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Ireland Government Spending

Government expenditure as % of GDP  GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS

18.65% −0.59% (-3.1%)
Year 2025 Rank #89 Global Peak 62.41% (2010) Source World Bank

Ireland Government Spending (1972–2025)

Overview

Ireland's government spending stood at 18.65% in 2025, a decline of +0.59% from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 18.65% by 2025. Ireland ranked 89th globally.

Data & projection

Year Government Spending YoY change Rank
2025* trend 18.65% - -
2025 18.65% −0.59% #89
2022 19.24% −3.02% #25
2021 22.26% −2.87% #40
2020 25.13% +3.13% #48
2019 22.00% −1.06% #54
2018 23.05% −0.69% #65
2017 23.75% −1.99% #68
2016 25.74% −0.85% #73
2015 26.59% −7.80% #77
2014 34.39% −3.24% #108
2013 37.63% −2.36% #105
2012 39.98% −4.49% #115
2011 44.47% −17.94% #118
2010 62.41% +18.37% #126
2009 44.04% +6.97% #112
Show all years (1972-2025)
* Linear trend extrapolation

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 government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ireland's government spending?

Ireland's government spending was 18.65% in 2025. Ranked 89th globally. This represents a 3.1% decrease from the previous year.

What was the highest government spending in Ireland?

Ireland's government spending peaked at 62.41% in 2010.

What was the lowest government spending in Ireland?

The lowest government spending in Ireland was 18.65% in 2025.

How does Ireland rank in government spending?

Ireland ranks 89th globally in government spending as of 2025.

What is the World Bank indicator code for government spending?

The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.

What is the projected government spending of Ireland in 2025?

Ireland's government spending is projected to reach 18.65% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.

What is the government spending of Ireland in 2025?

The government spending of Ireland in 2025 was 18.65%. This ranks 89th in the world.

Cite this page

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