Government expenditure on primary education, constant PPP$ (millions) in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on primary education, constant PPP$ (millions) was 6,546 millions in 2021. ▲ Rising
Government expenditure on primary education, constant PPP$ in Ireland, 1990–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ in Ireland is 6,546 millions, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ in Ireland peaked at 6,546 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,476 millions, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 34th of 136 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Government expenditure on primary education, constant PPP$ (millions) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,476 millions | — |
| 1991 | 1,564 millions | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 1,660 millions | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 1,676 millions | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 1,739 millions | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 1,733 millions | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 1,752 millions | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 2,564 millions | +46.3% |
| 1999 | 2,641 millions | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 2,818 millions | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 3,040 millions | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 3,292 millions | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 3,651 millions | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 4,076 millions | +11.6% |
| 2005 | 4,362 millions | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 4,639 millions | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 5,244 millions | +13.0% |
| 2008 | 5,946 millions | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 6,328 millions | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 6,250 millions | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 6,126 millions | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 6,233 millions | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 5,736 millions | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 5,705 millions | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 5,507 millions | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 5,696 millions | +3.4% |
| 2017 | 5,365 millions | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 5,580 millions | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 5,774 millions | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 6,225 millions | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 6,546 millions | +5.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 6,546 millions is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,726 millions, 2.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 6,546 millions is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,633 millions, 1.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on primary education, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +46.3% | 1,752 millions | 2,564 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,867 millions | 1,476 millions | 2,641 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 4,340 millions | 2,818 millions | 6,328 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,797 millions | 5,365 millions | 6,250 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,385 millions | 6,225 millions | 6,546 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 primary education, constant ppp$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ in Ireland was 6,546 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6,546 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,476 millions in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$?
- Ireland ranks 34th out of 136 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on primary education, constant ppp$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. 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 primary education, constant 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