Domestic private health expenditure in Ireland
Ireland: Domestic private health expenditure was 23.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Domestic private health expenditure in Ireland, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for domestic private health expenditure in Ireland is 23.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 19.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in Ireland peaked at 29.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 2008.
That places Ireland 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.5% | — |
| 2001 | 21.6% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 21.2% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 21.1% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 21.1% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 22.2% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 20.8% | -6.4% |
| 2008 | 20.7% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 22.9% | +10.9% |
| 2010 | 23.8% | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 27.8% | +16.8% |
| 2012 | 27.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 28.7% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 28.2% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 27.8% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 27.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 26.4% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 26.2% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 22.4% | -14.5% |
| 2021 | 23.3% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 23.4% | -0.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 23.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 87% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 23.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.8%, 81% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.5% | 20.7% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.3% | 23.8% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.2% | 22.4% | 23.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic private health expenditure in Ireland?
- Domestic private health expenditure in Ireland was 23.4% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 2008.
- How does Ireland rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- Ireland ranks 146th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.