Government expenditure on secondary education, US$ in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on secondary education, US$ was 4,904 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4,904 millions
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
33rd
of 153 countries
All-time high
5,241 millions
in 2008
All-time low
86.59 millions
in 1971
Years of data
49
1971–2021
Government expenditure on secondary education, US$ in Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 4,904 millions for government expenditure on secondary education, us$ in 2021.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on secondary education, us$ in Ireland peaked at 5,241 millions in 2008 and was at its lowest, 86.59 millions, in 1971.
That places Ireland 33rd out of 153 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on secondary education, US$ in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 86.59 millions | — |
| 1972 | 98.83 millions | +14.1% |
| 1973 | 122.12 millions | +23.6% |
| 1974 | 145.51 millions | +19.1% |
| 1976 | 148.98 millions | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 218.15 millions | +46.4% |
| 1978 | 303.5 millions | +39.1% |
| 1979 | 398.4 millions | +31.3% |
| 1980 | 478.09 millions | +20.0% |
| 1981 | 490.33 millions | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 487.68 millions | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 468.75 millions | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 436.76 millions | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 450.14 millions | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 611.42 millions | +35.8% |
| 1987 | 754.13 millions | +23.3% |
| 1988 | 769.54 millions | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 756.81 millions | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 897.3 millions | +18.6% |
| 1991 | 947.3 millions | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 1,086 millions | +14.6% |
| 1993 | 1,075 millions | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 1,216 millions | +13.1% |
| 1995 | 1,401 millions | +15.2% |
| 1996 | 1,474 millions | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 1,452 millions | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 1,494 millions | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 1,413 millions | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 1,538 millions | +8.8% |
| 2002 | 1,816 millions | +18.1% |
| 2003 | 2,445 millions | +34.7% |
| 2004 | 3,078 millions | +25.9% |
| 2005 | 3,335 millions | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 3,673 millions | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 4,373 millions | +19.1% |
| 2008 | 5,241 millions | +19.8% |
| 2009 | 4,898 millions | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 4,540 millions | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 4,738 millions | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 4,336 millions | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 4,261 millions | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 4,213 millions | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 3,649 millions | -13.4% |
| 2016 | 3,976 millions | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 3,636 millions | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 4,122 millions | +13.4% |
| 2019 | 4,189 millions | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 4,558 millions | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 4,904 millions | +7.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 190.26 millions | 86.59 millions | 398.4 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 570.37 millions | 436.76 millions | 769.54 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,227 millions | 897.3 millions | 1,494 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 3,181 millions | 1,413 millions | 5,241 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,166 millions | 3,636 millions | 4,738 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,731 millions | 4,558 millions | 4,904 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -0.9368 % change on previous year (2022)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 35,618 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,544 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 134,541 (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 0.1981 % change on previous year (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 112,690 (2022)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -2.26 % change on previous year (2022)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on secondary education, us$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on secondary education, us$ in Ireland was 4,904 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on secondary education, us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5,241 millions in 2008.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on secondary education, us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 86.59 millions in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on secondary education, us$?
- Ireland ranks 33rd out of 153 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on secondary education, us$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. 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 secondary education, US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release