Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland

Ireland: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in was 3.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
3.7%
Change on year
up 24.2%
World rank
38th
of 73 countries
All-time high
15.0%
in 2015
All-time low
1.8%
in 2017
Years of data
24
1998–2021

Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland, 1998–2021

0510151998200920211998: 6.6 %1999: 8.1 %2000: 9.1 %2001: 9 %2002: 9 %2003: 7.4 %2004: 7.3 %2005: 9 %2006: 8.8 %2007: 7.3 %2008: 5.1 %2009: 4.8 %2010: 4.8 %2011: 3.7 %2012: 2.9 %2013: 3.5 %2014: 4.9 %2015: 15 %2016: 13.4 %2017: 1.8 %2018: 2.7 %2019: 3.4 %2020: 2.9 %2021: 3.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland is 3.7%, measured in 2021.

The figure is up 24.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland peaked at 15.0% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2017.

Ireland ranks 38th of 73 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%) in Ireland, 1998 to 2021.
Year % Change
1998 6.6%
1999 8.1% +22.6%
2000 9.1% +12.7%
2001 9.0% -0.5%
2002 9.0% -1.0%
2003 7.4% -17.2%
2004 7.3% -1.0%
2005 9.0% +22.6%
2006 8.8% -2.7%
2007 7.3% -16.3%
2008 5.1% -30.8%
2009 4.8% -5.5%
2010 4.8% +0.9%
2011 3.7% -22.9%
2012 2.9% -23.3%
2013 3.5% +23.4%
2014 4.9% +39.2%
2015 15.0% +205.8%
2016 13.4% -10.7%
2017 1.8% -86.6%
2018 2.7% +51.2%
2019 3.4% +27.0%
2020 2.9% -14.3%
2021 3.7% +24.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 7.3% 6.6% 8.1% 2
2000s 7.7% 4.8% 9.1% 10
2010s 5.6% 1.8% 15.0% 10
2020s 3.3% 2.9% 3.7% 2

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 35 Bulgaria 4.6% compare
  2. 36 Republic of Moldova 4.6% compare
  3. 37 Niger 3.7% compare
  4. 39 Ukraine 2.3% compare
  5. 40 Guyana 2.3% compare
  6. 41 Seychelles 2.0% compare

See the full ranking of 73 places →

More education data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland?
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland was 3.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2015.
What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2017.
How does Ireland rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in?
Ireland ranks 38th out of 73 countries with data for 2021.
Is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/capital-expenditure-as-a-percentage-of-total-expenditure-in-post-secondary-non-tertiary/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in post-secondary non-tertiary public institutions (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
73 places, 842 data points, 1998–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release