Total health spending accounted for 8.9% of GDP in Ireland in 2012, slightly less than the OECD average of 9.3%. Health spending as a share of GDP is much lower in Ireland than in the United States (which spent 16.9% of its GDP on health) and in a number of European countries including the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Germany (all allocating over 11%). The public sector is the main source of health funding in nearly all OECD countries. In Ireland, 68% of health spending was funded by public sources in 2012, slightly less than the average of 72% in OECD countries.

The proportion of daily smokers in Ireland has decreased over the past decade, from 33% in 1998 to 29% in 2007 (latest year available), but this remains well above the OECD average (21% in 2012).

Alcohol consumption in Ireland is among the highest in OECD countries, with a consumption of 11.6 litres of alcohol per adult in 2012. Although alcohol consumption in Ireland has declined over the past decade, it still remains well above the OECD average (9.0 litres).