Skip to content

Economy of Ireland vs Laos compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ireland has a GDP of $722B compared to $18.3B for Laos, ranking 24/197 and 138/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ireland has $238B in government debt (32.9% of GDP), compared to $14.8B (80.6% of GDP) in Laos.

Ireland vs Laos GDP by year

Ireland
Laos
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ireland Laos
2025 $721,701,359,046 $18,302,970,219
2024 $609,157,459,747 $16,502,933,121
2023 $567,372,737,459 $15,843,155,731
2022 $548,341,794,599 $15,468,785,204
2021 $530,394,123,830 $18,827,148,531
2020 $436,009,027,819 $18,981,805,250
2019 $407,211,793,801 $18,740,561,513
2018 $395,780,319,817 $18,141,641,090
2017 $348,355,212,569 $17,071,155,481
2016 $305,431,252,709 $15,912,501,723
2015 $302,101,388,556 $14,426,380,126
2014 $266,490,442,124 $13,279,245,886
2013 $242,924,245,719 $11,983,252,627
2012 $226,921,827,888 $10,192,846,339
2011 $240,975,871,047 $8,750,104,617
2010 $221,732,824,603 $7,131,771,015
2009 $236,443,115,854 $5,836,137,330
2008 $275,447,471,451 $5,446,433,157
2007 $270,079,279,420 $4,223,152,739
2006 $232,180,617,162 $3,455,030,061
2005 $211,876,989,656 $2,735,558,735
2004 $194,372,115,041 $2,366,398,120
2003 $164,670,771,260 $2,023,324,407
2002 $128,596,035,288 $1,758,176,653
2001 $109,346,669,230 $1,768,619,058
2000 $100,207,610,430 $1,731,198,022
1999 $98,893,958,263 $1,454,430,642
1998 $90,199,410,116 $1,280,177,839
1997 $82,856,648,758 $1,747,011,857
1996 $75,790,786,290 $1,873,671,550
1995 $69,139,823,232 $1,763,536,305
1994 $57,097,656,066 $1,543,606,345
1993 $52,417,477,614 $1,327,748,690
1992 $55,918,538,121 $1,127,806,945
1991 $49,787,501,584 $1,028,087,972
1990 $49,305,632,408 $865,559,879
1989 $39,238,392,678 $714,046,821
1988 $37,772,896,221 $598,961,269
1987 $33,920,518,493 $1,087,273,104
1986 $28,714,571,852 $1,776,842,097
1985 $21,270,013,326 $2,366,666,616
1984 $20,106,648,455 $1,757,142,856
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Ireland vs Laos by year

Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Laos
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ireland Laos
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $131,592 - $2,325 -
2024 $112,895 $133,437 $2,124 $9,776
2023 $106,819 $129,683 $2,067 $9,292
2022 $105,191 $138,523 $2,046 $8,766
2021 $103,783 $116,904 $2,526 $8,080
2020 $86,514 $97,800 $2,584 $7,913
2019 $81,828 $92,023 $2,589 $7,743
2018 $80,804 $86,299 $2,545 $7,487
2017 $72,161 $80,450 $2,432 $7,142
2016 $64,130 $73,013 $2,303 $6,743
2015 $64,250 $71,588 $2,121 $6,086
2014 $57,215 $52,641 $1,981 $5,799
2013 $52,538 $48,839 $1,813 $5,222
2012 $49,336 $46,726 $1,564 $4,781
2011 $52,614 $45,526 $1,362 $4,100
2010 $48,624 $43,212 $1,126 $3,772
2009 $52,133 $41,491 $935 $3,485
2008 $61,353 $44,169 $886 $3,271
2007 $61,396 $46,782 $697 $3,021
2006 $54,329 $44,223 $579 $2,777
2005 $50,933 $40,466 $466 $2,519
2004 $47,754 $38,729 $409 $2,315
2003 $41,204 $36,280 $355 $2,151
2002 $32,705 $35,222 $313 $2,020
2001 $28,282 $32,573 $320 $1,908
2000 $26,335 $30,216 $319 $1,794
1999 $26,338 $27,041 $272.3 $1,686
1998 $24,295 $25,094 $243.9 $1,577
1997 $22,551 $22,637 $339 $1,528
1996 $20,836 $20,482 $371 $1,435
1995 $19,158 $18,944 $358 $1,349
1994 $15,903 $17,011 $321 $1,265
1993 $14,657 $15,811 $283.4 $1,176
1992 $15,714 $15,116 $247.3 $1,114
1991 $14,087 $14,399 $231.8 $1,061
1990 $14,031 $13,743 $200.7 $1,012
1989 $11,176 - $170.4 -
1988 $10,716 - $147.1 -
1987 $9,582 - $274.7 -
1986 $8,112 - $462 -
1985 $6,012 - $633 -
1984 $5,692 - $483 -
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Ireland's GDP per capita is $131,592, ranking 4/197, compared to $2,325 in Laos, ranking 155/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437, while Laos ranks 134th at $9,776.

