Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland
Ireland: Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government was 12.0% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland, 2000–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in IMF calculation.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 12.0% for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in 2021.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland peaked at 13.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 2010.
Ireland ranks 63rd of 123 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland, year by year
| Year | IMF calculation | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.9% | — |
| 2001 | 12.7% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 12.1% | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 12.6% | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 12.5% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 12.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 11.3% | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -30.1% |
| 2011 | 11.2% | +57.0% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.1% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 12.3% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 12.5% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 13.2% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 11.9% | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 12.0% | +1.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 12.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.2%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 12.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.6%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +57.0% | 7.1% | 11.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.1% | 10.2% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 7.1% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 11.9% | 12.0% | 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 expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland?
- Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government in Ireland was 12.0% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as a percentage of total government recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 2010.
- How does Ireland rank for expenditure on education as a percentage of total government?
- Ireland ranks 63rd out of 123 countries with data for 2021.
- Is expenditure on education as a percentage of total government rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure (%) (IMF calculation). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release