Ireland Health Spending
Current health expenditure as % of GDP SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
Ireland's health spending was 6.54% in 2025, ranked 100th globally. This represents a 4.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Ireland's health spending stood at 6.54% in 2025, a decline of +0.31% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 6.54% by 2025. Ireland ranked 100th globally.
Ireland’s health‑spending share of GDP has risen modestly since the turn of the millennium, moving from a trough of 5.90 % in 2000 to 6.54 % in 2025, which places the country at rank 100 globally. The most pronounced surge occurred during the post‑global‑financial‑crisis recovery, when the share peaked at 10.52 % in 2009 before receding to current levels. Over the 26‑year span, the average annual increase is modest, reflecting a pattern of cautious fiscal expansion rather than the more aggressive growth seen in some peers. By comparison, Hungary records a slightly higher share at 6.63 % and Morocco slightly lower at 6.44 %, positioning Ireland near the middle of this regional cohort. The trajectory suggests that unless policy shifts toward higher public health investment or demographic pressures intensify, Ireland’s health‑spending ratio is likely to continue its gradual upward drift in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Health Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 6.52% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 6.53% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 6.54% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.54% | −0.31% | #100 |
| 2024 | 6.85% | +0.28% | #2 |
| 2023 | 6.58% | +0.55% | #98 |
| 2022 | 6.02% | −0.42% | #90 |
| 2021 | 6.44% | −0.53% | #89 |
| 2020 | 6.97% | +0.35% | #98 |
| 2019 | 6.62% | −0.13% | #107 |
| 2018 | 6.75% | −0.17% | #118 |
| 2017 | 6.92% | −0.42% | #119 |
| 2016 | 7.34% | +0.26% | #128 |
| 2015 | 7.08% | −2.15% | #125 |
| 2014 | 9.23% | −0.80% | #161 |
| 2013 | 10.03% | −0.44% | #171 |
| 2012 | 10.47% | −0.01% | #178 |
| 2011 | 10.49% | −0.03% | #179 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Ireland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw health spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Ireland's health spending was 6.54% in 2025. Ranked 100th globally. This represents a 4.6% decrease from the previous year.
Ireland's health spending peaked at 10.52% in 2009.
The lowest health spending in Ireland was 5.90% in 2000.
Ireland ranks 100th globally in health spending as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Ireland's health spending is projected to reach 6.54% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The health spending of Ireland in 2025 was 6.54%. This ranks 100th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_ireland_health-spending,
title = {Ireland Health Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/ireland/health-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}