Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Ireland
Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ was 4,015 millions in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
4,015 millions
Change on year
up 11.7%
World rank
32nd
of 164 countries
All-time high
4,015 millions
in 2021
All-time low
27.76 millions
in 1971
Years of data
49
1971–2021
Government expenditure on tertiary education, US$ in Ireland, 1971–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Ireland is 4,015 millions, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 11.7% on the previous year and up 32.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Ireland peaked at 4,015 millions in 2021 and was at its lowest, 27.76 millions, in 1971.
Ireland ranks 32nd of 164 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, US$ in Ireland, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 27.76 millions | — |
| 1972 | 38.5 millions | +38.7% |
| 1973 | 44.11 millions | +14.6% |
| 1974 | 53.92 millions | +22.3% |
| 1976 | 74.19 millions | +37.6% |
| 1977 | 111.77 millions | +50.6% |
| 1978 | 148.12 millions | +32.5% |
| 1979 | 192.99 millions | +30.3% |
| 1980 | 226.91 millions | +17.6% |
| 1981 | 231.3 millions | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 217.54 millions | -5.9% |
| 1983 | 203.22 millions | -6.6% |
| 1984 | 176.88 millions | -13.0% |
| 1985 | 197.11 millions | +11.4% |
| 1986 | 281.01 millions | +42.6% |
| 1987 | 367.64 millions | +30.8% |
| 1988 | 368.22 millions | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 362.19 millions | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 490.35 millions | +35.4% |
| 1991 | 509.08 millions | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 624.34 millions | +22.6% |
| 1993 | 602.44 millions | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 680.46 millions | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 783.94 millions | +15.2% |
| 1996 | 891.16 millions | +13.7% |
| 1998 | 985.35 millions | +10.6% |
| 1999 | 1,110 millions | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 1,254 millions | +13.0% |
| 2001 | 1,277 millions | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 1,459 millions | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 1,721 millions | +18.0% |
| 2004 | 2,044 millions | +18.8% |
| 2005 | 2,231 millions | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 2,528 millions | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 2,974 millions | +17.6% |
| 2008 | 3,497 millions | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 3,457 millions | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 2,984 millions | -13.7% |
| 2011 | 3,027 millions | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 2,775 millions | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 2,738 millions | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 2,634 millions | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 2,559 millions | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 2,190 millions | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 3,266 millions | +49.1% |
| 2018 | 3,522 millions | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 3,425 millions | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 3,595 millions | +5.0% |
| 2021 | 4,015 millions | +11.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 86.42 millions | 27.76 millions | 192.99 millions | 8 |
| 1980s | 263.2 millions | 176.88 millions | 368.22 millions | 10 |
| 1990s | 741.86 millions | 490.35 millions | 1,110 millions | 9 |
| 2000s | 2,244 millions | 1,254 millions | 3,497 millions | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,912 millions | 2,190 millions | 3,522 millions | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,805 millions | 3,595 millions | 4,015 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, us$ in Ireland?
- Government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ in Ireland was 4,015 millions in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4,015 millions in 2021.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.76 millions in 1971.
- How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, us$?
- Ireland ranks 32nd out of 164 countries with data for 2021.
- Is government expenditure on tertiary education, us$ rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.7%. 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, 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