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Economy of Croatia vs Ireland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Croatia has a GDP of $93B compared to $609B for Ireland, ranking 75/197 and 25/197 by economy size, respectively.

Croatia has $53.5B in government debt (57.6% of GDP), compared to $236B (38.8% of GDP) in Ireland.

Croatia vs Ireland GDP by year

Croatia
Ireland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Croatia Ireland
2024 $92,983,810,329 $609,157,459,747
2023 $85,624,153,964 $567,372,737,459
2022 $71,196,498,671 $548,341,794,599
2021 $69,002,365,163 $530,394,123,830
2020 $57,959,843,541 $436,009,027,819
2019 $61,466,721,186 $407,211,793,801
2018 $61,667,925,219 $395,780,319,817
2017 $56,182,782,586 $348,355,212,569
2016 $52,650,714,172 $305,431,252,709
2015 $50,998,893,385 $302,101,388,556
2014 $59,606,934,501 $266,490,442,124
2013 $59,846,265,182 $242,924,245,719
2012 $57,548,115,904 $226,921,827,888
2011 $62,889,007,657 $240,975,871,047
2010 $58,975,205,417 $221,732,824,603
2009 $62,315,996,675 $236,443,115,854
2008 $68,472,854,617 $275,447,471,451
2007 $59,290,621,398 $270,079,279,420
2006 $49,583,544,860 $232,180,617,162
2005 $45,013,119,282 $211,876,989,656
2004 $41,836,292,157 $194,372,115,041
2003 $35,245,317,002 $164,670,771,260
2002 $26,757,722,429 $128,596,035,288
2001 $23,066,883,850 $109,346,669,230
2000 $22,134,411,297 $100,207,610,430
1999 $23,777,026,779 $98,893,958,263
1998 $25,890,228,430 $90,199,410,116
1997 $24,175,764,812 $82,856,648,758
1996 $24,150,978,347 $75,790,786,290
1995 $22,772,394,547 $69,139,823,232
1994 $15,062,911,617 $57,097,656,066
1993 $11,259,647,874 $52,417,477,614
1992 $10,621,169,291 $55,918,538,121
1991 $18,760,386,775 $49,787,501,584
1990 $25,650,213,280 $49,305,632,408
1989 - $39,238,392,678
1988 - $37,772,896,221
1987 - $33,920,518,493
1986 - $28,714,571,852
1985 - $21,270,013,326
1984 - $20,106,648,455
1983 - $20,766,047,764
1982 - $21,474,752,962
1981 - $20,670,190,138
1980 - $21,747,855,640
1979 - $18,319,334,300
1978 - $14,647,996,074
1977 - $11,248,340,431
1976 - $9,453,756,015
1975 - $9,483,808,362
1974 - $7,896,860,615
1973 - $7,481,173,066
1972 - $6,318,060,582
1971 - $5,098,250,287
1970 - $4,395,995,086
1969 - $3,902,721,632
1968 - $3,378,701,147
1967 - $3,445,739,915
1966 - $3,198,820,904
1965 - $3,035,655,794
1964 - $2,851,091,646
1963 - $2,505,073,358
1962 - $2,329,372,972
1961 - $2,151,772,980
1960 - $1,998,550,222

