Ireland’s English Education Sector Welcomes Record 128,000+ Students in 2024

Dublin, Ireland: Ireland’s English Language Education (ELE) sector reached a new milestone in 2024, welcoming 128,761 international students from more than 125 countries, according to the latest annual report from English Education Ireland (EEI) in collaboration with market intelligence firm BONARD. The sector generated an estimated €792 million in direct economic impact, encompassing tuition, accommodation, and living expenses.

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Lorcan O’Connor Lloyd, CEO of EEI, highlighted the sector’s resilience: “This report demonstrates the ongoing strength and value of the English Language Education sector in Ireland. Beyond direct economic benefits, international students enrich Ireland’s social and cultural life and support local economies, tourism, and public transport.”

While the total student count rose slightly by 2% year-on-year, total student weeks declined by 8%, reflecting a global trend toward shorter stays. The report attributes this to the growing popularity of “mini-stays” – short-term group programs for juniors – which grew 12% in student numbers and 10% in student weeks. Adult learners, representing 45% of students but 84% of student weeks, remain the backbone of the sector, with General English as the most popular program, averaging 12.7 weeks in duration.

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Regional and Market Insights
Latin American countries continued to dominate the adult learner segment, with Brazil and Mexico leading, while China saw a 74% increase in student numbers and 64% growth in student weeks. Junior students primarily came from Europe, with Italy and Spain accounting for 80% of enrollments. Mini-stays were particularly popular among Austrian, Mexican, and Chinese groups.

On average, each international student spent over €5,500 per stay, with 39% going toward accommodation, another 39% toward living expenses, and tuition making up 22% of spending. Tuition remains the primary revenue stream, contributing 52% of total annual income for schools.

Lloyd noted, “This year’s data tells a story of cautious stability. Mini-stays highlight strong demand for immersive group experiences, while adult learners continue to choose Ireland for longer-term study, driven by quality education and the warmth of our welcome.” He added that future growth may increasingly come from juniors and more compact programs, reinforcing Ireland’s position as a leading destination for English-language learning.