Ireland Government Effectiveness
Government Effectiveness GE.EST
Ireland's government effectiveness was 1.77 in 2025, ranked 7th globally. This represents a 11.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Ireland's government effectiveness stood at 1.77 in 2025, a rise of +0.18 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.77 by 2025. Ireland ranked 7th globally.
Ireland’s government effectiveness score has risen steadily over the 26‑year series, moving from 1.67 in 1996 to a record high of 1.77 in 2025, which places the country seventh globally. The metric’s lowest point occurred in 2019 at 1.26, reflecting a dip that coincided with fiscal consolidation pressures after the global financial crisis, but subsequent reforms in public service delivery and digitalisation helped restore confidence. Compared with peers, Ireland trails Luxembourg’s 1.94 and Norway’s 1.85 while outpacing Japan’s 1.64 and Iceland’s 1.63, suggesting a competitive but not leading position among advanced economies. The upward trajectory since the trough indicates that continued investment in institutional capacity, transparency and anti‑corruption safeguards could sustain the improvement, while any reversal in fiscal discipline or political instability might blunt future gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Effectiveness | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 1.85 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 1.77 | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.77 | +0.18 | #7 |
| 2023 | 1.59 | +0.04 | #13 |
| 2022 | 1.55 | +0.09 | #15 |
| 2021 | 1.46 | +0.03 | #19 |
| 2020 | 1.44 | +0.18 | #21 |
| 2019 | 1.26 | −0.12 | #29 |
| 2018 | 1.38 | +0.11 | #24 |
| 2017 | 1.27 | −0.06 | #29 |
| 2016 | 1.33 | −0.19 | #26 |
| 2015 | 1.52 | −0.08 | #20 |
| 2014 | 1.60 | +0.09 | #18 |
| 2013 | 1.50 | −0.04 | #21 |
| 2012 | 1.54 | +0.09 | #17 |
| 2011 | 1.45 | +0.11 | #24 |
| 2010 | 1.34 | +0.01 | #27 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw government effectiveness improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's government effectiveness was 1.77 in 2025. Ranked 7th globally. This represents a 11.3% increase from the previous year.
Ireland's government effectiveness peaked at 1.77 in 2025.
The lowest government effectiveness in Ireland was 1.26 in 2019.
Ireland ranks 7th globally in government effectiveness as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GE.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Ireland's government effectiveness is projected to reach 1.77 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The government effectiveness of Ireland in 2025 was 1.77. This ranks 7th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_government-effectiveness,
title = {Ireland Government Effectiveness},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/government-effectiveness/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}