Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland
Ireland: Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level was 1,147 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
1,147 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
31st
of 47 countries
All-time high
1,254 Thousand persons
in 2020
All-time low
964.6 Thousand persons
in 1983
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland stood at 1,147 Thousand persons.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland peaked at 1,254 Thousand persons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 964.6 Thousand persons, in 1983.
That places Ireland 31st out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 964.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 1,003 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 1,016 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 1,025 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 1,020 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 1,034 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 1,038 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 1,036 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1,042 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 1,079 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 1,058 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 1,060 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 1,075 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 1,075 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,084 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 1,075 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 1,048 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 1,037 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 1,051 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1,064 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 1,080 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 1,087 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 1,056 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 1,048 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 969.2 Thousand persons | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 1,012 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 1,080 Thousand persons | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 1,129 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 1,146 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1,155 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 1,145 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 1,157 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1,163 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1,162 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1,181 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 1,187 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 1,193 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 1,254 Thousand persons | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 1,188 Thousand persons | -5.2% |
| 2022 | 1,146 Thousand persons | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 1,142 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 1,148 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 1,147 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1,147 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,718 Thousand persons, 67% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1,147 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,789 Thousand persons, 64% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,014 Thousand persons | 964.6 Thousand persons | 1,038 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 1,063 Thousand persons | 1,036 Thousand persons | 1,084 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,049 Thousand persons | 969.2 Thousand persons | 1,087 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,162 Thousand persons | 1,129 Thousand persons | 1,193 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,171 Thousand persons | 1,142 Thousand persons | 1,254 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland?
- Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland was 1,147 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,254 Thousand persons in 2020.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 964.6 Thousand persons in 1983.
- How does Ireland rank for persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level?
- Ireland ranks 31st out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force by educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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