Government expenditure … post-secondary constant PPP millions in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure … post-secondary constant PPP millions was 488.1 millions in 2021. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland, 1998–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2021, government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland stood at 488.1 millions.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland peaked at 1,247 millions in 2010 and was at its lowest, 242.5 millions, in 1998.
Ireland ranks 13th of 92 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Government expenditure … post-secondary constant PPP millions in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 242.5 millions | — |
| 1999 | 271.06 millions | +11.8% |
| 2000 | 310.56 millions | +14.6% |
| 2001 | 345.96 millions | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 392.24 millions | +13.4% |
| 2003 | 433.73 millions | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 929.47 millions | +114.3% |
| 2005 | 1,058 millions | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 1,004 millions | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 1,075 millions | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 970.22 millions | -9.7% |
| 2009 | 1,073 millions | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 1,247 millions | +16.2% |
| 2011 | 1,177 millions | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 1,086 millions | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 1,066 millions | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 1,151 millions | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 674.62 millions | -41.4% |
| 2016 | 658.18 millions | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 405.6 millions | -38.4% |
| 2018 | 419.11 millions | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 431.66 millions | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 478.42 millions | +10.8% |
| 2021 | 488.1 millions | +2.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 488.1 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 24.07 millions, 20.3× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 488.1 millions is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70.15 millions, 7.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure … post-secondary constant PPP millions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +114.3% | 433.73 millions | 929.47 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 256.78 millions | 242.5 millions | 271.06 millions | 2 |
| 2000s | 759.17 millions | 310.56 millions | 1,075 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 831.65 millions | 405.6 millions | 1,247 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 483.26 millions | 478.42 millions | 488.1 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 post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education in Ireland was 488.1 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,247 millions in 2010.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 242.5 millions in 1998.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education?
- Ireland ranks 13th out of 92 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on post-secondary non-tertiary education, constant PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release