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Economy of Estonia vs Ireland compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Estonia has a GDP of $43.1B compared to $609B for Ireland, ranking 100/197 and 25/197 by economy size, respectively.

Estonia has $10.1B in government debt (23.4% of GDP), compared to $236B (38.8% of GDP) in Ireland.

Estonia vs Ireland GDP by year

Estonia
Ireland
1x
Year GDP, current $
Estonia Ireland
2024 $43,130,419,829 $609,157,459,747
2023 $41,470,344,395 $567,372,737,459
2022 $38,226,641,740 $548,341,794,599
2021 $37,201,101,171 $530,394,123,830
2020 $31,820,771,494 $436,009,027,819
2019 $31,873,748,770 $407,211,793,801
2018 $31,222,632,741 $395,780,319,817
2017 $27,469,461,919 $348,355,212,569
2016 $24,561,027,788 $305,431,252,709
2015 $23,311,847,751 $302,101,388,556
2014 $27,055,689,003 $266,490,442,124
2013 $25,451,032,781 $242,924,245,719
2012 $23,237,406,116 $226,921,827,888
2011 $23,303,915,795 $240,975,871,047
2010 $19,524,355,419 $221,732,824,603
2009 $19,633,984,440 $236,443,115,854
2008 $24,342,935,404 $275,447,471,451
2007 $22,450,264,166 $270,079,279,420
2006 $17,025,671,810 $232,180,617,162
2005 $14,109,491,357 $211,876,989,656
2004 $12,148,595,031 $194,372,115,041
2003 $9,876,595,528 $164,670,771,260
2002 $7,370,119,619 $128,596,035,288
2001 $6,250,218,423 $109,346,669,230
2000 $5,686,579,748 $100,207,610,430
1999 $5,756,912,266 $98,893,958,263
1998 $5,674,080,543 $90,199,410,116
1997 $5,154,420,649 $82,856,648,758
1996 $4,786,018,988 $75,790,786,290
1995 $4,502,970,889 $69,139,823,232
1994 $4,123,011,420 $57,097,656,066
1993 $4,013,091,682 $52,417,477,614
1992 - $55,918,538,121
1991 - $49,787,501,584
1990 - $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/estonia/ireland | CC BY

GDP per capita in Estonia vs Ireland by year

Estonia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Estonia Ireland
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $31,428 $49,969 $112,895 $133,437
2023 $30,264 $48,637 $106,819 $129,683
2022 $28,340 $48,218 $105,191 $138,523
2021 $27,951 $44,252 $103,783 $116,904
2020 $23,934 $40,672 $86,514 $97,800
2019 $24,021 $40,586 $81,828 $92,023
2018 $23,618 $37,121 $80,804 $86,299
2017 $20,852 $34,507 $72,161 $80,450
2016 $18,666 $31,948 $64,130 $73,013
2015 $17,722 $29,713 $64,250 $71,588
2014 $20,582 $29,404 $57,215 $52,641
2013 $19,310 $27,831 $52,538 $48,839
2012 $17,568 $26,243 $49,336 $46,726
2011 $17,556 $24,652 $52,614 $45,526
2010 $14,664 $21,614 $48,624 $43,212
2009 $14,712 $20,489 $52,133 $41,491
2008 $18,206 $22,804 $61,353 $44,169
2007 $16,745 $22,201 $61,396 $46,782
2006 $12,641 $19,344 $54,329 $44,223
2005 $10,415 $16,638 $50,933 $40,466
2004 $8,916 $14,538 $47,754 $38,729
2003 $7,205 $13,135 $41,204 $36,280
2002 $5,343 $11,667 $32,705 $35,222
2001 $4,503 $10,309 $28,282 $32,573
2000 $4,071 $9,425 $26,335 $30,216
1999 $4,141 $8,412 $26,338 $27,041
1998 $4,093 $8,451 $24,295 $25,094
1997 $3,683 $7,980 $22,551 $22,637
1996 $3,381 $6,892 $20,836 $20,482
1995 $3,134 $6,480 $19,158 $18,944
1994 $2,819 $5,967 $15,903 $17,011
1993 $2,686 $5,814 $14,657 $15,811
1992 - $5,872 $15,714 $15,116
1991 - $7,151 $14,087 $14,399
1990 - $7,481 $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/estonia/ireland | CC BY

Estonia's GDP per capita is $31,428, ranking 40/197, compared to $112,895 in Ireland, ranking 4/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Estonia ranks 45th at $49,969, while Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437.

