Expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland
Ireland: Expenditure on social benefits by function was 70,640 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
70,640
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
20th
of 46 countries
All-time high
70,640
in 2025
All-time low
6,563
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland, 1990–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
The most recent figure for expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland is 70,640, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and up 74.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland peaked at 70,640 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,563, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 20th of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,563 | — |
| 1991 | 7,219 | +10.0% |
| 1992 | 8,023 | +11.1% |
| 1993 | 8,225 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 8,702 | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 9,220 | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 9,836 | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 11,241 | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 11,442 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 12,602 | +10.1% |
| 2000 | 15,543 | +23.3% |
| 2001 | 18,373 | +18.2% |
| 2002 | 21,388 | +16.4% |
| 2003 | 23,371 | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 25,958 | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 27,865 | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 30,336 | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 33,287 | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 36,805 | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 40,012 | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 40,379 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 40,377 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 40,708 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 39,636 | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 39,702 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 40,489 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 41,317 | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 42,955 | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 44,618 | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 47,026 | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 56,264 | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 57,978 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 58,707 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 64,599 | +10.0% |
| 2024 | 68,417 | +5.9% |
| 2025 | 70,640 | +3.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 70,640 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 65,739, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 70,640 is above the median for high income countries, which is 70,640, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9,307 | 6,563 | 12,602 | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,294 | 15,543 | 40,012 | 10 |
| 2010s | 41,721 | 39,636 | 47,026 | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,767 | 56,264 | 70,640 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland?
- Expenditure on social benefits by function in Ireland was 70,640 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 70,640 in 2025.
- What is the lowest expenditure on social benefits by function recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,563 in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for expenditure on social benefits by function?
- Ireland ranks 20th out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
- Is expenditure on social benefits by function rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Expenditure on social benefits by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).