Expenditure on education as % of GDP or public expenditure in Ireland
Ireland: Expenditure on education as % of GDP or public expenditure was 6.2% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Latest (2011)
6.2%
Change on year
down 4.1%
World rank
9th
of 42 countries
All-time high
6.4%
in 2009
All-time low
3.3%
in 1999
Years of data
21
1991–2011
Expenditure on education as % of GDP or public expenditure in Ireland, 1991–2011
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 6.2% for expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure in 2011.
The figure is down 4.1% on the previous year and up 45.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure in Ireland peaked at 6.4% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 1999.
That places Ireland 9th out of 42 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Expenditure on education as % of GDP or public expenditure in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.4% | — |
| 1992 | 5.6% | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 5.9% | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 5.9% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5.1% | -14.1% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 3.3% | -30.7% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | +28.4% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 4.3% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 4.7% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 4.9% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | +15.2% |
| 2009 | 6.4% | +13.4% |
| 2010 | 6.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -4.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 6.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.2%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 6.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.2%, 1.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.2% | 3.3% | 5.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.2% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 6 Finland 6.8% compare
- 7 Norway 6.7% compare
- 8 Belgium 6.5% compare
- 10 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6.0% compare
- 10 United Kingdom 6.0% compare
- 12 Netherlands 5.9% compare
- 12 Netherlands 5.9% compare
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 67.14 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1102 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12,444 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0079 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 893.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure in Ireland?
- Expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure in Ireland was 6.2% in 2011, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.4% in 2009.
- What is the lowest expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 1999.
- How does Ireland rank for expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure?
- Ireland ranks 9th out of 42 countries with data for 2011.
- Is expenditure on education as % of gdp or public expenditure rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Expenditure on education as % of GDP or public expenditure (1991-2011). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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