Education in West (Northern and Western, Ireland): official figures
In Census 2022, 35.3% of residents aged 15+ in the West region had a third-level degree (ordinary bachelor degree or higher), against 36.0% across Ireland; that is the 4th highest of 8 NUTS 3 regions.
35.3%
How do children get to school in the West?
63.7% of pupils and students in the West region travelled to school, college or childcare by car in Census 2022, while 16.8% walked or cycled; nationally the car share was 54.3%.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyMore figures
- 12.7% of adults in the West region had a postgraduate diploma, master's degree or doctorate in Census 2022 (13.2% nationally), including 3,976 people with a PhD or higher. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- 11.4% of people aged 15 and over in the West region had no formal education or primary education only in Census 2022, the 4th highest of 8 NUTS 3 regions (Ireland: 10.5%). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Women in the West region were more likely than men to hold a degree in Census 2022: 40.1% of women aged 15+ against 30.3% of men, a gap of 9.8 percentage points. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- 44,615 people aged 15 and over in the West region were students in Census 2022, 11.4% of that age group (11.1% nationally). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
How West compares with other regional areas in Ireland
People aged 15+ with a degree or higher (%) (2022)
West ranks 4 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | People aged 15+ with a degree or higher (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin | 44.9% |
| 2 | South-West | 35.5% |
| 3 | Mid-East | 35.3% |
| 4 | West | 35.3% |
| 5 | Mid-West | 31.2% |
| 6 | South-East | 29.3% |
| 7 | Border | 28.5% |
People aged 15+ with a postgraduate qualification (%) (2022)
West ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | People aged 15+ with a postgraduate qualification (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin | 18.8% |
| 2 | West | 12.7% |
| 3 | South-West | 12.5% |
| 4 | Mid-East | 12.2% |
| 5 | Mid-West | 10.3% |
| 6 | South-East | 9.3% |
| 7 | Border | 8.9% |
People aged 15+ with primary education or less (%) (2022)
West ranks 4 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | People aged 15+ with primary education or less (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Border | 14.4% |
| 2 | Midland | 11.9% |
| 3 | South-East | 11.6% |
| 4 | West | 11.4% |
| 5 | Mid-West | 10.9% |
| 6 | Mid-East | 9.7% |
| 7 | South-West | 9.5% |
More on West: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Northern and Western · Ireland
Sources
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS), all themes, by administrative county and city, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 32250e98c48a…)
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