Skip to content

Ireland economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland ranked 25/197 by economy size with a GDP of $609B and 4/197 by GDP per capita at $112,895. Ireland has $236B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.8%.

In 2024, Ireland made up 0.55% of the world's economy, compared to 0.15% in 1960.

Ireland GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $609,157,459,747 2.6%
2023 $567,372,737,459 -2.54%
2022 $548,341,794,599 7.51%
2021 $530,394,123,830 16.3%
2020 $436,009,027,819 7.15%
2019 $407,211,793,801 4.97%
2018 $395,780,319,817 7.69%
2017 $348,355,212,569 10.1%
2016 $305,431,252,709 1.22%
2015 $302,101,388,556 24.6%
2014 $266,490,442,124 9.39%
2013 $242,924,245,719 2.19%
2012 $226,921,827,888 -0.41%
2011 $240,975,871,047 1.61%
2010 $221,732,824,603 1.68%
2009 $236,443,115,854 -5.1%
2008 $275,447,471,451 -4.48%
2007 $270,079,279,420 5.31%
2006 $232,180,617,162 4.99%
2005 $211,876,989,656 5.74%
2004 $194,372,115,041 6.79%
2003 $164,670,771,260 3.01%
2002 $128,596,035,288 5.9%
2001 $109,346,669,230 5.31%
2000 $100,207,610,430 9.4%
1999 $98,893,958,263 10.5%
1998 $90,199,410,116 8.77%
1997 $82,856,648,758 11%
1996 $75,790,786,290 7.38%
1995 $69,139,823,232 9.63%
1994 $57,097,656,066 5.76%
1993 $52,417,477,614 2.69%
1992 $55,918,538,121 3.34%
1991 $49,787,501,584 1.93%
1990 $49,305,632,408 8.47%
1989 $39,238,392,678 5.81%
1988 $37,772,896,221 5.22%
1987 $33,920,518,493 4.66%
1986 $28,714,571,852 -0.43%
1985 $21,270,013,326 3.09%
1984 $20,106,648,455 4.35%
1983 $20,766,047,764 -0.24%
1982 $21,474,752,962 2.28%
1981 $20,670,190,138 3.33%
1980 $21,747,855,640 3.08%
1979 $18,319,334,300 3.07%
1978 $14,647,996,074 7.19%
1977 $11,248,340,431 8.21%
1976 $9,453,756,015 1.39%
1975 $9,483,808,362 5.66%
1974 $7,896,860,615 4.26%
1973 $7,481,173,066 4.72%
1972 $6,318,060,582 6.49%
1971 $5,098,250,287 3.47%
1970 $4,395,995,086 2.66%
1969 $3,902,721,632 5.86%
1968 $3,378,701,147 8.24%
1967 $3,445,739,915 5.79%
1966 $3,198,820,904 0.89%
1965 $3,035,655,794 1.93%
1964 $2,851,091,646 3.79%
1963 $2,505,073,358 4.74%
1962 $2,329,372,972 3.22%
1961 $2,151,772,980 5.02%
1960 $1,998,550,222 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland | CC BY

Ireland GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $112,895 $133,437
2023 $106,819 $129,683
2022 $105,191 $138,523
2021 $103,783 $116,904
2020 $86,514 $97,800
2019 $81,828 $92,023
2018 $80,804 $86,299
2017 $72,161 $80,450
2016 $64,130 $73,013
2015 $64,250 $71,588
2014 $57,215 $52,641
2013 $52,538 $48,839
2012 $49,336 $46,726
2011 $52,614 $45,526
2010 $48,624 $43,212
2009 $52,133 $41,491
2008 $61,353 $44,169
2007 $61,396 $46,782
2006 $54,329 $44,223
2005 $50,933 $40,466
2004 $47,754 $38,729
2003 $41,204 $36,280
2002 $32,705 $35,222
2001 $28,282 $32,573
2000 $26,335 $30,216
1999 $26,338 $27,041
1998 $24,295 $25,094
1997 $22,551 $22,637
1996 $20,836 $20,482
1995 $19,158 $18,944
1994 $15,903 $17,011
1993 $14,657 $15,811
1992 $15,714 $15,116
1991 $14,087 $14,399
1990 $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/ireland | CC BY

Ireland has a GDP per capita of $112,895, ranking 4/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $133,437, ranking 4/197, and a median annual after tax income of $47,851, ranking 12/197.

