Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland

Ireland: Early leavers from formal education by labour status was 3.9 in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
3.9
Change on year
up 30.0%
World rank
42nd
of 47 countries
All-time high
13.2
in 2004
All-time low
3
in 2024
Years of data
22
2004–2025

Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland, 2004–2025

2.557.51012.52004201420252004: 13.22005: 12.82006: 12.52007: 12.32008: 11.82009: 11.92010: 12.12011: 11.32012: 10.12013: 8.82014: 6.92015: 6.92016: 6.12017: 5.22018: 5.22019: 5.42020: 5.22021: 3.62022: 42023: 4.22024: 32025: 3.9

Source: Eurostat.

Analysis

In 2025, early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland stood at 3.9.

The figure is up 30.0% on the previous year and down 43.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland peaked at 13.2 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2024.

Ireland ranks 42nd of 47 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland, 2004 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2004 13.2 —
2005 12.8 -3.0%
2006 12.5 -2.3%
2007 12.3 -1.6%
2008 11.8 -4.1%
2009 11.9 +0.8%
2010 12.1 +1.7%
2011 11.3 -6.6%
2012 10.1 -10.6%
2013 8.8 -12.9%
2014 6.9 -21.6%
2015 6.9 +0.0%
2016 6.1 -11.6%
2017 5.2 -14.8%
2018 5.2 +0.0%
2019 5.4 +3.8%
2020 5.2 -3.7%
2021 3.6 -30.8%
2022 4 +11.1%
2023 4.2 +5.0%
2024 3 -28.6%
2025 3.9 +30.0%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 3.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.3, 47% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 3.9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.6, 45% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.42 11.8 13.2 6
2010s 7.8 5.2 12.1 10
2020s 3.98 3 5.2 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 39 Serbia 5.1 compare
  2. 39 Serbia 5.1 compare
  3. 41 Norway 4.3 compare
  4. 43 Montenegro 3.6 compare
  5. 44 Greece 3.1 compare
  6. 45 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 compare

See the full ranking of 49 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland?
Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland was 3.9 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest early leavers from formal education by labour status recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 13.2 in 2004.
What is the lowest early leavers from formal education by labour status recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2024.
How does Ireland rank for early leavers from formal education by labour status?
Ireland ranks 42nd out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
Is early leavers from formal education by labour status rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Early leavers from formal education by labour status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Early leavers from formal education by labour status in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/early-leavers-from-formal-education-by-labour-status/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Early leavers from formal education by labour status
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
49 places, 1,016 data points, 2004–2025
Last refreshed