Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland
Ireland: Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary was 2.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland, 1998–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland stood at 2.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.6% on the previous year and down 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland peaked at 18.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2018.
That places Ireland 89th out of 113 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 tertiary in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 8.8% | — |
| 1999 | 12.4% | +40.4% |
| 2000 | 16.0% | +28.6% |
| 2001 | 18.4% | +15.3% |
| 2002 | 13.1% | -29.0% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | -62.3% |
| 2004 | 5.3% | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 4.9% | -7.1% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | +32.3% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 9.3% | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 11.0% | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | -33.3% |
| 2012 | 5.9% | -15.6% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | +16.7% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | -13.5% |
| 2015 | 5.6% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 4.2% | -25.4% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -57.7% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | +47.9% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +17.5% |
| 2021 | 2.6% | -13.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.6% | 8.8% | 12.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.8% | 4.9% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.2% | 1.7% | 10.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32,531 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,942 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,745 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 49,975 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 456,625 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 548,873 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.49 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1053 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland?
- Capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary in Ireland was 2.6% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2018.
- How does Ireland rank for capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary?
- Ireland ranks 89th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is capital expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure in tertiary rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. 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 tertiary public institutions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release