Economic indicators

Ireland Laos
Gross domestic product
$722B
2025
$18.3B
2025
GDP rank
24/197
2025
138/197
2025
GDP growth
12.3%
2024-2025
4.54%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$131,592
2025
$2,325
2025
GDP per capita rank
4/197
2025
155/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$9,776
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
4/197
2024
134/197
2024
Government debt
$238B
2025
$14.8B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.9%
2025
80.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$43,334
2025
$1,874
2025
Government debt per person rank
14/185
2025
120/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,174
2026
$2,426
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
n/a
Number of millionaires
192,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
28.5%
2024
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3.3%
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
17.9%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.21%
2024-2025
7.7%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
1.21%
2022
Population
5562212
8027464

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ireland
Spending

Debt
Laos
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ireland Laos
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 21.6% 32.9% 17.9% 80.6%
2024 22.4% 38.3% 15.8% 94.7%
2023 22.2% 41.8% 16.5% 108.9%
2022 20.7% 42.9% 14.7% 115.7%
2021 23.5% 52.4% 15.7% 92.2%
2020 26.7% 56.9% 18.4% 75.4%
2019 23.9% 55.8% 18.6% 69.1%
2018 24.7% 61.3% 20.7% 60.6%
2017 25.3% 65.2% 21.8% 57.2%
2016 27.5% 72.7% 21.1% 54.5%
2015 28.1% 74% 25.8% 53.1%
2014 36.6% 101.4% 25% 53.5%
2013 39.8% 117.7% 24.2% 49.5%
2012 42.3% 118.9% 24.7% 46.1%
2011 46.9% 109.6% 20.2% 43%
2010 64.9% 86.2% 22.4% 49.3%
2009 46.9% 61.8% 20.1% 51.8%
2008 41.6% 42.5% 16.1% 51.7%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 15.1% 55.9%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 14.7% 60%
2005 33% 26.1% 15.3% 73.2%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 13.6% 80.7%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 16% 90.1%
2002 32.9% 30.9% 16.6% 95.3%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 18.8% 94.7%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 19.9% -
1999 32.5% 46.6% - -
1998 34.2% 51.4% - -
1997 36.1% 61.6% - -
1996 38.5% 69.8% - -
1995 40.3% 78.5% - -
1994 43.9% 88% - -
1993 44.6% 93.4% - -
1992 44.8% 90.6% - -
1991 44.4% 93.8% - -
1990 42.8% 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 (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Ireland's government spending was $156B, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Laos spent $3.28B, or 17.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 32.9% in Ireland and 80.6% in Laos, ranking 149/185 and 41/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ireland

Laos
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ireland Laos
2025 1.54% 1.64%
2024 4.02% 2.36%
2023 1.36% -0.01%
2022 1.58% 0.06%
2021 -1.31% -0.67%
2020 -4.87% -5.37%
2019 0.41% -3.2%
2018 0.09% -4.46%
2017 -0.3% -5.51%
2016 -0.76% -5.06%
2015 -1.97% -5.57%
2014 -3.52% -3.13%
2013 -6.28% -4.03%
2012 -8.42% -2.34%
2011 -13.5% -1.43%
2010 -32.1% -1.47%
2009 -13.9% -3.1%
2008 -7.03% -1.86%
2007 0.27% -1.12%
2006 2.78% -1.48%
2005 1.57% -2.54%
2004 1.3% -1.81%
2003 0.35% -3.89%
2002 -0.52% -2.85%
2001 0.96% -3.68%
2000 4.86% -3.58%
1999 3.54% -
1998 2.07% -
1997 1.37% -
1996 -0.2% -
1995 -2.07% -
1994 -1.98% -
1993 -2.7% -
1992 -2.92% -
1991 -2.82% -
1990 -2.77% -
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) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Ireland's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $11.2B, equivalent to 1.54% of GDP. This compares to Laos' surplus of $300M, or 1.64% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Laos ran a deficit in 23 years. On average, Ireland posted an annual deficit equal to 2.82% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.47% of GDP for Laos.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ireland

