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Student numbers across the education system rose noticeably in the 2023/2024 academic year, reflecting steady growth from early childhood education through to universities, according to the latest Annual Survey on Education released by the Statistical Service.
A total of 218,129 pupils and students were enrolled at all levels of education, an increase of 4.7% compared with 208,374 the previous year. This upward trend was accompanied by moderate expansion in infrastructure and staffing. The number of educational institutions climbed to 1,368, up from 1,351, while teaching staff grew by 5% to 17,298 educators nationwide.
Growth was evident across almost every stage of education. Preschool and pre-primary education continued to expand, with 778 kindergartens and day nurseries operating in 2023/2024 and accommodating 38,931 children, around 4% more than the year before. Primary education followed a similar pattern, as 361 schools served 60,079 pupils, marking a 3.3% annual increase.
Secondary education also recorded gains. Enrolment reached 61,230 students across 170 schools, up 2.2% from the previous year, despite a slight reduction in the number of schools. The strongest growth, however, was seen in higher education. Universities and other tertiary institutions enrolled 57,889 students, a jump of 9.4% compared to 2022/2023, alongside a small increase in the number of institutions to 59.
Special education remained stable but showed modest growth as well. Eleven special schools operated during the school year, educating 575 pupils with the support of 213 teachers, slightly more than in the previous year.
Public investment in education remained substantial. In 2023, government spending on education reached €1.6 billion, representing 12.1% of the state budget and 4.9% of GDP. While the share of the budget declined slightly compared to 2022, overall spending increased in absolute terms.
Spending per student also rose across all levels of public education. In 2023, annual expenditure per learner ranged from €6,413 in preschool education to over €15,000 in tertiary and technical secondary education, continuing an upward trend from 2022.
Taken together, the data point to a growing education sector supported by increased public funding, rising enrolments, and gradual expansion in schools and teaching staff, signs of a system responding to demographic and educational demand across all levels.