Ireland GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 25 3 3
2023 26 4 3
2022 28 5 3
2021 26 4 3
2020 27 4 3
2019 31 6 4
2018 33 7 4
2017 34 8 4
2016 39 7 4
2015 37 8 6
2014 42 12 15
2013 44 16 16
2012 46 17 17
2011 43 14 18
2010 42 14 18
2009 38 11 20
2008 37 10 18
2007 33 10 17
2006 33 10 16
2005 31 9 15
2004 31 8 15
2003 32 7 15
2002 34 11 15
2001 37 11 16
2000 38 15 16
1999 36 16 20
1998 39 20 23
1997 43 23 27
1996 42 24 29
1995 43 24 31
1994 44 25 32
1993 44 27 32
1992 41 27 31
1991 41 28 33
1990 42 25 33
1989 47 28 -
1988 45 27 -
1987 47 29 -
1986 44 30 -
1985 51 35 -
1984 49 35 -
1983 49 35 -
1982 49 35 -
1981 51 35 -
1980 48 31 -
1979 49 34 -
1978 51 33 -
1977 52 35 -
1976 54 37 -
1975 51 35 -
1974 53 36 -
1973 49 34 -
1972 46 32 -
1971 48 32 -
1970 49 32 -
1969 49 24 -
1968 49 26 -
1967 44 24 -
1966 44 26 -
1965 44 23 -
1964 44 23 -
1963 46 23 -
1962 44 24 -
1961 44 23 -
1960 46 24 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Ireland is ranked 25th out of 182 by GDP (up from 38th), 3rd by GDP per capita (up from 15th), and 3rd by GDP per capita PPP (up from 16th).

Economic indicators

Ireland Rank
Gross domestic product
$609B
2024
25/197
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
118/194
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
4/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
4/197
Government debt
$236B
2024
37/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
138/185
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
11/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
12/197
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
73/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
38/100
Number of billionaires
11
2025
32/78
Billionaire frequency
1 in 366,177
2025
14/78
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
137/169
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
26/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
139/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.11%
2023-2024
137/195
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
120/196
Population
5518360
120/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 22.3% 38.8% 4.09%
2023 22.1% 42.1% 1.52%
2022 20.6% 43.2% 1.67%
2021 23.6% 52.7% -1.37%
2020 26.7% 57.1% -4.87%
2019 23.9% 55.9% 0.41%
2018 24.7% 61.4% 0.09%
2017 25.3% 65.3% -0.3%
2016 27.5% 72.7% -0.76%
2015 28.1% 74% -1.97%
2014 36.6% 101.4% -3.52%
2013 39.8% 117.7% -6.28%
2012 42.3% 118.9% -8.42%
2011 46.9% 109.6% -13.5%
2010 64.9% 86.2% -32.1%
2009 46.9% 61.8% -13.9%
2008 41.6% 42.5% -7.03%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 0.27%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 2.78%
2005 33% 26.1% 1.57%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 1.3%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 0.35%
2002 32.9% 30.9% -0.52%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 0.96%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 4.86%
1999 32.5% 46.6% 3.54%
1998 34.2% 51.4% 2.07%
1997 36.1% 61.6% 1.37%
1996 38.5% 69.8% -0.2%
1995 40.3% 78.5% -2.07%
1994 44.2% 88% -1.82%
1993 44.6% 93.4% -2.62%
1992 46.8% 90.6% -2.84%
1991 46.1% 93.8% -2.8%
1990 44.6% 92.7% -2.69%
1989 42.5% 97.9% -2.64%
1988 48.2% 106.5% -4.62%
1987 51.4% 108.3% -8.47%
1986 52.9% 107.2% -10.5%
1985 53.2% 93% -10.7%
1984 52.7% 90.2% -9.43%
1983 55.6% 86.1% -11.5%
1982 56.7% 73.5% -13.1%
1981 54.1% 68.8% -12.1%
1980 53.7% 64.6% -11.1%
1979 48.7% 63.5% -10%
1978 46.2% 50.6% -8.27%
1977 44.6% 49.2% -6.44%
1976 47.8% 51.7% -7.34%
1975 48.2% 48.3% -11.1%
1974 44.3% 43.5% -6.96%
1973 40.3% 35.1% -3.84%
1972 41.5% 37.3% -3.23%
1971 45.3% 39.8% -3.5%
1970 44.1% 41.7% -3.64%
1969 42.5% 42.6% -3.4%
1968 40% 44.7% -2.72%
1967 39.3% 47.1% -2.69%
1966 36.9% 47.7% -2.26%
1965 35.8% 44.6% -3.5%
1964 34.8% 43.1% -3.35%
1963 33.6% 45.2% -2.92%
1962 31.7% 44.5% -2.91%
1961 31.4% 44.3% -2.6%
1960 29.1% 44.9% -1.97%
1959 23.6% 61.2% -2.16%
1958 26.5% 62.8% -4.3%
1957 27.2% 60.5% -5.19%
1956 24.8% 58.2% -3.23%
1955 24.7% 55.4% -5.06%
1954 26.2% 52.8% -5.28%
1953 25.3% 49.2% -5.77%
1952 25.9% 45.6% -7.84%
1951 22.6% 41.3% -4.62%
1950 25.9% 38.7% -5.21%
1949 22.7% 28.7% -2.17%
1948 20.8% 27.2% -1.29%
1947 18.9% 27.3% -1.8%
1946 18% 28.1% -0.43%
1945 17.2% 28.7% -0.43%
1944 17.4% 29.4% 0.39%
1943 18% 30.8% -1.18%
1942 19.8% 33.6% -2.48%
1941 19.3% 33.4% -1.42%
1940 19.5% 36.2% -0.15%
1939 26.9% 37.4% -7.31%
1938 20.8% 31.2% -0.92%
1937 22.8% 31.3% -0.77%
1936 21.8% 31.4% -0.19%
1935 - - -
1934 - - -
1933 24.5% 23.3% 2.97%
1932 - - -
1931 19% - -1.63%
1930 - - -
1929 18.6% 14.9% -3.41%
1928 - - -
1927 - - -
1926 18.3% - -1.95%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland | CC BY

