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Economy of Ireland vs Latvia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ireland has a GDP of $722B compared to $48.6B for Latvia, ranking 24/197 and 99/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ireland has $238B in government debt (32.9% of GDP), compared to $22.8B (46.9% of GDP) in Latvia.

Ireland vs Latvia GDP by year

Ireland
Latvia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ireland Latvia
2025 $721,701,359,046 $48,618,869,160
2024 $609,157,459,747 $44,001,275,013
2023 $567,372,737,459 $42,779,550,937
2022 $548,341,794,599 $38,003,198,509
2021 $530,394,123,830 $38,183,326,785
2020 $436,009,027,819 $33,379,927,435
2019 $407,211,793,801 $33,099,503,951
2018 $395,780,319,817 $33,247,935,477
2017 $348,355,212,569 $29,391,059,767
2016 $305,431,252,709 $27,117,105,060
2015 $302,101,388,556 $26,344,565,877
2014 $266,490,442,124 $30,277,203,767
2013 $242,924,245,719 $29,152,128,168
2012 $226,921,827,888 $27,116,149,949
2011 $240,975,871,047 $26,575,547,901
2010 $221,732,824,603 $23,468,324,572
2009 $236,443,115,854 $25,691,530,442
2008 $275,447,471,451 $34,135,200,994
2007 $270,079,279,420 $29,420,499,248
2006 $232,180,617,162 $20,434,922,247
2005 $211,876,989,656 $16,306,935,905
2004 $194,372,115,041 $13,827,070,379
2003 $164,670,771,260 $11,244,337,720
2002 $128,596,035,288 $9,249,030,241
2001 $109,346,669,230 $8,190,888,740
2000 $100,207,610,430 $7,761,252,607
1999 $98,893,958,263 $7,324,192,890
1998 $90,199,410,116 $6,974,112,951
1997 $82,856,648,758 $6,349,481,007
1996 $75,790,786,290 $5,799,465,288
1995 $69,139,823,232 $5,608,208,785
1994 $57,097,656,066 -
1993 $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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Ireland vs Latvia by year

Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Latvia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ireland Latvia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $131,592 - $26,312 -
2024 $112,895 $133,437 $23,579 $43,394
2023 $106,819 $129,683 $22,710 $42,576
2022 $105,191 $138,523 $20,221 $40,559
2021 $103,783 $116,904 $20,262 $36,912
2020 $86,514 $97,800 $17,564 $32,741
2019 $81,828 $92,023 $17,295 $32,199
2018 $80,804 $86,299 $17,252 $29,818
2017 $72,161 $80,450 $15,132 $25,764
2016 $64,130 $73,013 $13,839 $24,063
2015 $64,250 $71,588 $13,322 $22,544
2014 $57,215 $52,641 $15,186 $21,554
2013 $52,538 $48,839 $14,484 $20,474
2012 $49,336 $46,726 $13,329 $19,417
2011 $52,614 $45,526 $12,903 $17,680
2010 $48,624 $43,212 $11,188 $16,373
2009 $52,133 $41,491 $11,996 $15,545
2008 $61,353 $44,169 $15,678 $17,443
2007 $61,396 $46,782 $13,371 $16,246
2006 $54,329 $44,223 $9,212 $14,180
2005 $50,933 $40,466 $7,284 $12,826
2004 $47,754 $38,729 $6,110 $11,319
2003 $41,204 $36,280 $4,915 $10,193
2002 $32,705 $35,222 $4,004 $9,569
2001 $28,282 $32,573 $3,505 $8,808
2000 $26,335 $30,216 $3,278 $7,849
1999 $26,338 $27,041 $3,064 $7,256
1998 $24,295 $25,094 $2,894 $6,922
1997 $22,551 $22,637 $2,610 $6,366
1996 $20,836 $20,482 $2,360 $5,688
1995 $19,158 $18,944 $2,257 $5,391
1994 $15,903 $17,011 - $5,012
1993 $14,657 $15,811 - $4,722
1992 $15,714 $15,116 - $4,760
1991 $14,087 $14,399 - $6,762
1990 $14,031 $13,743 - $7,448
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Ireland's GDP per capita is $131,592, ranking 4/197, compared to $26,312 in Latvia, ranking 51/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437, while Latvia ranks 53rd at $43,394.