Laos
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ireland Laos
2025 2.21% 7.7%
2024 2.11% 23.1%
2023 6.3% 31.2%
2022 7.83% 23%
2021 2.34% 3.8%
2020 -0.33% 5.1%
2019 0.94% 3.3%
2018 0.47% 2%
2017 0.36% 0.8%
2016 0.02% 1.6%
2015 -0.33% 1.3%
2014 0.19% 4.1%
2013 0.52% 6.4%
2012 1.69% 4.3%
2011 2.55% 7.6%
2010 -0.92% 6%
2009 -4.45% 0.1%
2008 4.04% 7.6%
2007 4.89% 4.7%
2006 3.94% 6.5%
2005 2.46% 7.2%
2004 2.18% 10.5%
2003 3.49% 15.5%
2002 4.63% 10.6%
2001 4.85% 7.8%
2000 5.58% 8.4%
1999 1.63% 128.4%
1998 2.41% 90.1%
1997 1.54% 19.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Ireland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.18%, compared with 15.5% in Laos. In 2025, inflation was 2.21% in Ireland and 7.7% in Laos.

Top exports between countries

Ireland
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $631K
Machinery & equipment $243K
Wood & paper products $124K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $120K
Textiles & consumer goods $112K
Metals $17K
Raw materials & minerals $6K
Laos
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $465K
Textiles & consumer goods $369K

Balance of trade

Ireland Laos
Current account balance
$106B
2024
$531M
2024
Current account balance ranking
7/190
2024
58/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
+3.22%
2024
Goods imports
$165B
2024
$8.66B
2024
Goods exports
$356B
2024
$9.39B
2024
Service imports
$467B
2024
$1.27B
2024
Service exports
$526B
2024
$1.73B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
99.9%
2025
41.9%
2016
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
140.1%
2025
33.2%
2016

Economic freedom indices

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

Ireland Laos
Economic freedom 83.3 50.9
Economic freedom ranking 3/197 157/197
Property rights 94.4 41.1
Government integrity 84 25.9
Judicial effectiveness 95.4 10.2
Tax burden 77.7 88.5
Government spending 85.9 92.7
Fiscal health 97 80
Business freedom 85.5 54.2
Labor freedom 61.3 40.7
Monetary freedom 79.3 53.3
Trade freedom 79.4 69
Investment freedom 90 35
Financial freedom 70 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ireland
Laos
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ireland Laos
2026 83.3 50.9
2025 83.1 51.1
2024 82.6 50.6
2023 82 50.3
2022 82 49.2
2021 81.4 53.9
2020 80.9 55.5
2019 80.5 57.4
2018 80.4 53.6
2017 76.7 54
2016 77.3 49.8
2015 76.6 51.4
2014 76.2 51.2
2013 75.7 50.1
2012 76.9 50
2011 78.7 51.3
2010 81.3 51.1
2009 82.2 50.4
2008 82.5 50.3
2007 82.6 50.3
2006 82.2 47.5
2005 80.8 44.4
2004 80.3 42
2003 80.9 41
2002 80.5 36.8
2001 81.2 33.5
2000 76.1 36.8
1999 74.6 35.2
1998 73.7 35.2
1997 72.6 35.1
1996 68.5 38.5
1995 68.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Ireland is 83.3, ranking 3/197, compared to 50.9 for Laos, ranking 157/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ireland Laos
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2025
43.6%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
37.8%
2025
29.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.06%
2025
16.6%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$479B
2025
$16.9B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$106,310
2025
$9,800
2025
Total reserves including gold
$13.7B
2025
$2.21B
2024
Total reserves ranking
73/177
2025
125/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
-$988M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
$988M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
13.8%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
15%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.9%
2025
29%
2016

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1995–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

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.