Economic indicators

Estonia Ireland
Gross domestic product
$43.1B
2024
$609B
2024
GDP rank
100/197
2024
25/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.09%
2023-2024
2.6%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$31,428
2024
$112,895
2024
GDP per capita rank
40/197
2024
4/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$49,969
2024
$133,437
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
45/197
2024
4/197
2024
Government debt
$10.1B
2024
$236B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
23.4%
2024
38.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$7,356
2024
$43,766
2024
Government debt per person rank
65/185
2024
11/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,740
2026
$47,851
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$110B
2018
Number of billionaires
2
2025
11
2025
Income share by richest 10%
23.7%
2023
24.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2023
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
43.6%
2024
22.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
3.52%
2023-2024
2.11%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
7.5%
2024
4.27%
2024
Population
1339590
5518360

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Estonia
Spending

Debt
Ireland
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Estonia Ireland
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 43.6% 23.4% 22.3% 38.8%
2023 43.5% 20.1% 22.1% 42.1%
2022 40.1% 19.2% 20.6% 43.2%
2021 42.1% 18.4% 23.6% 52.7%
2020 44.7% 19.1% 26.7% 57.1%
2019 39.1% 9.05% 23.9% 55.9%
2018 38.8% 8.51% 24.7% 61.4%
2017 38.9% 9.43% 25.3% 65.3%
2016 38.9% 10.2% 27.5% 72.7%
2015 39.3% 10.8% 28.1% 74%
2014 37.6% 11.6% 36.6% 101.4%
2013 38.3% 11.4% 39.8% 117.7%
2012 39.4% 11.1% 42.3% 118.9%
2011 37.6% 7.6% 46.9% 109.6%
2010 40.7% 7.99% 64.9% 86.2%
2009 46.1% 7.98% 46.9% 61.8%
2008 39.5% 4.67% 41.6% 42.5%
2007 33.8% 3.91% 35.6% 23.9%
2006 33.5% 4.72% 33.6% 23.7%
2005 33.7% 4.73% 33% 26.1%
2004 34.1% 5.16% 32.8% 28.1%
2003 35% 5.6% 32.7% 29.8%
2002 35.9% 5.66% 32.9% 30.9%
2001 35.3% 4.93% 32.2% 33.6%
2000 36.4% 5.11% 30.6% 36.4%
1999 40.7% 5.93% 32.5% 46.6%
1998 38.9% 5.4% 34.2% 51.4%
1997 35.8% 6.03% 36.1% 61.6%
1996 38.6% 7.3% 38.5% 69.8%
1995 39.5% 8.66% 40.3% 78.5%
1994 - - 44.2% 88%
1993 - - 44.6% 93.4%
1992 - - 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 (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Estonia's government spending was $18.8B, accounting for 43.6% of its GDP, while Ireland spent $136B, or 22.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 23.4% in Estonia and 38.8% in Ireland, ranking 171/185 and 138/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Estonia

Ireland
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Estonia Ireland
2024 -1.51% 4.09%
2023 -3.13% 1.52%
2022 -1.08% 1.67%
2021 -2.57% -1.37%
2020 -5.42% -4.87%
2019 -0.11% 0.41%
2018 -1.15% 0.09%
2017 -1.07% -0.3%
2016 -0.62% -0.76%
2015 -0.24% -1.97%
2014 0.42% -3.52%
2013 -0.66% -6.28%
2012 -0.86% -8.42%
2011 0.09% -13.5%
2010 -1.09% -32.1%
2009 -3.43% -13.9%
2008 -2.92% -7.03%
2007 2.5% 0.27%
2006 2.71% 2.78%
2005 1.07% 1.57%
2004 2.29% 1.3%
2003 1.67% 0.35%
2002 0.29% -0.52%
2001 0.4% 0.96%
2000 -0.11% 4.86%
1999 -3.42% 3.54%
1998 0.65% 2.07%
1997 2.98% 1.37%
1996 -0.93% -0.2%
1995 -0.26% -2.07%
1994 - -1.82%
1993 - -2.62%
1992 - -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/estonia/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, Estonia's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $651M, equivalent to 1.51% of GDP. This compares to Ireland's surplus of $24.9B, or 4.09% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Estonia recorded a fiscal deficit in 19 of those years, while Ireland ran a deficit in 15 years. On average, Estonia posted an annual deficit equal to 0.52% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.33% of GDP for Ireland.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Estonia

