Expenditure on secondary education in Ireland
Ireland: Expenditure on secondary education was 35.5% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Expenditure on secondary 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
In 2016, expenditure on secondary education in Ireland stood at 35.5%.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on secondary education in Ireland peaked at 43.9% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 33.3%, in 2015.
Ireland ranks 62nd of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 44 years of available data.
Expenditure on secondary education in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure on education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 43.9% | — |
| 1972 | 42.0% | -4.4% |
| 1973 | 41.9% | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 41.5% | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 36.7% | -11.6% |
| 1977 | 38.1% | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 40.9% | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 41.1% | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 41.3% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 41.4% | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 42.1% | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 41.4% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 41.1% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 40.3% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 40.2% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 40.2% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 40.6% | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 40.9% | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 39.6% | -3.3% |
| 1991 | 39.8% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 38.8% | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 40.1% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 41.0% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 41.6% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 40.9% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 37.6% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 36.5% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 34.1% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 34.4% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 34.4% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 35.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 34.8% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 34.8% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 34.3% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 34.9% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 33.6% | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 33.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 33.4% | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 33.3% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 33.3% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 35.5% | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.8% | 36.7% | 43.9% | 8 |
| 1980s | 41.0% | 40.2% | 42.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.5% | 36.5% | 41.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.6% | 33.6% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.8% | 33.3% | 35.5% | 7 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 59 Republic of Moldova 36.0% compare
- 60 New Zealand 35.6% compare
- 61 Switzerland 35.6% compare
- 63 Côte d'Ivoire 35.1% compare
- 64 British Virgin Islands 35.1% compare
- 65 San Marino 34.7% compare
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 secondary education in Ireland?
- Expenditure on secondary education in Ireland was 35.5% in 2016, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest expenditure on secondary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.9% in 1971.
- What is the lowest expenditure on secondary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.3% in 2015.
- How does Ireland rank for expenditure on secondary education?
- Ireland ranks 62nd out of 149 countries with data for 2016.
- Is expenditure on secondary education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 secondary education (% of government expenditure on education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Expenditure on secondary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.