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

GDP per capita in Croatia vs Ireland by year

Croatia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Croatia Ireland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $24,050 $49,551 $112,895 $133,437
2023 $22,184 $47,760 $106,819 $129,683
2022 $18,466 $42,125 $105,191 $138,523
2021 $17,789 $36,930 $103,783 $116,904
2020 $14,808 $31,594 $86,514 $97,800
2019 $15,564 $33,064 $81,828 $92,023
2018 $15,460 $29,789 $80,804 $86,299
2017 $13,902 $27,888 $72,161 $80,450
2016 $12,820 $25,803 $64,130 $73,013
2015 $12,284 $23,750 $64,250 $71,588
2014 $14,187 $22,706 $57,215 $52,641
2013 $14,135 $22,430 $52,538 $48,839
2012 $13,508 $21,619 $49,336 $46,726
2011 $14,692 $21,191 $52,614 $45,526
2010 $13,730 $20,139 $48,624 $43,212
2009 $14,475 $20,358 $52,133 $41,491
2008 $15,888 $21,018 $61,353 $44,169
2007 $13,756 $19,568 $61,396 $46,782
2006 $11,501 $17,629 $54,329 $44,223
2005 $10,444 $15,451 $50,933 $40,466
2004 $9,719 $14,686 $47,754 $38,729
2003 $8,190 $13,692 $41,204 $36,280
2002 $6,220 $12,775 $32,705 $35,222
2001 $5,365 $11,653 $28,282 $32,573
2000 $4,954 $10,675 $26,335 $30,216
1999 $5,269 $9,943 $26,338 $27,041
1998 $5,713 $9,890 $24,295 $25,094
1997 $5,331 $9,536 $22,551 $22,637
1996 $5,300 $8,806 $20,836 $20,482
1995 $4,929 $8,052 $19,158 $18,944
1994 $3,238 $7,337 $15,903 $17,011
1993 $2,448 $6,861 $14,657 $15,811
1992 $2,321 $7,326 $15,714 $15,116
1991 $4,001 $7,918 $14,087 $14,399
1990 $5,369 $9,526 $14,031 $13,743
1989 - - $11,176 -
1988 - - $10,716 -
1987 - - $9,582 -
1986 - - $8,112 -
1985 - - $6,012 -
1984 - - $5,692 -
1983 - - $5,915 -
1982 - - $6,161 -
1981 - - $5,986 -
1980 - - $6,372 -
1979 - - $5,430 -
1978 - - $4,400 -
1977 - - $3,427 -
1976 - - $2,920 -
1975 - - $2,973 -
1974 - - $2,517 -
1973 - - $2,424 -
1972 - - $2,080 -
1971 - - $1,704 -
1970 - - $1,487 -
1969 - - $1,331 -
1968 - - $1,159 -
1967 - - $1,187 -
1966 - - $1,107 -
1965 - - $1,055 -
1964 - - $995 -
1963 - - $878 -
1962 - - $821 -
1961 - - $762 -
1960 - - $707 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

Croatia's GDP per capita is $24,050, ranking 50/197, compared to $112,895 in Ireland, ranking 4/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Croatia ranks 46th at $49,551, while Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437.

Economic indicators

Croatia Ireland
Gross domestic product
$93B
2024
$609B
2024
GDP rank
75/197
2024
25/197
2024
GDP growth
3.83%
2023-2024
2.6%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$24,050
2024
$112,895
2024
GDP per capita rank
50/197
2024
4/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,551
2024
$133,437
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
46/197
2024
4/197
2024
Government debt
$53.5B
2024
$236B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.6%
2024
38.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$13,844
2024
$43,766
2024
Government debt per person rank
42/185
2024
11/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$20,856
2026
$47,851
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$27.8B
2024
$110B
2018
Number of billionaires
1
2025
11
2025
Income share by richest 10%
23.3%
2023
24.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2023
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
48%
2024
22.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.97%
2023-2024
2.11%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
5.03%
2024
4.27%
2024
Population
3812193
5518360

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Croatia
Spending

Debt
Ireland
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Croatia Ireland
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 48% 57.6% 22.3% 38.8%
2023 46.8% 61.8% 22.1% 42.1%
2022 45% 68.5% 20.6% 43.2%
2021 48.1% 78.2% 23.6% 52.7%
2020 53.7% 86.5% 26.7% 57.1%
2019 44.3% 70.9% 23.9% 55.9%
2018 44.9% 72.8% 24.7% 61.4%
2017 44.1% 76.2% 25.3% 65.3%
2016 45.9% 79.3% 27.5% 72.7%
2015 47.5% 82.8% 28.1% 74%
2014 48.7% 83.2% 36.6% 101.4%
2013 47.9% 79.5% 39.8% 117.7%
2012 47.3% 68.9% 42.3% 118.9%
2011 48.6% 63.1% 46.9% 109.6%
2010 48.1% 56.8% 64.9% 86.2%
2009 49.2% 47.9% 46.9% 61.8%
2008 46.3% 38.9% 41.6% 42.5%
2007 46.3% 37.1% 35.6% 23.9%
2006 44.6% 38.4% 33.6% 23.7%
2005 46.5% 40.9% 33% 26.1%
2004 49% 40% 32.8% 28.1%
2003 49.6% 37.8% 32.7% 29.8%
2002 49.2% 36.5% 32.9% 30.9%
2001 50.6% 36.6% 32.2% 33.6%
2000 54.6% 35.4% 30.6% 36.4%
1999 58.9% 30% 32.5% 46.6%
1998 56.8% 23.3% 34.2% 51.4%
1997 51.7% 22.5% 36.1% 61.6%
1996 52.1% - 38.5% 69.8%
1995 50.3% - 40.3% 78.5%
1994 45.4% - 44.2% 88%
1993 36% - 44.6% 93.4%
1992 37.1% - 46.8% 90.6%
1991 - - 46.1% 93.8%
1990 - - 44.6% 92.7%
1989 - - 42.5% 97.9%
1988 - - 48.2% 106.5%
1987 - - 51.4% 108.3%
1986 - - 52.9% 107.2%
1985 - - 53.2% 93%
1984 - - 52.7% 90.2%
1983 - - 55.6% 86.1%
1982 - - 56.7% 73.5%
1981 - - 54.1% 68.8%
1980 - - 53.7% 64.6%
1979 - - 48.7% 63.5%
1978 - - 46.2% 50.6%
1977 - - 44.6% 49.2%
1976 - - 47.8% 51.7%
1975 - - 48.2% 48.3%
1974 - - 44.3% 43.5%
1973 - - 40.3% 35.1%
1972 - - 41.5% 37.3%
1971 - - 45.3% 39.8%
1970 - - 44.1% 41.7%
1969 - - 42.5% 42.6%
1968 - - 40% 44.7%
1967 - - 39.3% 47.1%
1966 - - 36.9% 47.7%
1965 - - 35.8% 44.6%
1964 - - 34.8% 43.1%
1963 - - 33.6% 45.2%
1962 - - 31.7% 44.5%
1961 - - 31.4% 44.3%
1960 - - 29.1% 44.9%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, Croatia's government spending was $44.6B, accounting for 48% of its GDP, while Ireland spent $136B, or 22.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 57.6% in Croatia and 38.8% in Ireland, ranking 86/185 and 138/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Croatia