This chart shows Ireland's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 50 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 35 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 4.4% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $136B (22.3% of GDP), with a surplus of 4.09%.

The national debt reached $236B, ranking 37th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 38.8%, ranking 138th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 2.11%
2023 6.3%
2022 7.83%
2021 2.34%
2020 -0.33%
2019 0.94%
2018 0.47%
2017 0.36%
2016 0.02%
2015 -0.33%
2014 0.19%
2013 0.52%
2012 1.69%
2011 2.55%
2010 -0.92%
2009 -4.45%
2008 4.04%
2007 4.89%
2006 3.94%
2005 2.46%
2004 2.18%
2003 3.49%
2002 4.63%
2001 4.85%
2000 5.58%
1999 1.63%
1998 2.41%
1997 1.54%
1996 1.76%
1995 2.52%
1994 2.31%
1993 1.47%
1992 3.07%
1991 3.21%
1990 3.32%
1989 4.09%
1988 2.13%
1987 3.16%
1986 3.83%
1985 5.4%
1984 8.65%
1983 10.4%
1982 17.1%
1981 20.4%
1980 18.2%
1979 13.3%
1978 7.71%
1977 13.5%
1976 18%
1975 20.9%
1974 17%
1973 11.4%
1972 8.61%
1971 8.96%
1970 8.21%
1969 7.42%
1968 4.68%
1967 3.18%
1966 3.05%
1965 4.99%
1964 6.72%
1963 2.45%
1962 4.26%
1961 2.76%
1960 0.45%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Ireland has had an average annual inflation rate of 1.73%. In 2024, inflation was 2.11%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Ireland Rank
Current account balance
$106B
2024
6/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
5/190
Goods imports
$165B
2024
31/189
Goods exports
$356B
2024
21/189
Service imports
$467B
2024
4/189
Service exports
$526B
2024
3/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
102.2%
2024
8/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
144%
2024
4/193