Economic indicators

Ireland Latvia
Gross domestic product
$722B
2025
$48.6B
2025
GDP rank
24/197
2025
99/197
2025
GDP growth
12.3%
2024-2025
2.14%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$131,592
2025
$26,312
2025
GDP per capita rank
4/197
2025
51/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$43,394
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
4/197
2024
53/197
2024
Government debt
$238B
2025
$22.8B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.9%
2025
46.9%
2025
Government debt per person
$43,334
2025
$12,353
2025
Government debt per person rank
14/185
2025
50/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,174
2026
$16,702
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
26.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.6%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
45.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.21%
2024-2025
3.75%
2024-2025
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
6.9%
2025
Population
5562212
1826986

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ireland
Spending

Debt
Latvia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ireland Latvia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 21.6% 32.9% 45.4% 46.9%
2024 22.4% 38.3% 44% 46.2%
2023 22.2% 41.8% 42.9% 44.4%
2022 20.7% 42.9% 43.6% 44.4%
2021 23.5% 52.4% 44.6% 45.9%
2020 26.7% 56.9% 42.6% 44%
2019 23.9% 55.8% 39% 37.9%
2018 24.7% 61.3% 39.4% 38.3%
2017 25.3% 65.2% 37.8% 40.3%
2016 27.5% 72.7% 37.4% 41.7%
2015 28.1% 74% 38.7% 38.3%
2014 36.6% 101.4% 39.2% 43.1%
2013 39.8% 117.7% 38.7% 41.8%
2012 42.3% 118.9% 38.6% 44.4%
2011 46.9% 109.6% 41.2% 46.8%
2010 64.9% 86.2% 43.6% 48.2%
2009 46.9% 61.8% 43.6% 37.6%
2008 41.6% 42.5% 38.2% 19.3%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 34.8% 9%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 35.5% 10.7%
2005 33% 26.1% 35.8% 12.5%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 34.8% 15.3%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 34.4% 15.4%
2002 32.9% 30.9% 35.4% 15.4%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 35% 17.8%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 37% 15.1%
1999 32.5% 46.6% 40.4% 14.8%
1998 34.2% 51.4% 38.1% 9.81%
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/latvia | CC BY

In 2025, Ireland's government spending was $156B, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Latvia spent $22.1B, or 45.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 32.9% in Ireland and 46.9% in Latvia, ranking 149/185 and 112/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ireland

Latvia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ireland Latvia
2025 1.54% -4.05%
2024 4.02% -1.72%
2023 1.36% -3.36%
2022 1.58% -3.95%
2021 -1.31% -5.71%
2020 -4.87% -3.85%
2019 0.41% -0.39%
2018 0.09% -0.77%
2017 -0.3% -0.85%
2016 -0.76% -0.41%
2015 -1.97% -1.57%
2014 -3.52% -1.74%
2013 -6.28% -0.58%
2012 -8.42% 0.18%
2011 -13.5% -3.38%
2010 -32.1% -6.56%
2009 -13.9% -7.14%
2008 -7.03% -3.29%
2007 0.27% 0.63%
2006 2.78% -0.48%
2005 1.57% -1.06%
2004 1.3% -1.04%
2003 0.35% -1.67%
2002 -0.52% -2.59%
2001 0.96% -2.03%
2000 4.86% -2.57%
1999 3.54% -3.54%
1998 2.07% -0.66%
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/latvia | 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 Latvia's deficit of $1.97B, or 4.05% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Latvia ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, Ireland posted an annual deficit equal to 2.42% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.29% of GDP for Latvia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ireland

