Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 4,061 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4,061 millions
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
31st
of 159 countries
All-time high
4,061 millions
in 2021
All-time low
244.9 millions
in 1971
Years of data
49
1971–2021
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
In 2021, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland stood at 4,061 millions. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.7% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland peaked at 4,061 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 244.9 millions, in 1971.
Ireland ranks 31st of 159 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 244.9 millions | — |
| 1972 | 303 millions | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 298.29 millions | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 322.51 millions | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 417.32 millions | +29.4% |
| 1977 | 571.77 millions | +37.0% |
| 1978 | 623.7 millions | +9.1% |
| 1979 | 669.73 millions | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 683.75 millions | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 757.68 millions | +10.8% |
| 1982 | 701.57 millions | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 676.09 millions | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 634.21 millions | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 688.73 millions | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 724.22 millions | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 839.46 millions | +15.9% |
| 1988 | 794.41 millions | -5.4% |
| 1989 | 795.97 millions | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 930.19 millions | +16.9% |
| 1991 | 974.83 millions | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 1,100 millions | +12.8% |
| 1993 | 1,163 millions | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 1,275 millions | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 1,330 millions | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 1,481 millions | +11.4% |
| 1998 | 1,662 millions | +12.2% |
| 1999 | 1,886 millions | +13.5% |
| 2000 | 2,301 millions | +22.0% |
| 2001 | 2,261 millions | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 2,327 millions | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 2,208 millions | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 2,373 millions | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 2,512 millions | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 2,728 millions | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 2,905 millions | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 3,199 millions | +10.1% |
| 2009 | 3,496 millions | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 3,268 millions | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 3,100 millions | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 3,006 millions | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2,831 millions | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 2,716 millions | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 2,900 millions | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 2,486 millions | -14.3% |
| 2017 | 3,579 millions | +44.0% |
| 2018 | 3,657 millions | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 3,629 millions | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 3,807 millions | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 4,061 millions | +6.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 431.4 millions | 244.9 millions | 669.73 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 729.61 millions | 634.21 millions | 839.46 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,311 millions | 930.19 millions | 1,886 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 2,631 millions | 2,208 millions | 3,496 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,117 millions | 2,486 millions | 3,657 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,934 millions | 3,807 millions | 4,061 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- 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)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 42,162 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland was 4,061 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4,061 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 244.9 millions in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
- Ireland ranks 31st out of 159 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. 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 tertiary education, constant 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