CSO data monitoring how Ireland is progressing towards meeting its targets under 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals shows a high level of literacy and numeracy in this country’s fifteen-year-olds.

A 2018 assessment of the teens’ skills and knowledge in reading literacy, science and mathematics, showed 88% of students in reading, and 84% in maths were proficient in Level 2 or higher.

Almost 34% of four-year-olds and 97% of five-year-olds were enrolled fulltime in primary school in 2015, while 91.5% of secondary school first-years in 2012 sat their Leaving Certificate in 2018.

Internet use

The data shows that 100% of those aged 16-44 used the internet in the first three months this year, tapering to 95% of 45-59-year-olds.

A full 77% of those aged 60-74 are internet users, but only 45% of those 75 years and older.

In Dublin, 57% of adults aged 25-64 had a third-level educational qualification compared with 36% in the Midlands, in 2019.