Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland
Ireland: Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data was 343.5 Thousand persons in 2026. ▲ Rising
Latest (2026)
343.5 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
26th
of 47 countries
All-time high
363.5 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
278.6 Thousand persons
in 1998
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2026, self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland stood at 343.5 Thousand persons.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland peaked at 363.5 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 278.6 Thousand persons, in 1998.
Ireland ranks 26th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 278.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 291.2 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 292 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 297.1 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 295.9 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 307.3 Thousand persons | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 310 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 309 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 317.1 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 354.4 Thousand persons | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 350.5 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 326.7 Thousand persons | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 301.8 Thousand persons | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 294 Thousand persons | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 293.8 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 318 Thousand persons | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 314 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 314.2 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 321.1 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 324.1 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 311.1 Thousand persons | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 323.7 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 315.5 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 323.1 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 328.9 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 329.2 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 338.8 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 363.5 Thousand persons | +7.3% |
| 2026 | 343.5 Thousand persons | -5.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 343.5 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 434.7 Thousand persons, 79% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 343.5 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 472.3 Thousand persons, 73% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 284.9 Thousand persons | 278.6 Thousand persons | 291.2 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 316 Thousand persons | 292 Thousand persons | 354.4 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 311.58 Thousand persons | 293.8 Thousand persons | 324.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 334.64 Thousand persons | 315.5 Thousand persons | 363.5 Thousand persons | 7 |
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 self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland?
- Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data in Ireland was 343.5 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 363.5 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 278.6 Thousand persons in 1998.
- How does Ireland rank for self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data?
- Ireland ranks 26th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. 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 Self-employed persons by educational attainment level - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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