Expenditure on primary education in Ireland
Ireland: Expenditure on primary education was 37.3% in 2016. ▬ Flat
Expenditure on primary education in Ireland, 1971–2016
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of government expenditure on education.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 37.3% for expenditure on primary education in 2016.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on primary education in Ireland peaked at 40.0% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 24.3%, in 1996.
Ireland ranks 52nd of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Expenditure on primary education in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 40.0% | — |
| 1972 | 38.4% | -4.1% |
| 1973 | 35.8% | -6.8% |
| 1974 | 36.1% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 37.1% | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 35.4% | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 36.7% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 36.2% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 36.2% | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 36.5% | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 36.8% | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 27.9% | -24.1% |
| 1984 | 29.1% | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 29.0% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 28.9% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 28.6% | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 29.0% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 28.5% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 28.5% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 28.0% | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 26.9% | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 26.0% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 25.2% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 24.3% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 32.7% | +34.4% |
| 1999 | 31.6% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 30.8% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 31.9% | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 32.5% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 34.2% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 33.5% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 33.6% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 33.9% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 35.1% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 36.0% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 35.8% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 35.3% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 35.7% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 36.9% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 36.2% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 36.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 36.9% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 37.3% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 36.9% | 35.4% | 40.0% | 8 |
| 1980s | 31.1% | 27.9% | 36.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.0% | 24.3% | 32.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 33.7% | 30.8% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.4% | 35.3% | 37.3% | 7 |
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 primary education in Ireland?
- Expenditure on primary education in Ireland was 37.3% in 2016, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on primary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 1971.
- What is the lowest expenditure on primary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.3% in 1996.
- How does Ireland rank for expenditure on primary education?
- Ireland ranks 52nd out of 149 countries with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on primary education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Expenditure on primary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.