Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Ireland
Ireland: Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate was 3.94 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Ireland, 1971–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 3.94 % change on previous year for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.5% on the previous year and up 41.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Ireland peaked at 10.34 % change on previous year in 2020 and was at its lowest, -4.98 % change on previous year, in 1988.
That places Ireland 60th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 8.64 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 7.54 % change on previous year | -12.7% |
| 1973 | 6.75 % change on previous year | -10.5% |
| 1974 | 7.57 % change on previous year | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 8.7 % change on previous year | +15.0% |
| 1976 | 2.61 % change on previous year | -70.1% |
| 1977 | 2.08 % change on previous year | -20.2% |
| 1978 | 7.91 % change on previous year | +280.7% |
| 1979 | 4.57 % change on previous year | -42.2% |
| 1980 | 7.09 % change on previous year | +55.1% |
| 1981 | 0.3323 % change on previous year | -95.3% |
| 1982 | 3.25 % change on previous year | +876.7% |
| 1983 | -0.3661 % change on previous year | -111.3% |
| 1984 | -0.6951 % change on previous year | +89.9% |
| 1985 | 1.82 % change on previous year | -361.8% |
| 1986 | 2.62 % change on previous year | +44.2% |
| 1987 | -4.85 % change on previous year | -284.8% |
| 1988 | -4.98 % change on previous year | +2.7% |
| 1989 | -1.27 % change on previous year | -74.5% |
| 1990 | 5.42 % change on previous year | -526.2% |
| 1991 | 2.68 % change on previous year | -50.5% |
| 1992 | 2.97 % change on previous year | +10.8% |
| 1993 | 0.0826 % change on previous year | -97.2% |
| 1994 | 4.12 % change on previous year | +4889.1% |
| 1995 | 3.87 % change on previous year | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 3.53 % change on previous year | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 6.74 % change on previous year | +91.0% |
| 1998 | 7.67 % change on previous year | +13.8% |
| 1999 | 5.76 % change on previous year | -24.8% |
| 2000 | 8.41 % change on previous year | +45.9% |
| 2001 | 10.05 % change on previous year | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 6.74 % change on previous year | -32.9% |
| 2003 | 3 % change on previous year | -55.5% |
| 2004 | 1.69 % change on previous year | -43.5% |
| 2005 | 4.4 % change on previous year | +159.7% |
| 2006 | 4.83 % change on previous year | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 6.58 % change on previous year | +36.2% |
| 2008 | 0.8028 % change on previous year | -87.8% |
| 2009 | -2.84 % change on previous year | -453.6% |
| 2010 | -4.59 % change on previous year | +61.7% |
| 2011 | 2.16 % change on previous year | -147.0% |
| 2012 | -2.37 % change on previous year | -209.8% |
| 2013 | -2.2 % change on previous year | -7.1% |
| 2014 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -231.7% |
| 2015 | 2.78 % change on previous year | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 4.45 % change on previous year | +60.0% |
| 2017 | 4.22 % change on previous year | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 5.61 % change on previous year | +32.8% |
| 2019 | 5.69 % change on previous year | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 10.34 % change on previous year | +81.6% |
| 2021 | 6.88 % change on previous year | -33.5% |
| 2022 | 3.69 % change on previous year | -46.4% |
| 2023 | 6.36 % change on previous year | +72.6% |
| 2024 | 4.83 % change on previous year | -24.1% |
| 2025 | 3.94 % change on previous year | -18.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3.94 % change on previous year is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.7 % change on previous year, 2.3× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3.94 % change on previous year is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.63 % change on previous year, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +4889.1% | 0.0826 % change on previous year | 4.12 % change on previous year |
| 1982 | +876.7% | 0.3323 % change on previous year | 3.25 % change on previous year |
| 1990 | +526.2% | -1.27 % change on previous year | 5.42 % change on previous year |
| 2009 | -453.6% | 0.8028 % change on previous year | -2.84 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.26 % change on previous year | 2.08 % change on previous year | 8.7 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 0.2953 % change on previous year | -4.98 % change on previous year | 7.09 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.28 % change on previous year | 0.0826 % change on previous year | 7.67 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.37 % change on previous year | -2.84 % change on previous year | 10.05 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 % change on previous year | -4.59 % change on previous year | 5.69 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.01 % change on previous year | 3.69 % change on previous year | 10.34 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 57 Croatia 4.13 % change on previous year compare
- 58 Senegal 4.02 % change on previous year compare
- 59 Panama 3.98 % change on previous year compare
- 61 Luxembourg 3.75 % change on previous year compare
- 62 Ghana 3.66 % change on previous year compare
- 63 Cote d'Ivoire 3.6 % change on previous year 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 government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Ireland?
- Government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate in Ireland was 3.94 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.34 % change on previous year in 2020.
- What is the lowest government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.98 % change on previous year in 1988.
- How does Ireland rank for government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate?
- Ireland ranks 60th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is government spending vs. gdp, annual growth rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Government spending vs. GDP, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Government spending vs. GDP National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Government spending vs. GDP. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.