Government consumption (% of GDP) — all countries

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Ireland

Government consumption (% of GDP) in Ireland in 2025 — 11.2%. Ranked 104 in the world out of 132. Since 1970, the indicator has fallen by 5.1 pp.

2025 11.2% −0.8 pp vs 2024
World rank 104of 132
Period maximum 22.1%1981
Period minimum 11%2022

Trend over time

1970–2025 · % of GDP

Government consumption (% of GDP) — Ireland, 1970–20251015202519701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 16.3%1971: 17%1972: 17.1%1973: 17.4%1974: 19.1%1975: 20.7%1976: 20.1%1977: 19%1978: 19%1979: 20.1%1980: 22.1%1981: 22.1%1982: 22%1983: 21.5%1984: 20.8%1985: 20.6%1986: 20.9%1987: 19.7%1988: 18%1989: 16.7%1990: 17.2%1991: 18.2%1992: 18.5%1993: 18.3%1994: 18.2%1995: 17.2%1996: 16.6%1997: 16.1%1998: 15.5%1999: 15%2000: 14.7%2001: 15.4%2002: 15.8%2003: 16.1%2004: 16.2%2005: 16.1%2006: 16.2%2007: 16.8%2008: 18.7%2009: 20%2010: 18.7%2011: 19%2012: 18.1%2013: 16.9%2014: 16%2015: 12.1%2016: 12.5%2017: 11.9%2018: 11.8%2019: 11.8%2020: 12.6%2021: 11.7%2022: 11%2023: 12.1%2024: 12.1%2025: 11.2%
Change over the period: −5.1 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Ireland

Ireland 11.2%
Northern Europe computed 21.2%
Government consumption (% of GDP) — Ireland, by year Ireland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.2 −0.8 pp
2024 12.1 −0 pp
2023 12.1 +1.1 pp
2022 11 −0.7 pp
2021 11.7 −0.9 pp
2020 12.6 +0.8 pp
2019 11.8 +0 pp
2018 11.8 −0.2 pp
2017 11.9 −0.6 pp
2016 12.5 +0.4 pp
2015 12.1 −3.9 pp
2014 16 −0.9 pp
2013 16.9 −1.3 pp
2012 18.1 −0.8 pp
2011 19 +0.3 pp
2010 18.7 −1.4 pp
2009 20 +1.4 pp
2008 18.7 +1.8 pp
2007 16.8 +0.6 pp
2006 16.2 +0.2 pp
2005 16.1 −0.1 pp
2004 16.2 +0.1 pp
2003 16.1 +0.2 pp
2002 15.8 +0.4 pp
2001 15.4 +0.7 pp
2000 14.7 −0.3 pp
1999 15 −0.5 pp
1998 15.5 −0.6 pp
1997 16.1 −0.5 pp
1996 16.6 −0.6 pp
1995 17.2 −0.9 pp
1994 18.2 −0.2 pp
1993 18.3 −0.2 pp
1992 18.5 +0.4 pp
1991 18.2 +1 pp
1990 17.2 +0.5 pp
1989 16.7 −1.3 pp
1988 18 −1.7 pp
1987 19.7 −1.2 pp
1986 20.9 +0.2 pp
1985 20.6 −0.2 pp
1984 20.8 −0.7 pp
1983 21.5 −0.5 pp
1982 22 −0.1 pp
1981 22.1 +0 pp
1980 22.1 +2 pp
1979 20.1 +1.1 pp
1978 19 +0.1 pp
1977 19 −1.1 pp
1976 20.1 −0.6 pp
1975 20.7 +1.6 pp
1974 19.1 +1.7 pp
1973 17.4 +0.4 pp
1972 17.1 +0.1 pp
1971 17 +0.7 pp
1970 16.3

About the indicator

General government final consumption expenditure as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services for delivering public services, and spending on defense and security. It leaves out public investment and social transfers, so the indicator is lower than the overall size of the budget.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.