.9 21.5 15.8 7.9 26.1 18.7 11.7 10.0 17.3 13.1 32.5 27.2 27.4 26.3 29.5
55-64 16.0 20.0 10.4 27.4 22.8 32.0 11.6 12.1 14.0 15.6 7.2 13.9 16.4 15.7 15.2 14.2 5.0 22.1 14.9 12.2 6.6 15.3 10.4 25.3 23.7 22.8 15.4 22.6

Note

The Netherlands: 2003 Data

Source: Eurostat - Labour Force Survey

1.10 At risk of poverty rate by highest educational attainment, 2000

In almost all the countries shown, the risk of poverty is highly correlated with the level of educational attainment. A person has a higher risk of being poor if his/her educational attainment level is low. Ireland has the second highest differential in the risk of poverty between those with low educational attainment (less than Leaving Certificate or equivalent) and high educational attainment (third level).

 

EU-15*

BE

DK

DE

GR

ES

FR

IE

IT

LU

NL

AT

PT

FI

SE

UK

Low 19 22 21 16 31 23 17 27 21 15 10 18 23 16 11 23
Medium 11 10 11 10 13 13 9 10 12 8 11 9 8 13 8 14
High 7 4 4 5 4 7 8 4 7 2 3 7 2 5 10 11

Explanatory notes:

Population in jobless households include persons aged 0-65 living in households with no member in employment.

The at risk poverty rate shows the percentage of persons with an equivalised income below 60% of the median equivalised income after social transfers. In order to take into account differences in household size and composition in the comparison of income levels, the amounts given are per "equivalent adult". The households total income is divided by its 'equivalent size', using the modified OECD equivalence scale. This scale gives a weight of 1.0 to the first adult, 0.5 to the second and each subsequent person aged 14 and over, and 0.3 to each child aged under 14 in he household. The equivalised income is attributed to each household member.

Source: The European Community Household Panel