Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax in Ireland
Ireland: Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax was 3.37 Percentage of GDP in 2024. ▲ Rising
Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax in Ireland, 1965–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax in Ireland stood at 3.37 Percentage of GDP.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax in Ireland peaked at 5.2 Percentage of GDP in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.59 Percentage of GDP, in 1965.
That places Ireland 28th out of 33 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.
Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.59 Percentage of GDP | — |
| 1966 | 1.82 Percentage of GDP | +14.0% |
| 1967 | 2.01 Percentage of GDP | +10.7% |
| 1968 | 2.22 Percentage of GDP | +10.3% |
| 1969 | 2.25 Percentage of GDP | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 2.28 Percentage of GDP | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 2.46 Percentage of GDP | +8.2% |
| 1972 | 2.47 Percentage of GDP | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 2.64 Percentage of GDP | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 3.26 Percentage of GDP | +23.6% |
| 1975 | 3.84 Percentage of GDP | +17.8% |
| 1976 | 4.09 Percentage of GDP | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 3.97 Percentage of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 3.81 Percentage of GDP | -4.0% |
| 1979 | 3.92 Percentage of GDP | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 4.3 Percentage of GDP | +9.6% |
| 1981 | 4.38 Percentage of GDP | +1.8% |
| 1982 | 4.87 Percentage of GDP | +11.3% |
| 1983 | 5.05 Percentage of GDP | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 5.04 Percentage of GDP | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 4.96 Percentage of GDP | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 4.89 Percentage of GDP | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 4.83 Percentage of GDP | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 4.97 Percentage of GDP | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 4.7 Percentage of GDP | -5.4% |
| 1990 | 4.57 Percentage of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 4.75 Percentage of GDP | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 4.81 Percentage of GDP | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 4.82 Percentage of GDP | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 4.7 Percentage of GDP | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 4.31 Percentage of GDP | -8.4% |
| 1996 | 4.06 Percentage of GDP | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 3.83 Percentage of GDP | -5.6% |
| 1998 | 3.59 Percentage of GDP | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 3.6 Percentage of GDP | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 3.66 Percentage of GDP | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 3.76 Percentage of GDP | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 3.7 Percentage of GDP | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 3.69 Percentage of GDP | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 3.82 Percentage of GDP | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.84 Percentage of GDP | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 3.88 Percentage of GDP | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 4.13 Percentage of GDP | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 4.46 Percentage of GDP | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 5.2 Percentage of GDP | +16.7% |
| 2010 | 5.06 Percentage of GDP | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 5.1 Percentage of GDP | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 4.74 Percentage of GDP | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 4.85 Percentage of GDP | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 4.7 Percentage of GDP | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 3.67 Percentage of GDP | -21.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8 Percentage of GDP | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 3.6 Percentage of GDP | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 3.61 Percentage of GDP | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 3.6 Percentage of GDP | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.21 Percentage of GDP | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 3.08 Percentage of GDP | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 3.07 Percentage of GDP | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.31 Percentage of GDP | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 3.37 Percentage of GDP | +1.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3.37 Percentage of GDP is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.61 Percentage of GDP, 29% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3.37 Percentage of GDP is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.73 Percentage of GDP, 31% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.98 Percentage of GDP | 1.59 Percentage of GDP | 2.25 Percentage of GDP | 5 |
| 1970s | 3.28 Percentage of GDP | 2.28 Percentage of GDP | 4.09 Percentage of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.8 Percentage of GDP | 4.3 Percentage of GDP | 5.05 Percentage of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3 Percentage of GDP | 3.59 Percentage of GDP | 4.82 Percentage of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.01 Percentage of GDP | 3.66 Percentage of GDP | 5.2 Percentage of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.27 Percentage of GDP | 3.6 Percentage of GDP | 5.1 Percentage of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.21 Percentage of GDP | 3.07 Percentage of GDP | 3.37 Percentage of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
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 financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax in Ireland?
- Financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax in Ireland was 3.37 Percentage of GDP in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2 Percentage of GDP in 2009.
- What is the lowest financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.59 Percentage of GDP in 1965.
- How does Ireland rank for financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax?
- Ireland ranks 28th out of 33 countries with data for 2024.
- Is financing of social security benefits in oecd member countries — tax rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Financing of social security benefits in OECD member countries — Tax revenue. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Compulsory payments conferring entitlement to future social benefits These are usually earmarked to finance social benefits and paid to institutions of general government.