Ireland top 10 trading partners

Ireland's biggest trading partner accounting for 34.5% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of -$105B: Ireland exports $124B worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $228B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Ireland.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $352B 34.5% $124B $228B Chemicals & pharma IT & IP services
2 United Kingdom $120B 11.7% $69B $51B IT & IP services Business & finance services
3 Germany $70B 6.85% $47.7B $22.3B IT & IP services Business & finance services
4 Netherlands $65.1B 6.37% $39.4B $25.7B Chemicals & pharma Business & finance services
5 France $41.5B 4.07% $21.2B $20.3B IT & IP services Machinery & equipment
6 China $40.4B 3.95% $20.7B $19.7B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
7 Belgium $34.3B 3.36% $23.7B $10.6B Chemicals & pharma Business & finance services
8 Italy $26.1B 2.55% $18.6B $7.44B Chemicals & pharma Business & finance services
9 Japan $23B 2.25% $18B $5.08B IT & IP services Machinery & equipment
10 Switzerland $22.6B 2.21% $10.6B $12B IT & IP services IT & IP services

Top 10 exports

Ireland Rank
IT & IP services $222B 1/183
Chemicals & pharma $157B 6/193
Business & finance services $101B 6/188
Machinery & equipment $54.7B 28/193
Transport & tourism services $19.2B 32/188
Animal & marine products $10.4B 17/192
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $8.48B 30/192
Raw materials & minerals $4.32B 79/193
Manufacturing & construction services $3.44B 27/164
Textiles & consumer goods $2B 60/193

Top 10 imports

Ireland Rank
Business & finance services $196B 2/188
IT & IP services $149B 1/182
Machinery & equipment $66.2B 32/193
Chemicals & pharma $33.9B 22/193
Transport & tourism services $17.4B 37/188
Manufacturing & construction services $12.4B 5/163
Raw materials & minerals $12.2B 46/193
Textiles & consumer goods $9.02B 37/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $8.84B 30/193
Metals $4.09B 53/193

Economic freedom indices

Ireland Rank
Economic freedom 83.3 3/197
Property rights 94.4 10/182
Government integrity 84 15/182
Judicial effectiveness 95.4 11/182
Tax burden 77.7 101/182
Government spending 85.9 43/180
Fiscal health 97 20/181
Business freedom 85.5 10/182
Labor freedom 61.3 42/182
Monetary freedom 79.3 24/180
Trade freedom 79.4 43/181
Investment freedom 90 5/181
Financial freedom 70 30/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 83.3 95.4 77.7 85.9 97
2025 83.1 95.5 77.6 85.1 95.8
2024 82.6 94.3 78 82.4 91.7
2023 82 82.8 78.4 80.5 86.8
2022 82 93 76.5 79.9 89
2021 81.4 72.4 76.6 81.1 93.1
2020 80.9 64.4 76.4 78.8 91.4
2019 80.5 68.4 76.3 77.4 89
2018 80.4 79 76.1 69.6 80.8
2017 76.7 78.3 72.7 57.1 60.3
2016 77.3 - 73.6 50.3 -
2015 76.6 - 73.6 45.6 -
2014 76.2 - 74 30.6 -
2013 75.7 - 73.8 28.8 -
2012 76.9 - 73.9 30.4 -
2011 78.7 - 72.1 47.1 -
2010 81.3 - 71.1 61.8 -
2009 82.2 - 69.2 64.9 -
2008 82.5 - 71.5 64.5 -
2007 82.6 - 71.7 65.9 -
2006 82.2 - 72 64.7 -
2005 80.8 - 72.6 64.5 -
2004 80.3 - 71.8 66.3 -
2003 80.9 - 69.4 66.3 -
2002 80.5 - 66.5 69.3 -
2001 81.2 - 63 71.2 -
2000 76.1 - 60.6 63.3 -
1999 74.6 - 55.9 53 -
1998 73.7 - 51.8 48.3 -
1997 72.6 - 49.9 41.1 -
1996 68.5 - 49.1 39 -
1995 68.5 - 49.1 38.7 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland | CC BY

Ireland is ranked 3/174 for economic freedom with a score of 83.3, compared to 2/162 and a score of 82.2 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Ireland Rank
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
70/191
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
42/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.02%
2024
171/193
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
36/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$101,180
2024
5/191
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
73/177
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
3/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
47/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
9/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
137/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
139/178

Compare Ireland vs other countries

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/ireland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, 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.