General government total expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland
Ireland: General government total expenditure (current LCU) was 137.55 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
137.55 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 9.6%
World rank
114th
of 197 countries
All-time high
137.55 billion current LCU
in 2025
All-time low
6.33 billion current LCU
in 1980
Years of data
46
1980–2025
General government total expenditure in Ireland, 1980–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, general government total expenditure in Ireland stood at 137.55 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
The figure is up 9.6% on the previous year and up 80.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, general government total expenditure in Ireland peaked at 137.55 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6.33 billion current LCU, in 1980.
That places Ireland 114th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
General government total expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 6.33 billion current LCU | — |
| 1981 | 7.93 billion current LCU | +25.3% |
| 1982 | 9.95 billion current LCU | +25.5% |
| 1983 | 11.02 billion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 1984 | 11.94 billion current LCU | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 14.62 billion current LCU | +22.5% |
| 1986 | 15.12 billion current LCU | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 14.98 billion current LCU | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 15.16 billion current LCU | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 14.88 billion current LCU | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 16.44 billion current LCU | +10.5% |
| 1991 | 17.70 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 1992 | 19.15 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 1993 | 19.64 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 20.94 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 22.10 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 23.19 billion current LCU | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 25.05 billion current LCU | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 27.49 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 1999 | 30.16 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 33.16 billion current LCU | +9.9% |
| 2001 | 39.28 billion current LCU | +18.4% |
| 2002 | 44.72 billion current LCU | +13.8% |
| 2003 | 47.55 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 51.29 billion current LCU | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 56.24 billion current LCU | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 62.06 billion current LCU | +10.4% |
| 2007 | 70.24 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
| 2008 | 77.83 billion current LCU | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 79.46 billion current LCU | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 108.63 billion current LCU | +36.7% |
| 2011 | 81.11 billion current LCU | -25.3% |
| 2012 | 74.67 billion current LCU | -7.9% |
| 2013 | 72.88 billion current LCU | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 73.32 billion current LCU | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 76.43 billion current LCU | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 75.92 billion current LCU | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 77.95 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 82.94 billion current LCU | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 86.82 billion current LCU | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 101.93 billion current LCU | +17.4% |
| 2021 | 105.78 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 107.32 billion current LCU | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 115.98 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 125.55 billion current LCU | +8.2% |
| 2025 | 137.55 billion current LCU | +9.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 137.55 billion current LCU is above the median for high income countries, which is 134.14 billion current LCU, 1.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 137.55 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 281.45 billion current LCU, 49% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where General government total expenditure (current LCU) in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | -25.3% | 108.63 billion current LCU | 81.11 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.19 billion current LCU | 6.33 billion current LCU | 15.16 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.19 billion current LCU | 16.44 billion current LCU | 30.16 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.18 billion current LCU | 33.16 billion current LCU | 79.46 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.07 billion current LCU | 72.88 billion current LCU | 108.63 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 115.69 billion current LCU | 101.93 billion current LCU | 137.55 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is general government total expenditure in Ireland?
- General government total expenditure in Ireland was 137.55 billion current LCU in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest general government total expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 137.55 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest general government total expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.33 billion current LCU in 1980.
- How does Ireland rank for general government total expenditure?
- Ireland ranks 114th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is general government total expenditure rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.0%. 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 General government total expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release