Ireland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Croatia Ireland
2024 -1.95% 4.09%
2023 -0.79% 1.52%
2022 0.12% 1.67%
2021 -2.58% -1.37%
2020 -7.23% -4.87%
2019 2.31% 0.41%
2018 0.23% 0.09%
2017 0.8% -0.3%
2016 -1.04% -0.76%
2015 -3.53% -1.97%
2014 -5.19% -3.52%
2013 -5.52% -6.28%
2012 -5.46% -8.42%
2011 -7.53% -13.5%
2010 -6.46% -32.1%
2009 -7.15% -13.9%
2008 -2.34% -7.03%
2007 -2.28% 0.27%
2006 -2.01% 2.78%
2005 -3.24% 1.57%
2004 -6.09% 1.3%
2003 -5.03% 0.35%
2002 -4.9% -0.52%
2001 -4.79% 0.96%
2000 -9.2% 4.86%
1999 -11.1% 3.54%
1998 -6.36% 2.07%
1997 -4.93% 1.37%
1996 -4.41% -0.2%
1995 -4.23% -2.07%
1994 -0.82% -1.82%
1993 -2.67% -2.62%
1992 -5.69% -2.84%
1991 - -2.8%
1990 - -2.69%
1989 - -2.64%
1988 - -4.62%
1987 - -8.47%
1986 - -10.5%
1985 - -10.7%
1984 - -9.43%
1983 - -11.5%
1982 - -13.1%
1981 - -12.1%
1980 - -11.1%
1979 - -10%
1978 - -8.27%
1977 - -6.44%
1976 - -7.34%
1975 - -11.1%
1974 - -6.96%
1973 - -3.84%
1972 - -3.23%
1971 - -3.5%
1970 - -3.64%
1969 - -3.4%
1968 - -2.72%
1967 - -2.69%
1966 - -2.26%
1965 - -3.5%
1964 - -3.35%
1963 - -2.92%
1962 - -2.91%
1961 - -2.6%
1960 - -1.97%
1959 - -2.16%
1958 - -4.3%
1957 - -5.19%
1956 - -3.23%
1955 - -5.06%
1954 - -5.28%
1953 - -5.77%
1952 - -7.84%
1951 - -4.62%
1950 - -5.21%
1949 - -2.17%
1948 - -1.29%
1947 - -1.8%
1946 - -0.43%
1945 - -0.43%
1944 - 0.39%
1943 - -1.18%
1942 - -2.48%
1941 - -1.42%
1940 - -0.15%
1939 - -7.31%
1938 - -0.92%
1937 - -0.77%
1936 - -0.19%
1935 - -
1934 - -
1933 - 2.97%
1932 - -
1931 - -1.63%
1930 - -
1929 - -3.41%
1928 - -
1927 - -
1926 - -1.95%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, Croatia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.82B, equivalent to 1.95% of GDP. This compares to Ireland's surplus of $24.9B, or 4.09% of GDP.

