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Economy of Ireland vs Liberia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a GDP of $609B compared to $4.78B for Liberia, ranking 25/197 and 163/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ireland has $236B in government debt (38.8% of GDP), compared to $2.73B (57.2% of GDP) in Liberia.

Ireland vs Liberia GDP by year

Ireland
Liberia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ireland Liberia
2024 $609,157,459,747 $4,779,300,900
2023 $567,372,737,459 $4,390,000,000
2022 $548,341,794,599 $4,001,047,000
2021 $530,394,123,830 $3,513,049,500
2020 $436,009,027,819 $3,176,126,300
2019 $407,211,793,801 $3,319,596,500
2018 $395,780,319,817 $3,422,754,800
2017 $348,355,212,569 $3,390,703,400
2016 $305,431,252,709 $3,398,419,600
2015 $302,101,388,556 $3,227,075,700
2014 $266,490,442,124 $3,225,652,000
2013 $242,924,245,719 $3,177,198,100
2012 $226,921,827,888 $2,791,614,000
2011 $240,975,871,047 $2,398,000,000
2010 $221,732,824,603 $1,998,000,000
2009 $236,443,115,854 $1,768,000,000
2008 $275,447,471,451 $1,726,000,000
2007 $270,079,279,420 $1,373,000,000
2006 $232,180,617,162 $1,119,000,000
2005 $211,876,989,656 $949,000,000
2004 $194,372,115,041 $897,000,000
2003 $164,670,771,260 $748,000,000
2002 $128,596,035,288 $927,000,000
2001 $109,346,669,230 $906,000,000
2000 $100,207,610,430 $874,000,000
1999 $98,893,958,263 $441,800,000
1998 $90,199,410,116 $359,600,000
1997 $82,856,648,758 $295,900,000
1996 $75,790,786,290 $159,400,000
1995 $69,139,823,232 $134,800,000
1994 $57,097,656,066 $132,200,000
1993 $52,417,477,614 $160,400,000
1992 $55,918,538,121 $223,500,000
1991 $49,787,501,584 $348,000,000
1990 $49,305,632,408 $384,400,000
1989 $39,238,392,678 $786,300,000
1988 $37,772,896,221 $1,038,300,000
1987 $33,920,518,493 $972,800,000
1986 $28,714,571,852 $840,964,400
1985 $21,270,013,326 $851,296,100
1984 $20,106,648,455 $848,478,300
1983 $20,766,047,764 $823,374,900
1982 $21,474,752,962 $863,933,200
1981 $20,670,190,138 $846,514,500
1980 $21,747,855,640 $854,711,500
1979 $18,319,334,300 $814,067,900
1978 $14,647,996,074 $717,240,400
1977 $11,248,340,431 $673,010,600
1976 $9,453,756,015 $596,675,700
1975 $9,483,808,362 $577,549,300
1974 $7,896,860,615 $486,955,000
1973 $7,481,173,066 $386,968,300
1972 $6,318,060,582 $368,098,000
1971 $5,098,250,287 $341,543,100
1970 $4,395,995,086 $323,099,700
1969 $3,902,721,632 $306,961,800
1968 $3,378,701,147 $276,820,700
1967 $3,445,739,915 $261,024,300
1966 $3,198,820,904 $244,459,500
1965 $3,035,655,794 $229,260,800
1964 $2,851,091,646 $218,929,100
1963 $2,505,073,358 $200,229,600
1962 $2,329,372,972 $191,861,800
1961 $2,151,772,980 $183,920,900
1960 $1,998,550,222 $190,495,600

