
Gross debt in Ireland
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in Ireland in the period from 1998 to 2021 was between 36.5 billion and 286.0 billion USD. The hightest level within the past 23 years was reached in 2013. However, the liabilities in 2021 have been only 279 billion USD The budget deficit in the same year was 9.6 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 55,421 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 33,695 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 23 years in billion USD
Year | Ireland total | Ireland per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 46.77 bn USD | 12,598 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 46.74 bn USD | 12,448 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 36.48 bn USD | 9,586 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 36.69 bn USD | 9,490 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 39.70 bn USD | 10,098 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 49.10 bn USD | 12,287 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 54.59 bn USD | 13,413 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 55.20 bn USD | 13,270 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 54.90 bn USD | 12,846 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 64.66 bn USD | 14,700 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 117.11 bn USD | 26,084 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 146.02 bn USD | 32,195 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 191.21 bn USD | 41,930 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 264.10 bn USD | 57,663 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 269.85 bn USD | 58,670 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 286.02 bn USD | 61,858 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 270.20 bn USD | 58,011 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 223.76 bn USD | 47,589 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 222.08 bn USD | 46,702 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 227.38 bn USD | 47,297 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 243.11 bn USD | 49,947 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 228.36 bn USD | 46,280 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 248.86 bn USD | 49,918 USD | 30,783 USD |
2021 | 278.94 bn USD | 55,421 USD | 33,695 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in Ireland

The budget balance in Ireland in the period between 1998 and 2021 varied between -71.28 billion euros and +6.56 billion euros. In 2021, Ireland reached a balance of -9.59 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 1,906 euros per capita in Ireland in 2021. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 1,787 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 23 years
Year | Ireland total | Ireland per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 2.08 bn USD | 559 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | 2.62 bn USD | 699 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | 4.61 bn USD | 1,210 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | 0.95 bn USD | 247 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -0.49 bn USD | -125 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | 0.65 bn USD | 163 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | 2.59 bn USD | 636 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | 3.40 bn USD | 818 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | 6.56 bn USD | 1,534 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | 0.71 bn USD | 161 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | -19.37 bn USD | -4,314 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -32.80 bn USD | -7,232 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -71.28 bn USD | -15,630 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -32.61 bn USD | -7,120 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | -19.15 bn USD | -4,164 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -15.29 bn USD | -3,306 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | -9.41 bn USD | -2,021 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | -5.97 bn USD | -1,270 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | -2.31 bn USD | -485 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | -0.99 bn USD | -205 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | 0.56 bn USD | 114 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | 1.93 bn USD | 391 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -21.85 bn USD | -4,383 USD | -2,312 USD |
2021 | -9.59 bn USD | -1,906 USD | -1,787 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)