Census of Population 2022 Profile 8 - The Irish Language and Education

Doctorates

In Census 2022, more than 38,200 people had a doctorate (Ph.D.). This was an increase of 33% since 2016 and a 74% increase compared with 2011.

• There were more men (20,178, 53%) than women (18,034) with a Ph.D. although the gap narrowed since 2011 when men represented 59% of Ph.D. holders.

• There were 821 Ph.D. holders who were either unemployed or looking for their first job, giving an unemployment rate for the group of 3%.

• Of the 31,136 Ph.D. holders at work, over one-third worked in Higher education as university professors and teachers (10,504 people).

• Among Ph.D. holders, those aged 35 to 44 years accounted for the highest proportion by age group, as was the case in both 2016 and 2011.

• Only 14% of people with Ph.D's were in the 25 to 34 years age group, a decline from 2011 (23%) and 2016 (19%).

• The proportion of Ph.D. holders who were aged 65 or older increased over time and stood at 15% in 2022.

Ph.D. Holders by Country of Citizenship

In 2022, over three-quarters of Ph.D. holders in the State were Irish citizens.

• More than 8,300 people whose highest level of education was a Ph.D. had a country of citizenship other than Ireland (including no citizenship and not stated).

• Of these, 21% were UK citizens, 12% were European (excluding Ireland and the UK) and 10% were American citizens.

Ph.D. Holders by Social Class

Looking specifically at Ph.D. holders who had ceased their education and were at work, 66% were professional workers compared with only 10% of the whole population aged 15 years and over who had ceased their education.

• Almost one-quarter of Ph.D. holders at work had a social class of managerial and technical, compared with 34% of the working population aged 15 and over.

• Just 2% of Ph.D. holders working had a semi-skilled social class, compared with 13% of the working population aged 15 years and over.

Women Continued to Outpace Men in Third Level Attainment

The improvement in educational attainment continued to be more pronounced among women than men.

• In 1991, 14% of males and 13% of females were educated to third level.

• Between 1991 and 2022, both proportions increased gradually albeit faster among women.

• By 2022, 50% of women were educated to third level compared with 46% of men.

Third Level Education of Recent Immigrants

In the year prior to April 2022, 77,307 people aged 15 years and over came to live in the State, up 7% compared with the same period leading up to Census 2016. Of these, 47,450 had ceased their education (61%).

• One-third of these people were Irish citizens (15,742) of whom 75% had a third level education.

• Of the non-Irish citizens aged 15 years and over (including no citizenship and not stated) who moved to the State in the year leading up to Census 2022, 67% had a third level qualification or higher (21,258 people).

• The highest number and proportion of third level qualifications were among Indian citizens with 3,178 people, or 88% of the Indian citizens who moved to the State in the year leading to Census 2022 and whose education had ceased. 

• The next highest proportions were among American citizens (86%) and French citizens (84%) while the next largest groups by numbers were European (excluding Ireland) with 2,344 people and Spain with 1,877 people.