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

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

GDP per capita in Ireland vs Liberia by year

Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Liberia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ireland Liberia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $112,895 $133,437 $851 $1,871
2023 $106,819 $129,683 $799 $1,795
2022 $105,191 $138,523 $745 $1,692
2021 $103,783 $116,904 $668 $1,539
2020 $86,514 $97,800 $617 $1,660
2019 $81,828 $92,023 $658 $1,900
2018 $80,804 $86,299 $692 $1,800
2017 $72,161 $80,450 $699 $1,665
2016 $64,130 $73,013 $715 $1,490
2015 $64,250 $71,588 $693 $1,340
2014 $57,215 $52,641 $707 $1,419
2013 $52,538 $48,839 $711 $1,360
2012 $49,336 $46,726 $638 $1,157
2011 $52,614 $45,526 $568 $1,041
2010 $48,624 $43,212 $492 $980
2009 $52,133 $41,491 $448 $939
2008 $61,353 $44,169 $452 $915
2007 $61,396 $46,782 $374 $873
2006 $54,329 $44,223 $321 $815
2005 $50,933 $40,466 $287.5 $774
2004 $47,754 $38,729 $284.1 $745
2003 $41,204 $36,280 $239.8 $716
2002 $32,705 $35,222 $299.5 $1,013
2001 $28,282 $32,573 $300 $987
2000 $26,335 $30,216 $298.5 $965
1999 $26,338 $27,041 $156.6 $762
1998 $24,295 $25,094 $134.7 $652
1997 $22,551 $22,637 $122.6 $548
1996 $20,836 $20,482 $71.4 $282.2
1995 $19,158 $18,944 $62.1 $254.4
1994 $15,903 $17,011 $61.5 $262.6
1993 $14,657 $15,811 $74.4 $328
1992 $15,714 $15,116 $107.8 $497
1991 $14,087 $14,399 $177.9 $793
1990 $14,031 $13,743 $172.9 $787
1989 $11,176 - $312 -
1988 $10,716 - $424 -
1987 $9,582 - $409 -
1986 $8,112 - $364 -
1985 $6,012 - $380 -
1984 $5,692 - $390 -
1983 $5,915 - $391 -
1982 $6,161 - $422 -
1981 $5,986 - $426 -
1980 $6,372 - $443 -
1979 $5,430 - $435 -
1978 $4,400 - $394 -
1977 $3,427 - $381 -
1976 $2,920 - $347 -
1975 $2,973 - $346 -
1974 $2,517 - $299.4 -
1973 $2,424 - $244.4 -
1972 $2,080 - $238.6 -
1971 $1,704 - $227.1 -
1970 $1,487 - $220.3 -
1969 $1,331 - $214.7 -
1968 $1,159 - $198.6 -
1967 $1,187 - $192.2 -
1966 $1,107 - $184.6 -
1965 $1,055 - $177.6 -
1964 $995 - $173.9 -
1963 $878 - $163.1 -
1962 $821 - $160.3 -
1961 $762 - $157.5 -
1960 $707 - $167.2 -

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

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

Ireland's GDP per capita is $112,895, ranking 4/197, compared to $851 in Liberia, ranking 184/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437, while Liberia ranks 188th at $1,871.

Economic indicators

Ireland Liberia
Gross domestic product
$609B
2024
$4.78B
2024
GDP rank
25/197
2024
163/197
2024
GDP growth
2.6%
2023-2024
4.02%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$851
2024
GDP per capita rank
4/197
2024
184/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$1,871
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
4/197
2024
188/197
2024
Government debt
$236B
2024
$2.73B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
57.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
$487
2024
Government debt per person rank
11/185
2024
167/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$1,191
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
n/a
Number of billionaires
11
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
27.1%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.9%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
24.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.11%
2023-2024
8.2%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
5.93%
2017
Population
5518360
5887000

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ireland
Spending

Debt
Liberia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ireland Liberia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 22.3% 38.8% 24.3% 57.2%
2023 22.1% 42.1% 27.1% 57.8%
2022 20.6% 43.2% 26.9% 54.3%
2021 23.6% 52.7% 29.8% 53.3%
2020 26.7% 57.1% 35.3% 58.7%
2019 23.9% 55.9% 32.3% 48.6%
2018 24.7% 61.4% 32.7% 37.1%
2017 25.3% 65.3% 35.1% 31.8%
2016 27.5% 72.7% 35.8% 28.6%
2015 28.1% 74% 37.1% 24.8%
2014 36.6% 101.4% 33.4% 24.3%
2013 39.8% 117.7% 27.4% 20.6%
2012 42.3% 118.9% 30.8% 20.5%
2011 46.9% 109.6% 30.1% 22.7%
2010 64.9% 86.2% 25.2% 25.6%
2009 46.9% 61.8% 23.7% 130.9%
2008 41.6% 42.5% 21.6% 233.1%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 17.2% 394%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 11.1% 472%
2005 33% 26.1% 12.8% 535%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 12.1% 543%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 9.85% 658%
2002 32.9% 30.9% 13.2% 481%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 12.6% 484%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 15.2% 489%
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 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/ireland/liberia | CC BY

In 2024, Ireland's government spending was $136B, accounting for 22.3% of its GDP, while Liberia spent $1.16B, or 24.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 38.8% in Ireland and 57.2% in Liberia, ranking 138/185 and 91/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ireland

