Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions) (expenditure PPP) in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions) (expenditure PPP) was 17,354 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, PPP$ in Ireland, 1990–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on education, ppp$ in Ireland is 17,354 millions, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 10.3% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, ppp$ in Ireland peaked at 17,354 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,220 millions, in 1990.
That places Ireland 45th out of 169 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions) (expenditure PPP) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,220 millions | — |
| 1991 | 2,432 millions | +9.5% |
| 1992 | 2,691 millions | +10.6% |
| 1993 | 2,891 millions | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 3,167 millions | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 3,328 millions | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 3,540 millions | +6.4% |
| 1998 | 3,994 millions | +12.8% |
| 1999 | 4,197 millions | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 4,750 millions | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 5,148 millions | +8.4% |
| 2002 | 5,685 millions | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 6,098 millions | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 7,068 millions | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 7,607 millions | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 8,596 millions | +13.0% |
| 2007 | 9,704 millions | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 10,824 millions | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 11,578 millions | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 11,920 millions | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 12,035 millions | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 12,267 millions | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 11,814 millions | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 11,611 millions | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 12,203 millions | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 12,723 millions | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 13,117 millions | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 13,964 millions | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 14,791 millions | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 15,731 millions | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 17,354 millions | +10.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 17,354 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 12,076 millions, 1.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 17,354 millions is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14,470 millions, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,162 millions | 2,220 millions | 4,197 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 7,706 millions | 4,750 millions | 11,578 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,645 millions | 11,611 millions | 14,791 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,542 millions | 15,731 millions | 17,354 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.47 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.19 (2022)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, ppp$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on education, ppp$ in Ireland was 17,354 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17,354 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,220 millions in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on education, ppp$?
- Ireland ranks 45th out of 169 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on education, ppp$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.2%. 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 Government expenditure on education, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release