New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that Ireland had higher rates of third-level education compared with the European Union average.
63% of 25 to 34-year-olds in Ireland had a third level qualification in 2023 compared with the EU-27 average of 43%, the CSO said.
Overall, for people aged 25-64 years, 56% had attained a third level education, 13% had an attainment level to PLC level, 27% attained a secondary level education only.
Only 3% attained just a primary level or no formal education, the CSO added.
Today's figures show that younger age groups reported the highest levels of third level attainment, with around 65% of 25 to 34-year-olds and 61% of 35 to 45-year-olds having a third level qualification, compared with 38% of 60 to 64-year-olds.
The CSO said this reflects increased levels of participation in third level education over time.
It also noted that women across all age groupings (25-64 years) had higher levels of third level attainment than men.
Meanwhile, 85% of women aged 25-64 years with a third level qualification were employed in the second quarter of this year, while 91% of men aged 25-64 years with a third level education were working.
Today's figures show that regional differences were found in educational attainment rates.
Around 6% of people in the Border areas (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo) had attained primary-only or no formal education.
That fell to 1% for people living in the South-West (Cork and Kerry), and to 2% for people in the Mid-East (Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth) and Dublin (Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin).
When it came to secondary education, 23% of people living in Dublin had attained a secondary level education only, compared with 35% of people in the Midlands.
Looking at third-level education, 65% of people aged 25-64 years in Dublin attained a third level education, while in the Midland counties 43% of people had done so.