Liberia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ireland Liberia
2024 4.09% -1.98%
2023 1.52% -7.03%
2022 1.67% -5.33%
2021 -1.37% -2.5%
2020 -4.87% -4.02%
2019 0.41% -4.92%
2018 0.09% -4.7%
2017 -0.3% -7.14%
2016 -0.76% -3.83%
2015 -1.97% -3.74%
2014 -3.52% -4.92%
2013 -6.28% 1.29%
2012 -8.42% -2.86%
2011 -13.5% -4.43%
2010 -32.1% 1.17%
2009 -13.9% -1.39%
2008 -7.03% -2.68%
2007 0.27% 2.44%
2006 2.78% 4.42%
2005 1.57% -0.55%
2004 1.3% -0.56%
2003 0.35% 0.39%
2002 -0.52% -1.63%
2001 0.96% -0.98%
2000 4.86% -0.08%
1999 3.54% -
1998 2.07% -
1997 1.37% -
1996 -0.2% -
1995 -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/ireland/liberia | CC BY

In 2024, Ireland's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $24.9B, equivalent to 4.09% of GDP. This compares to Liberia's deficit of $94.6M, or 1.98% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Liberia ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Ireland posted an annual deficit equal to 2.99% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.22% of GDP for Liberia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ireland

Liberia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ireland Liberia
2024 2.11% 8.2%
2023 6.3% 10.1%
2022 7.83% 7.6%
2021 2.34% 7.8%
2020 -0.33% 17%
2019 0.94% 27%
2018 0.47% 23.5%
2017 0.36% 12.4%
2016 0.02% 8.8%
2015 -0.33% 7.7%
2014 0.19% 9.9%
2013 0.52% 7.6%
2012 1.69% 6.8%
2011 2.55% 8.5%
2010 -0.92% 7.3%
2009 -4.45% 7.4%
2008 4.04% 17.5%
2007 4.89% 11.4%
2006 3.94% 9.5%
2005 2.46% 6.9%
2004 2.18% 3.6%
2003 3.49% 10.3%
2002 4.63% 14.2%
2001 4.85% 12.1%
2000 5.58% 5.3%
1999 1.63% 2%
1998 2.41% -
1997 1.54% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Over the past 26 years, Ireland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.19%, compared with 10.4% in Liberia. In 2024, inflation was 2.11% in Ireland and 8.2% in Liberia.

Top exports between countries

Ireland
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $3.04M
Animal & marine products $1.76M
Chemicals & pharma $1.4M
Textiles & consumer goods $101K
Miscellaneous $51K
Machinery & equipment $42K
Raw materials & minerals $7K
Liberia
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $1K

Balance of trade

Ireland Liberia
Current account balance
$106B
2024
$64.8M
2022
Current account balance ranking
6/190
2024
73/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
+1.62%
2022
Goods imports
$165B
2024
$1.53B
2022
Goods exports
$356B
2024
$1.03B
2022
Service imports
$467B
2024
$434M
2022
Service exports
$526B
2024
$192M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
102.2%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
144%
2024
28.5%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Ireland Liberia
Economic freedom 83.3 49.8
Economic freedom ranking 3/197 163/197
Property rights 94.4 40.4
Government integrity 84 25.8
Judicial effectiveness 95.4 23.4
Tax burden 77.7 86.1
Government spending 85.9 79.5
Fiscal health 97 56.9
Business freedom 85.5 38
Labor freedom 61.3 43.4
Monetary freedom 79.3 71.4
Trade freedom 79.4 57.4
Investment freedom 90 55
Financial freedom 70 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ireland
Liberia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ireland Liberia
2026 83.3 49.8
2025 83.1 48.5
2024 82.6 49.9
2023 82 49.6
2022 82 47.9
2021 81.4 49.2
2020 80.9 49
2019 80.5 49.7
2018 80.4 50.9
2017 76.7 49.1
2016 77.3 52.2
2015 76.6 52.7
2014 76.2 52.4
2013 75.7 49.3
2012 76.9 48.6
2011 78.7 46.5
2010 81.3 46.2
2009 82.2 48.1
2008 82.5 -
2007 82.6 -
2006 82.2 -
2005 80.8 -
2004 80.3 -
2003 80.9 -
2002 80.5 -
2001 81.2 -
2000 76.1 -
1999 74.6 -
1998 73.7 -
1997 72.6 -
1996 68.5 -
1995 68.5 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Ireland is 83.3, ranking 3/197, compared to 49.8 for Liberia, ranking 163/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ireland Liberia
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
41.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
22.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.02%
2024
33.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$4.28B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$101,180
2024
$1,750
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$600M
2022
Total reserves ranking
73/177
2024
153/177
2022
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
-$960M
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
$472M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
$74.9M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.09%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
50.9%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.2%
2024
n/a

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/liberia | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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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 (2020–2024, 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.

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.