Adult participation in learning in Ireland
14.6% of adults aged 25 to 64 in Ireland took part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025.
Ireland, 2025
14.6%
Change from 2024
−0.1percentage points
European Union, 2025
13.7%
Median of European Union (27 countries), 2025
14.6%
Position in 2025
17th of 34
Adult participation in learning in Ireland over time
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Ireland
European Union
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The chart loads when you scroll to it. The table below shows the same data.
The chart shows a calculation from the published values. The table below keeps the published values.
% of population aged 25 to 64. Source: Eurostat. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.
| Period | Ireland | European Union |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.6% | 13.7% |
| 2024 | 14.7%b (break in time series) | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 11.8% | 11.9% |
| 2021 | 13.6%b (break in time series) | 10.9%b (break in time series) |
| 2020 | 11.0% | 9.1% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 12.5% | 10.7% |
| 2017 | 9.0%b (break in time series) | 10.4% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | 10.3% |
| 2015 | 6.5% | 10.1% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | 10.1% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | 9.9% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | 8.2% |
| 2011 | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | 7.8% |
| 2009 | 6.6% | 7.9% |
| 2008 | 7.2% | 8.0% |
| 2007 | 7.8%b (break in time series) | 7.9% |
| 2006 | 7.4%b (break in time series) | 7.8%b (break in time series) |
| 2005 | 7.4% | 7.7% |
| 2004 | 6.1%b (break in time series) | 7.1% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | 6.4%b (break in time series) |
| 2002 | 5.5% | 5.3% |
Flags: b break in time series . A dash means no value was published.
In short
- That is a change of −0.1 percentage points from 14.7% in 2024.
- Since 2015, when it was 6.5%, the figure has changed by +8.1 percentage points. The source marks a break in the series during this period, so part of the change may come from a change in method.
- Among the 34 countries with data for 2025, Ireland has the 17th highest value.
- The figure for the European Union in 2025 was 13.7%.
More for Ireland
All statistics for Ireland
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
66.8%
2025 · Eurostat
Basic digital skills
82.8%
2025 · Eurostat
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
8.1%
2025 · Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
3.6%
2025 · Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
5.8%
2025 · ILOSTAT
Out-of-school children
1.8%nat_est (National estimate)
2022 · UNESCO UIS