Home Ireland Education Education Spending

Ireland Education Spending

Government expenditure on education as % of GDP  SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS

2.90% −0.29% (-9.0%)
Year 2021 Rank #31 Global Peak 6.16% (2009) Source World Bank

Ireland Education Spending (1971–2021)

Overview

Ireland's education spending stood at 2.90% in 2021, a decline of +0.29% from 2020. Ireland ranked 31st globally.

Data & projection

Year Education Spending YoY change Rank
2021 2.90% −0.29% #31
2020 3.19% −0.04% #37
2019 3.23% −0.07% #47
2018 3.30% −0.07% #50
2017 3.38% −0.28% #54
2016 3.66% +0.03% #57
2015 3.62% −1.11% #58
2014 4.74% −0.50% #99
2013 5.23% −0.48% #111
2012 5.71% −0.06% #118
2011 5.77% −0.28% #119
2010 6.05% −0.11% #114
2009 6.16% +0.70% #95
2008 5.46% +0.74% #92
2007 4.72% +0.17% #69
Show all years (1971-2021)

Detected Pattern

Export Boom Cycle
Current account surplus with strong export growth (>15% YoY), reserve accumulation, and moderate GDP growth. Typical of commodity exporters during price surges.
Reserves YoY +77.5% GDP growth 16.3% C/A balance 12.3%
Occurred 768 times, 546 successful
Reserves YoY
+25.6%
GDP growth
4.0%
C/A balance
14.5%
Reserves YoY
+14.6%
GDP growth
3.7%
C/A balance
2.9%
Reserves YoY
+12.8%
GDP growth
43.8%
C/A balance
16.4%
Reserves YoY
+12.6%
GDP growth
6.0%
C/A balance
0.5%
Reserves YoY
+38.3%
GDP growth
5.0%
C/A balance
1.2%
Reserves YoY
+18.0%
GDP growth
2.9%
C/A balance
3.9%

Analysis

Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw education spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ireland's education spending?

Ireland's education spending was 2.90% in 2021. Ranked 31st globally. This represents a 9.0% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest education spending in Ireland?

Ireland's education spending peaked at 6.16% in 2009.

What was the lowest education spending in Ireland?

The lowest education spending in Ireland was 2.90% in 2021.

How does Ireland rank in education spending?

Ireland ranks 31st globally in education spending as of 2021.

What is the World Bank indicator code for education spending?

The World Bank indicator code is SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the education spending of Ireland in 2021?

The education spending of Ireland in 2021 was 2.90%. This ranks 31st in the world.

Cite this page

APA
Ireland Education Spending. HistorySaid. Retrieved April 1, 2026, from https://historysaid.com/ireland/education-spending-gdp
BibTeX
@misc{historysaid_ireland_education-spending-gdp, title = {Ireland Education Spending}, url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/education-spending-gdp}, publisher = {HistorySaid}, year = {2026} }