Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ was 4,515 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on tertiary education, PPP$ in Ireland, 1990–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Ireland is 4,515 millions, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 11.2% on the previous year and up 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Ireland peaked at 4,515 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 479.95 millions, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 40th of 148 countries on this measure, 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 tertiary education, PPP$ in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 479.95 millions | — |
| 1991 | 519.99 millions | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 600.16 millions | +15.4% |
| 1993 | 649.46 millions | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 727.41 millions | +12.0% |
| 1995 | 774.66 millions | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 875.68 millions | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 1,018 millions | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 1,139 millions | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 1,438 millions | +26.2% |
| 2001 | 1,470 millions | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 1,571 millions | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 1,515 millions | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 1,658 millions | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 1,773 millions | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 2,058 millions | +16.1% |
| 2007 | 2,266 millions | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 2,518 millions | +11.1% |
| 2009 | 2,750 millions | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 2,649 millions | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 2,615 millions | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 2,624 millions | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2,541 millions | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 2,421 millions | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 2,849 millions | +17.7% |
| 2016 | 2,491 millions | -12.5% |
| 2017 | 3,640 millions | +46.1% |
| 2018 | 3,764 millions | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 3,853 millions | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 4,059 millions | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 4,515 millions | +11.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 753.81 millions | 479.95 millions | 1,139 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 1,902 millions | 1,438 millions | 2,750 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,945 millions | 2,421 millions | 3,853 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,287 millions | 4,059 millions | 4,515 millions | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More education data for Ireland
- 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)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 65.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 18.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ in Ireland was 4,515 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4,515 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 479.95 millions in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$?
- Ireland ranks 40th out of 148 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, ppp$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.7%. 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, PPP$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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