Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Ireland

Government expense in Ireland in 2022 — 19.24%. Ranked 85 in the world out of 111. Since 1972, the indicator has fallen by 9.42 pp.

2022 19.24% −3.02 pp vs 2021
World rank 85of 111
Period maximum 62.41%2010
Period minimum 19.24%2022

Trend over time

1972–2022 · % of GDP

Government expense — Ireland, 1972–2022020406080197219771982198719921997200220072012201720221972: 28.66%1973: 28.65%1974: 31.53%1975: 34.82%1976: 35.32%1977: 34.1%1978: 35.36%1979: 36.92%1980: 40.29%1981: 42.17%1982: 45.58%1983: 46.5%1984: 45.03%1985: 45.86%1986: 45.03%1987: 44.71%1988: 41.08%1989: 35.17%1990: 35.74%1991: 37.12%1992: 37.58%1993: 37.63%1994: 37.12%1995: 37.21%1996: 35.36%1997: 33.07%1998: 31.1%1999: 29.41%2000: 27.69%2001: 28.98%2002: 29.47%2003: 29.73%2004: 29.72%2005: 30.43%2006: 30.66%2007: 31.93%2008: 37.07%2009: 44.04%2010: 62.41%2011: 44.47%2012: 39.98%2013: 37.63%2014: 34.39%2015: 26.59%2016: 25.74%2017: 23.75%2018: 23.05%2019: 22%2020: 25.13%2021: 22.26%2022: 19.24%
Change over the period: −9.42 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2022

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

Ireland 19.24%
World 28.49%
Northern Europe computed 35.59%
Government expense — Ireland, by year Ireland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2022 19.24 −3.02 pp
2021 22.26 −2.87 pp
2020 25.13 +3.13 pp
2019 22 −1.06 pp
2018 23.05 −0.69 pp
2017 23.75 −1.99 pp
2016 25.74 −0.85 pp
2015 26.59 −7.8 pp
2014 34.39 −3.24 pp
2013 37.63 −2.36 pp
2012 39.98 −4.49 pp
2011 44.47 −17.94 pp
2010 62.41 +18.37 pp
2009 44.04 +6.97 pp
2008 37.07 +5.14 pp
2007 31.93 +1.27 pp
2006 30.66 +0.24 pp
2005 30.43 +0.71 pp
2004 29.72 −0.01 pp
2003 29.73 +0.25 pp
2002 29.47 +0.49 pp
2001 28.98 +1.29 pp
2000 27.69 −1.72 pp
1999 29.41 −1.69 pp
1998 31.1 −1.98 pp
1997 33.07 −2.28 pp
1996 35.36 −1.85 pp
1995 37.21 +0.09 pp
1994 37.12 −0.51 pp
1993 37.63 +0.05 pp
1992 37.58 +0.46 pp
1991 37.12 +1.38 pp
1990 35.74 +0.57 pp
1989 35.17 −5.91 pp
1988 41.08 −3.64 pp
1987 44.71 −0.32 pp
1986 45.03 −0.83 pp
1985 45.86 +0.84 pp
1984 45.03 −1.47 pp
1983 46.5 +0.92 pp
1982 45.58 +3.41 pp
1981 42.17 +1.88 pp
1980 40.29 +3.37 pp
1979 36.92 +1.57 pp
1978 35.36 +1.25 pp
1977 34.1 −1.21 pp
1976 35.32 +0.49 pp
1975 34.82 +3.29 pp
1974 31.53 +2.88 pp
1973 28.65 −0.01 pp
1972 28.66

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

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