Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland

Ireland: Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ was 3,266 millions in 2017. β—† Volatile

Latest (2017)
3,266 millions
Change on year
up 44.5%
World rank
36th
of 153 countries
All-time high
3,266 millions
in 2017
All-time low
224 millions
in 1971
Years of data
45
1971–2017

Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland, 1971–2017

01.0k2.0k3.0k1971199420171971: 224 millions1972: 277.1 millions1973: 272.8 millions1974: 295 millions1976: 370.5 millions1977: 507.6 millions1978: 553.7 millions1979: 594.6 millions1980: 607 millions1981: 672.7 millions1982: 622.9 millions1983: 600.3 millions1984: 563.1 millions1985: 611.5 millions1986: 643 millions1987: 745.3 millions1988: 705.3 millions1989: 706.7 millions1990: 825.8 millions1991: 865.5 millions1992: 976.7 millions1993: 1.0k millions1994: 1.1k millions1995: 1.2k millions1996: 1.3k millions1998: 1.5k millions1999: 1.7k millions2000: 2.0k millions2001: 2.0k millions2002: 2.1k millions2003: 2.0k millions2004: 2.1k millions2005: 2.2k millions2006: 2.4k millions2007: 2.6k millions2008: 2.8k millions2009: 3.1k millions2010: 2.9k millions2011: 2.8k millions2012: 2.7k millions2013: 2.5k millions2014: 2.4k millions2015: 2.6k millions2016: 2.3k millions2017: 3.3k millions

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.

Analysis

The most recent figure for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland is 3,266 millions, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 44.5% on the previous year and up 26.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland peaked at 3,266 millions in 2017 and was at its lowest, 224 millions, in 1971.

Ireland ranks 36th of 153 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 386.93 millions 224 millions 594.6 millions 8
1980s 647.76 millions 563.07 millions 745.29 millions 10
1990s 1,165 millions 825.84 millions 1,677 millions 9
2000s 2,334 millions 1,961 millions 3,093 millions 10
2010s 2,682 millions 2,261 millions 3,266 millions 8

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 33 South Africa 3,435 millions compare
  2. 34 Colombia 3,323 millions compare
  3. 35 Malaysia 3,299 millions compare
  4. 37 Israel 3,191 millions compare
  5. 38 Singapore 2,903 millions compare
  6. 39 New Zealand 2,819 millions compare

See the full ranking of 153 places β†’

More reference data data for Ireland

All data for Ireland β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland?
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ in Ireland was 3,266 millions in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 3,266 millions in 2017.
What is the lowest government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 224 millions in 1971.
How does Ireland rank for government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$?
Ireland ranks 36th out of 153 countries with data for 2017.
Is government expenditure on tertiary education, constant us$ rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/government-expenditure-on-tertiary-education-constant-us-millions/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Government expenditure on tertiary education, constant US$ (millions)
Unit
millions
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
153 places, 3,093 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Total general (local, regional and central) government expenditure on tertiary education (current, capital, and transfers) in millions US$ in constant value (taking into account inflation). It includes expenditure funded by transfers from international sources to government. Total government expenditure for a given level of education (e.g. primary, secondary, or all levels combined) in national currency is converted to US$, and where it is expressed in constant value, uses a GDP deflator to account for inflation. The constant prices base year is normally three years before the year of the data release. For example, in the July 2017 data release, constant US$ values are expressed in 2014 prices. Limitations: In some instances data on total government expenditure on education refers only to the Ministry of Education, excluding other ministries which may also spend a part of their budget on educational activities. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/