Over the past 33 years, Croatia recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Ireland ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Croatia posted an annual deficit equal to 3.97% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.34% of GDP for Ireland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Croatia

Ireland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Croatia Ireland
2024 2.97% 2.11%
2023 7.94% 6.3%
2022 10.8% 7.83%
2021 2.55% 2.34%
2020 0.15% -0.33%
2019 0.77% 0.94%
2018 1.5% 0.47%
2017 1.13% 0.36%
2016 -1.12% 0.02%
2015 -0.46% -0.33%
2014 -0.22% 0.19%
2013 2.22% 0.52%
2012 3.41% 1.69%
2011 2.27% 2.55%
2010 1.03% -0.92%
2009 2.38% -4.45%
2008 6.08% 4.04%
2007 2.9% 4.89%
2006 3.19% 3.94%
2005 3.32% 2.46%
2004 2.06% 2.18%
2003 1.77% 3.49%
2002 1.67% 4.63%
2001 3.78% 4.85%
2000 4.61% 5.58%
1999 4.02% 1.63%
1998 6.4% 2.41%
1997 4.17% 1.54%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Croatia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.9%, compared with 2.18% in Ireland. In 2024, inflation was 2.97% in Croatia and 2.11% in Ireland.

Top exports between countries

Croatia
Export category Export value
Transport & tourism services $260M
Business & finance services $88.8M
Miscellaneous $45.2M
Chemicals & pharma $28.2M
IT & IP services $18.4M
Machinery & equipment $12.9M
Manufacturing & construction services $9.68M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $8.22M
Textiles & consumer goods $3M
Raw materials & minerals $1.11M
Ireland
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $71.2M
Chemicals & pharma $51.6M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $16M
Transport & tourism services $13.7M
Business & finance services $10.6M
Animal & marine products $3.46M
Metals $1.56M
Raw materials & minerals $562K
Textiles & consumer goods $261K
Miscellaneous $86K

Balance of trade

Croatia Ireland
Current account balance
-$1.05B
2024
$106B
2024
Current account balance ranking
125/190
2024
6/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.13%
2024
+17.4%
2024
Goods imports
$41.5B
2024
$165B
2024
Goods exports
$21.9B
2024
$356B
2024
Service imports
$8.35B
2024
$467B
2024
Service exports
$24.7B
2024
$526B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
54.8%
2024
102.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
50.1%
2024
144%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Croatia Ireland
Economic freedom 67.5 83.3
Economic freedom ranking 56/197 3/197
Property rights 81.1 94.4
Government integrity 52.6 84
Judicial effectiveness 71.7 95.4
Tax burden 70 77.7
Government spending 34.9 85.9
Fiscal health 92.2 97
Business freedom 79.6 85.5
Labor freedom 58.9 61.3
Monetary freedom 69.9 79.3
Trade freedom 79.4 79.4
Investment freedom 60 90
Financial freedom 60 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

Croatia
Ireland
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Croatia Ireland
2026 67.5 83.3
2025 68.7 83.1
2024 67.2 82.6
2023 66.4 82
2022 67.6 82
2021 63.6 81.4
2020 62.2 80.9
2019 61.4 80.5
2018 61 80.4
2017 59.4 76.7
2016 59.1 77.3
2015 61.5 76.6
2014 60.4 76.2
2013 61.3 75.7
2012 60.9 76.9
2011 61.1 78.7
2010 59.2 81.3
2009 55.1 82.2
2008 54.1 82.5
2007 53.4 82.6
2006 53.6 82.2
2005 51.9 80.8
2004 53.1 80.3
2003 53.3 80.9
2002 51.1 80.5
2001 50.7 81.2
2000 53.6 76.1
1999 53.1 74.6
1998 51.7 73.7
1997 46.7 72.6
1996 48 68.5
1995 - 68.5

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Croatia is 67.5, ranking 56/197, compared to 83.3 for Ireland, ranking 3/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Croatia Ireland
Services, % of GDP
60.8%
2024
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
19.2%
2024
33.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.9%
2024
1.02%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$86B
2024
$435B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$49,740
2024
$101,180
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.34B
2024
$12.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
116/177
2024
73/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.88B
2024
$62.3B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.54B
2024
$4.82B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$2.79B
2024
$67.1B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
20.3%
2023
14%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.4%
2024
18.2%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/croatia/ireland | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.