Statistics

• Global Leadership: Ireland was identified in early 2025 as the most educated country globally, with 52.4% of 25-64 year-olds holding a bachelor's degree or higher, the highest rate worldwide, according to the GHR Consulting Global Tech Talent Guidebook.
• Third-Level Progression: 58% of 25-34 year-olds progressed to third-level education, significantly higher than the OECD average of 45%.
• Completion Rates: A high rate of bachelor's degree completion within three years was observed, with 77% finishing, compared to the OECD average of 70%.
• 2025 Global Peace Index, Ireland was ranked the second most peaceful country in the world
• Ireland is ranked 15th in the World Happiness Index (2025 World Happiness Report)
• 4th in the 2024 IMD World Competitiveness Rankings,
• 6th most popular Study Abroad destination (Source: Open Doors Report 2024)

• The 25-34-year-old age group had the highest level of third level attainment at 65% in 2024, followed by the 35-44-year-old group at 61%.
• In Q2 2024, 85% of females aged 25-64 years with a third level qualification were employed.
• More than nine in ten (91%) of males aged 25-64 years with a third level education were in employment in Q2 2024.
• Females across all age groupings (25-64 years) had higher levels of third level attainment than males.
• The region with the highest level of third level attainment of those aged between 25-64 years was Dublin (65%), and the region with the lowest was the Midlands (43%).
• Around 3% of people aged between 25-64 years had only a primary school education or no formal education.
• In 2023, Ireland was well above the EU-27 average for third level attainment across all age groupings. All but one grouping showed a difference of over 20 percentage points, with the 55-64-year-old age group at 14 percentage points.

Source: Key Findings Educational Attainment Thematic Report 2024 - Central Statistics Office 

Ireland has one of the highest and most valuable minimum wages in the world, according to a study by HR company Moorepay. It found that the €13.50-an-hour basic legal pay rate ranks as the sixth most valuable globally. The study by payroll and HR software company Moorepay said the minimum wage rate equates to €28,080 a year.
 

Young Irish people have the fourth highest standard of education in the world, according to the OECD 2019 Education report.

The Bloomberg Innovation Index 2021 has ranked Ireland as the 17th most innovative country in the world. Ireland is also
home to five of Forbes Top 10 companies; Apple, Google, Alphabet, Amazon and Samsung.

The overall Sustainable Progress Index, which includes all 17 goals set out by the UN, concludes that Ireland is in 9th place out of the 14 countries.

Sustainability is a strategic priority for Irish universities, which integrate it into their operations, research, and education to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our ecosystem connects companies with world-class Irish academic research centres and we offer attractive incentives for business R&D activities.

2023 Global Innovation Index, Ireland ranks:

• 2nd Agricultural Science
• 2nd Space Science
• 4th Immunology
• 4th Neuroscience and Behaviour
• 6th Microbiology
• 7th Materials Science
• 7th Pharmacology and Toxicology