Latvia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ireland Latvia
2025 2.21% 3.75%
2024 2.11% 1.27%
2023 6.3% 8.94%
2022 7.83% 17.3%
2021 2.34% 3.28%
2020 -0.33% 0.22%
2019 0.94% 2.81%
2018 0.47% 2.53%
2017 0.36% 2.93%
2016 0.02% 0.14%
2015 -0.33% 0.17%
2014 0.19% 0.62%
2013 0.52% -0.03%
2012 1.69% 2.26%
2011 2.55% 4.37%
2010 -0.92% -1.08%
2009 -4.45% 3.53%
2008 4.04% 15.4%
2007 4.89% 10.1%
2006 3.94% 6.54%
2005 2.46% 6.75%
2004 2.18% 6.19%
2003 3.49% 2.94%
2002 4.63% 1.94%
2001 4.85% 2.49%
2000 5.58% 2.65%
1999 1.63% 2.36%
1998 2.41% 4.64%
1997 1.54% 8.45%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 29 years, Ireland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.18%, compared with 4.26% in Latvia. In 2025, inflation was 2.21% in Ireland and 3.75% in Latvia.

Top exports between countries

Ireland
Export category Export value
Business & finance services $76.8M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $44.2M
Transport & tourism services $35.7M
Chemicals & pharma $11.4M
Machinery & equipment $5.71M
Animal & marine products $761K
Textiles & consumer goods $421K
Raw materials & minerals $379K
Metals $179K
Raw agricultural goods $148K
Latvia
Export category Export value
Transport & tourism services $225M
IT & IP services $187M
Business & finance services $47.6M
Wood & paper products $30.9M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $23.9M
Raw agricultural goods $16.5M
Chemicals & pharma $14M
Machinery & equipment $12.3M
Raw materials & minerals $10.1M
Textiles & consumer goods $9.41M

Balance of trade

Ireland Latvia
Current account balance
$106B
2024
-$1.64B
2025
Current account balance ranking
7/190
2024
133/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
-3.38%
2025
Goods imports
$165B
2024
$25.6B
2025
Goods exports
$356B
2024
$21.1B
2025
Service imports
$467B
2024
$7.07B
2025
Service exports
$526B
2024
$9.33B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
99.9%
2025
67.2%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
140.1%
2025
62.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Ireland Latvia
Economic freedom 83.3 71.6
Economic freedom ranking 3/197 31/197
Property rights 94.4 88.8
Government integrity 84 67.7
Judicial effectiveness 95.4 70.9
Tax burden 77.7 70.9
Government spending 85.9 42.7
Fiscal health 97 80.8
Business freedom 85.5 80.7
Labor freedom 61.3 60.5
Monetary freedom 79.3 76.3
Trade freedom 79.4 79.4
Investment freedom 90 80
Financial freedom 70 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ireland
Latvia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ireland Latvia
2026 83.3 71.6
2025 83.1 71.4
2024 82.6 71.5
2023 82 72.8
2022 82 74.8
2021 81.4 72.3
2020 80.9 71.9
2019 80.5 70.4
2018 80.4 73.6
2017 76.7 74.8
2016 77.3 70.4
2015 76.6 69.7
2014 76.2 68.7
2013 75.7 66.5
2012 76.9 65.2
2011 78.7 65.8
2010 81.3 66.2
2009 82.2 66.6
2008 82.5 68.3
2007 82.6 67.9
2006 82.2 66.9
2005 80.8 66.3
2004 80.3 67.4
2003 80.9 66
2002 80.5 65
2001 81.2 66.4
2000 76.1 63.4
1999 74.6 64.2
1998 73.7 63.4
1997 72.6 62.4
1996 68.5 55
1995 68.5 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Ireland is 83.3, ranking 3/197, compared to 71.6 for Latvia, ranking 31/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ireland Latvia
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2025
64.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
37.8%
2025
18.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.06%
2025
4.01%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$479B
2025
$46.1B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$106,310
2025
$45,740
2025
Total reserves including gold
$13.7B
2025
$6.1B
2025
Total reserves ranking
73/177
2025
95/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
$72.5M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
$1.51B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
$257M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
22.5%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.9%
2025
24.1%
2025

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/latvia | CC BY

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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 (2024–2025, 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.

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.