The semi finals are over for another year, so that means it’s time for one of the most popular annual articles Eurovision Ireland publishes – it’s time to find out which countries have had their qualification rates improved the most by reaching the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 and who’s DNQ from Tuesday and Thursday night has seen them tumble.

Wondering how these rates have changed over the years? Take a look here and find out! You can find the rates for 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024

Just to remind you, the formula for working out the percentages is:

Country:  (number of qualifications/potential number of qualifications) x 100 = percent qualified for

Any countries with the same percentage have been listed alphabetically. Take a look below to see whose rate has improved following 2024, who has dented their odds and for who staying home might have been a better idea!

Ukraine (19/19) = 100% (no change)

Luxembourg (2/2) = 100% (no change)

Sweden (20/21) = 95.23% (+0.23%)

Russia (15/16) = 93.75% (no change)

Bosnia & Herzegovina (9/10) = 90% (no change)

Türkiye (8/9) = 88.88% (no change)

Greece (18/21) = 85.71% (+0.71% )

Norway (18/21) = 85.71% (+0.71%)

Armenia (14/17) = 82.35% (+1.10%)

Romania (14/18) = 77.77% (no change)

Hungary (10/13) = 76.92% (no change)

Serbia (13/17) = 76.47% (-4.78%)

Azerbaijan (13/17) = 76.47% (-4.78%)

Australia (7/10) = 70.00 (-7.77%)

Israel (14/21) = 66.66% (+1.66%)

Lithuania (14/21) = 66.66% (+1.66%)

Moldova (13/20) = 65.00% (no change)

Denmark (13/21) = 61.90% (+1.90%)

Finland (13/21) = 61.90% (+1.90%)

Cyprus (12/20) = 60.00% (-3.15%)

Austria (10/17) = 58.82% (+2.57%)

Albania (12/21) = 57.14% (+2.14%)

Iceland (12/21) = 57.14% (+2.14%)

Portugal (10/19) = 52.63% (+2.63%)

Estonia (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)

Malta (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)

The Netherlands (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)

Switzerland (10/21) = 47.62% (+2.62%)

Poland (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92%)

Croatia (9/19) = 47.36% (-2.64%)

Georgia (8/17) = 47.05% (-2.95%)

Belgium (9/21) = 42.85% (-2.15%)

Ireland (9/21) = 42.85% (-2.15%)

Latvia (8/21) = 38.09% (+3.09%)

Czechia (5/13) = 38.46% (-3.20%)

Slovenia (8/21) = 38.09% (-1.91%)

Belarus (6/16) = 37.50% (no change)

Bulgaria (5/14) 35.71% (no change)

North Macedonia (6/18) = 33.33% (no change)

San Marino (4/15) = 26.66% (+5.24%)

Montenegro (2/13) = 15.38% (-1.28%)

Andorra (0/6) = 0% (no change)

Slovakia (0/4) = 0% (no change)

Monaco (0/3) = 0% (no change)

The 11 countries (yet again, we had a tie for 10th!!) who saw the biggest increase in their qualification rates thanks to the results of the Eurovision 2025 semi finals were:

1. San Marino (4/15) = 26.66% (+5.24%)
2. Latvia (8/21) = 38.09% (+3.09%)
3. Poland (9/19) = 47.36% (+2.92%)
4.  Portugal (10/19) = 52.63% (+2.63%)
5. Switzerland (10/21) = 47.62% (+2.62%)
6. Austria (10/17) = 58.82% (+2.57%)
7. Estonia (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)
8. Malta (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)
9. The Netherlands (11/21) = 52.38% (+2.38%)
10. Albania (12/21) = 57.14% (+2.14%)
11. Iceland (12/21) = 57.14% (+2.14%)

Reaching the Grand Final for only the 4th time in Eurovision history sees San Marino’s lacklustre qualification record jump up by 5.24%, the biggest gain this year. Latvia and Poland, who also traditionally struggle to get out of the semis, saw their rates make a significant jump thanks to qualifying from Thursday and Tuesday night respectively. By winning last year’s contest and not having to go through the semi finals, Switzerland’s rate has also gone up almost 3% – proving that winning has advantages beyond the night itself! Only 6 of these countries were present for last year’s final – and one of those was the Netherlands, which is probably best not dwelt on…

But of course, where there are winners, there are also countries that didn’t fair so well. Our Top 10 once again becomes a Top 11 – so whose DNQ hurt the most?

1. Australia (7/10) = 70.00 (-7.77%)
2. Azerbaijan (13/17) = 76.47% (-4.78%)
3. Serbia (13/17) = 76.47% (-4.78%)
4. Czechia (5/13) = 38.46% (-3.20%)
5. Cyprus (12/20) = 60.00% (-3.15%)
6. Georgia (8/17) = 47.05% (-2.95%)
7. Croatia (9/19) = 47.36% (-2.64%)
8. Belgium (9/21) = 42.85% (-2.15%)
9. Ireland (9/21) = 42.85% (-2.15%)
10. Slovenia (8/21) = 38.09% (-1.91%)
11. Montenegro (2/13) = 15.38% (-1.28%)

Thursday night saw Go-Jo tumble out of the competition and so mean Australia’s qualification rate takes the biggest hit, at just under 8%. Traditionally hard-hitters Azerbaijan and Serbia also take a big knock, losing 4.78% each. Shock non-qualifications for early contest favourites Belgium, Cyprus and Czechia all see their ratings suffer, while at the other end of the scale Slovenia and Montenegro’s already poor records don’t see much movement. Unsurprisingly, around half of the countries that didn’t qualify for Saturday’s final have rates under 50%, though 7 of these countries were present in the final last year – proving a year can make a lot of difference at Eurovision!

For 14 countries, their qualification ratings remained the same – admittedly, only 2 of them were in the running, but that’s still quite a feat!

1. Ukraine (19/19) = 100% (no change)
2. Luxembourg (2/2) = 100% (no change)
3. Russia (15/16) = 93.75% (no change)
4. Bosnia & Herzegovina (9/10) = 90% (no change)
5. Türkiye (8/9) = 88.88% (no change)
6. Romania (14/18) = 77.77% (no change)
7. Hungary (10/13) = 76.92% (no change)
8. Moldova (13/20) = 65.00% (no change)
9. Belarus (6/16) = 37.50% (no change)
10. Bulgaria (5/14) 35.71% (no change)
11. North Macedonia (6/18) = 33.33% (no change)
12. Andorra (0/6) = 0% (no change)
13. Slovakia (0/4) = 0% (no change)
14. Monaco (0/3) = 0% (no change)

Ukraine have never missed a Eurovision Song Contest final in over 2 decades – which is incredible! Luxembourg also hold on to their 100% rating – even if it is only for the second year in a row! Moldova were among the initial list of participants for Eurovision 2025, but withdrew early on in proceedings and so their qualification rating hasn’t budged. Monaco are broadcasting this year’s contest from Basel, sparking rumours that a return is imminent. Will these rates stay frozen for much longer? Let’s hope not!

What do you think? Do any of these rates surprise you? Who do you think will keep a steady qualification rate in the years to come?

Let us know what you think!

Author: James Scanlan
Source: Eurovision Ireland
Image Source: YouTube