Ireland
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Estonia Ireland
2024 3.52% 2.11%
2023 9.16% 6.3%
2022 19.4% 7.83%
2021 4.65% 2.34%
2020 -0.44% -0.33%
2019 2.28% 0.94%
2018 3.44% 0.47%
2017 3.42% 0.36%
2016 0.15% 0.02%
2015 -0.49% -0.33%
2014 -0.11% 0.19%
2013 2.78% 0.52%
2012 3.93% 1.69%
2011 4.98% 2.55%
2010 2.97% -0.92%
2009 -0.08% -4.45%
2008 10.4% 4.04%
2007 6.6% 4.89%
2006 4.44% 3.94%
2005 4.08% 2.46%
2004 3.05% 2.18%
2003 1.33% 3.49%
2002 3.57% 4.63%
2001 5.75% 4.85%
2000 4.02% 5.58%
1999 3.3% 1.63%
1998 8.21% 2.41%
1997 10.6% 1.54%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Estonia has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 4.46%, compared with 2.18% in Ireland. In 2024, inflation was 3.52% in Estonia and 2.11% in Ireland.

Top exports between countries

Estonia
Export category Export value
Business & finance services $162M
IT & IP services $143M
Transport & tourism services $21.5M
Manufacturing & construction services $11.7M
Machinery & equipment $10.8M
Textiles & consumer goods $6.83M
Wood & paper products $6.43M
Raw materials & minerals $5.76M
Chemicals & pharma $5.33M
Raw agricultural goods $3.01M
Ireland
Export category Export value
IT & IP services $34.5M
Machinery & equipment $13.6M
Transport & tourism services $12.6M
Business & finance services $12.6M
Chemicals & pharma $10.4M
Animal & marine products $1.62M
Wood & paper products $1.39M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.31M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.29M
Manufacturing & construction services $1.18M

Balance of trade

Estonia Ireland
Current account balance
-$543M
2024
$106B
2024
Current account balance ranking
107/190
2024
6/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.26%
2024
+17.4%
2024
Goods imports
$22.1B
2024
$165B
2024
Goods exports
$19B
2024
$356B
2024
Service imports
$10.4B
2024
$467B
2024
Service exports
$13.6B
2024
$526B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
75.4%
2024
102.2%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
75.7%
2024
144%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Estonia Ireland
Economic freedom 78.7 83.3
Economic freedom ranking 10/197 3/197
Property rights 93.6 94.4
Government integrity 86.3 84
Judicial effectiveness 92.4 95.4
Tax burden 77.9 77.7
Government spending 46 85.9
Fiscal health 93.1 97
Business freedom 82.8 85.5
Labor freedom 59 61.3
Monetary freedom 73.9 79.3
Trade freedom 79.4 79.4
Investment freedom 90 90
Financial freedom 70 70

Economic freedom comparison by year

Estonia
Ireland
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Estonia Ireland
2026 78.7 83.3
2025 78.9 83.1
2024 77.8 82.6
2023 78.6 82
2022 80 82
2021 78.2 81.4
2020 77.7 80.9
2019 76.6 80.5
2018 78.8 80.4
2017 79.1 76.7
2016 77.2 77.3
2015 76.8 76.6
2014 75.9 76.2
2013 75.3 75.7
2012 73.2 76.9
2011 75.2 78.7
2010 74.7 81.3
2009 76.4 82.2
2008 77.9 82.5
2007 78 82.6
2006 74.9 82.2
2005 75.2 80.8
2004 77.4 80.3
2003 77.7 80.9
2002 77.6 80.5
2001 76.1 81.2
2000 69.9 76.1
1999 73.8 74.6
1998 72.5 73.7
1997 69.1 72.6
1996 65.4 68.5
1995 65.2 68.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Estonia is 78.7, ranking 10/197, 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

Estonia Ireland
Services, % of GDP
65.7%
2024
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
33.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.77%
2024
1.02%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$39.6B
2024
$435B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$48,880
2024
$101,180
2024
Total reserves including gold
$2.07B
2024
$12.7B
2024
Total reserves ranking
125/177
2024
73/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$285M
2024
$62.3B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$3.44B
2024
$4.82B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$3.72B
2024
$67.1B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
22.5%
2022
14%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
24.6%
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/estonia/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 (1926–1989, 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 (2013–2024, 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.