Government gross debt in Ireland

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 31.6% 2027: 30.3% 2028: 29.1% 2029: 28.4% 2030: 28.0% 2031: 28.0%

46.6 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV

Period	% of GDP
Jan 1999	46.6
Jan 1998	51.4
Jan 1997	61.6
Jan 1996	69.8
Jan 1995	78.5

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually (with quarterly advance estimates in some economies), subject to revision with the national accounts.

What it is

Government gross debt measures the total outstanding liabilities of Ireland's general government owed to its creditors. It is reported in absolute terms and, chiefly, as a share of GDP to assess the sustainability of the public finances.

How it's calculated

Eurostat and Ireland's CSO compile it as Maastricht (EDP) debt: securities, loans and deposits of general government, consolidated and at nominal value. The ratio is expressed against GDP, with quarterly and annual releases.

Market implications

For a euro-area member, the debt path shapes the sovereign spread, the Irish Treasury's issuance costs and fiscal headroom. It is watched closely by the ECB, markets and rating agencies.

Limitations

In Ireland the debt-to-GDP ratio is heavily distorted by the outsized weight of multinationals in GDP, so modified gross national income (GNI*) is often used as a more realistic denominator. It is also a low-frequency, revisable figure.