Ireland education statistics by area — third-level attainment mapped
40.9% of Irish adults hold a third-level qualification according to Census 2022. The rate varies from well above 70% in parts of south Dublin to below 15% in some rural and urban peripheral electoral divisions. The map shows where educational attainment concentrates — and where it does not reach the national average.
Ireland education — Census 2022 overview
Areas with the highest third-level attainment
These electoral divisions recorded the highest proportion of adults with a third-level qualification in Census 2022. Third-level attainment above 70% is concentrated in specific south Dublin EDs, university adjacent areas, and parts of major city centres.
| Electoral Division | Third-Level % |
|---|---|
| 1. DUN LAOGHAIRE-GLENAGEARYDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 84.2% |
| 2. BLACKROCK-CENTRALDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 83.3% |
| 3. BLACKROCK-BOOTERSTOWNDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 83.2% |
| 4. RATHMINES EAST BDublin City | 83.1% |
| 5. BLACKROCK-SEAPOINTDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 82.7% |
| 6. CLONSKEAGH-MILLTOWNDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 81.7% |
Areas with the lowest attainment
EDs below 15% third-level attainment are found in rural midlands, northwest, and some urban peripheral areas. These EDs consistently show higher unemployment and lower home ownership rates in Census 2022.
| Electoral Division | Third-Level % |
|---|---|
| 1. JOHN'S ALimerick City | 19.2% |
| 2. KILLEELY ALimerick City | 22.8% |
| 3. GALVONE BLimerick City | 23.6% |
| 4. PRIORSWOOD BDublin City | 23.7% |
| 5. GLENTWORTH CLimerick City | 23.8% |
| 6. FARRANFERRIS BCork City | 24.4% |
South Dublin records some of Europe's highest local attainment rates
Electoral divisions in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and parts of south Dublin city record third-level attainment above 70%. This is not a county figure — it is the measured rate at electoral division level from Census 2022 returns. The concentration is geographic, not spread evenly across the county.
The attainment gap between urban and rural Ireland
Some rural EDs in the midlands, northwest, and border regions record rates below 20%. At 40.9% nationally, the gap between the top and bottom decile exceeds 50 percentage points. These divisions often overlap with higher unemployment and lower home ownership rates.
- University towns: EDs in Galway city, Maynooth, Limerick city, and Cork city record above-average attainment driven by proximity to third-level institutions.
- South Dublin concentration: The highest attainment rates in Ireland are found in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and south Dublin suburbs — above 70% in the top electoral divisions.
- Rural midlands gap: Counties like Longford, Roscommon, and Leitrim record third-level attainment well below the national average — often below 25% in individual EDs.
- Urban peripheral estates: Outer city estates in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick show a different profile to rural low-attainment areas — higher density, higher unemployment, lower education.
Map education by area
IrelandInsights shows third-level education attainment for every electoral division in Ireland using Census 2022 data. Overlay unemployment, home ownership, and age to build a complete picture of any area.
← Unemployment by area · Where to live in Ireland →