The number of people with third-level qualifications has increased dramatically, according to the latest census figures.
Between 2002 and 2006, the number of graduates in the population increased by 28 per cent, from 645,000 to 830,000.
The number educated to primary level only continues to fall and stood at 514,000 in 2006 or 15.2 per cent, compared with 18 per cent four years earlier.
The figures reveal the proportion of females in full-time education continues to exceed males. The gender gap is widest among 15-19 year-olds - 82.6 per cent of females were in full-time education, compared with 73.6 per cent of males.
The census also shows a high level of educational attainment among non-Irish nationals. In 2006, 38.3 per cent of non-Irish nationals (whose full-time education had ceased) had a third-level qualification compared with 28.2 of Irish nationals.
The Central Statistics Office say this gap is partly explained by the younger age profile of non-nationals. About 50 per cent of non-nationals from outside the EU were educated to third level.
About 29 per cent of farming, fishing and forestry workers and 26 per cent of textile, clothing and leather workers were educated to primary level only.
More detail on new census trends is available at www.cso.ie