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Economy of Ireland vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Ireland has a GDP of $722B compared to $1.29B for Samoa, ranking 24/197 and 186/197 by economy size, respectively.

Ireland has $238B in government debt (32.9% of GDP), compared to $273M (21.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Ireland vs Samoa GDP by year

Ireland
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Ireland Samoa
2025 $721,701,359,046 $1,287,936,622
2024 $609,157,459,747 $1,175,749,786
2023 $567,372,737,459 $1,044,909,500
2022 $548,341,794,599 $889,554,712
2021 $530,394,123,830 $859,724,936
2020 $436,009,027,819 $868,884,903
2019 $407,211,793,801 $912,950,466
2018 $395,780,319,817 $878,448,433
2017 $348,355,212,569 $884,844,384
2016 $305,431,252,709 $843,924,797
2015 $302,101,388,556 $824,150,499
2014 $266,490,442,124 $796,683,520
2013 $242,924,245,719 $797,736,334
2012 $226,921,827,888 $773,141,661
2011 $240,975,871,047 $744,097,050
2010 $221,732,824,603 $680,260,907
2009 $236,443,115,854 $628,006,115
2008 $275,447,471,451 $641,346,192
2007 $270,079,279,420 $573,548,460
2006 $232,180,617,162 $499,923,758
2005 $211,876,989,656 $476,801,793
2004 $194,372,115,041 $407,747,565
2003 $164,670,771,260 $333,426,188
2002 $128,596,035,288 $281,790,134
2001 $109,346,669,230 $266,299,591
2000 $100,207,610,430 $258,856,140
1999 $98,893,958,263 $255,408,060
1998 $90,199,410,116 $269,485,244
1997 $82,856,648,758 $285,475,592
1996 $75,790,786,290 $249,907,869
1995 $69,139,823,232 $224,865,731
1994 $57,097,656,066 $221,098,107
1993 $52,417,477,614 $133,122,897
1992 $55,918,538,121 $132,303,041
1991 $49,787,501,584 $125,597,205
1990 $49,305,632,408 $125,766,270
1989 $39,238,392,678 $122,888,610
1988 $37,772,896,221 $133,016,065
1987 $33,920,518,493 $111,713,922
1986 $28,714,571,852 $100,947,849
1985 $21,270,013,326 $95,572,173
1984 $20,106,648,455 $109,200,934
1983 $20,766,047,764 $111,862,824
1982 $21,474,752,962 $121,221,652
1981 $20,670,190,138 $118,190,655
1980 $21,747,855,640 $125,747,038
1979 $18,319,334,300 $122,257,393
1978 $14,647,996,074 $108,223,444
1977 $11,248,340,431 $98,295,671
1976 $9,453,756,015 $85,003,078
1975 $9,483,808,362 $93,489,283
1974 $7,896,860,615 $93,549,611
1973 $7,481,173,066 $82,452,985
1972 $6,318,060,582 $62,566,116
1971 $5,098,250,287 $53,719,569
1970 $4,395,995,086 $45,208,338
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/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Ireland vs Samoa by year

Ireland
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Ireland Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $131,592 - $5,873 -
2024 $112,895 $133,437 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $106,819 $129,683 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $105,191 $138,523 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $103,783 $116,904 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $86,514 $97,800 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $81,828 $92,023 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $80,804 $86,299 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $72,161 $80,450 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $64,130 $73,013 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $64,250 $71,588 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $57,215 $52,641 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $52,538 $48,839 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $49,336 $46,726 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $52,614 $45,526 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $48,624 $43,212 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $52,133 $41,491 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $61,353 $44,169 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $61,396 $46,782 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $54,329 $44,223 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $50,933 $40,466 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $47,754 $38,729 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $41,204 $36,280 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $32,705 $35,222 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $28,282 $32,573 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $26,335 $30,216 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $26,338 $27,041 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $24,295 $25,094 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $22,551 $22,637 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $20,836 $20,482 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $19,158 $18,944 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $15,903 $17,011 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $14,657 $15,811 $775 $2,323
1992 $15,714 $15,116 $777 $2,198
1991 $14,087 $14,399 $742 $2,166
1990 $14,031 $13,743 $744 $2,148
1989 $11,176 - $728 -
1988 $10,716 - $790 -
1987 $9,582 - $666 -
1986 $8,112 - $604 -
1985 $6,012 - $573 -
1984 $5,692 - $655 -
1983 $5,915 - $671 -
1982 $6,161 - $728 -
1981 $5,986 - $713 -
1980 $6,372 - $765 -
1979 $5,430 - $751 -
1978 $4,400 - $671 -
1977 $3,427 - $615 -
1976 $2,920 - $541 -
1975 $2,973 - $610 -
1974 $2,517 - $626 -
1973 $2,424 - $563 -
1972 $2,080 - $433 -
1971 $1,704 - $377 -
1970 $1,487 - $322 -
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/samoa | CC BY

Ireland's GDP per capita is $131,592, ranking 4/197, compared to $5,873 in Samoa, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Ireland ranks 4th at $133,437, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Ireland Samoa
Gross domestic product
$722B
2025
$1.29B
2025
GDP rank
24/197
2025
186/197
2025
GDP growth
12.3%
2024-2025
4.2%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$131,592
2025
$5,873
2025
GDP per capita rank
4/197
2025
115/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
4/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$238B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
32.9%
2025
21.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$43,334
2025
$1,246
2025
Government debt per person rank
14/185
2025
136/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,174
2026
$3,918
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
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
21.6%
2025
26.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.21%
2024-2025
2.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.95%
2026
Unemployment rate
4.7%
2025
5.05%
2022
Population
5562212
221158

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Ireland
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Ireland Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 21.6% 32.9% 26.4% 21.2%
2024 22.4% 38.3% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 22.2% 41.8% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 20.7% 42.9% 31.1% 41%
2021 23.5% 52.4% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 26.7% 56.9% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 23.9% 55.8% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 24.7% 61.3% 30% 49.4%
2017 25.3% 65.2% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 27.5% 72.7% 27.3% 49%
2015 28.1% 74% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 36.6% 101.4% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 39.8% 117.7% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 42.3% 118.9% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 46.9% 109.6% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 64.9% 86.2% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 46.9% 61.8% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 41.6% 42.5% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 35.6% 23.9% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 33.6% 23.7% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 33% 26.1% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 32.8% 28.1% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 32.7% 29.8% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 32.9% 30.9% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 32.2% 33.6% 30% 53.8%
2000 30.6% 36.4% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 32.5% 46.6% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 34.2% 51.4% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 36.1% 61.6% 31% -
1996 38.5% 69.8% 38.9% -
1995 40.3% 78.5% 42.2% -
1994 43.9% 88% 54.1% -
1993 44.6% 93.4% 49.5% -
1992 44.8% 90.6% 43.4% -
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 (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Ireland's government spending was $156B, accounting for 21.6% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $340M, or 26.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 32.9% in Ireland and 21.2% in Samoa, ranking 149/185 and 172/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Ireland

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Ireland Samoa
2025 1.54% 4.68%
2024 4.02% 9.29%
2023 1.36% 2.7%
2022 1.58% 5.03%
2021 -1.31% 1.71%
2020 -4.87% 5.41%
2019 0.41% 1.51%
2018 0.09% 0.06%
2017 -0.3% -1.98%
2016 -0.76% -0.35%
2015 -1.97% -3.79%
2014 -3.52% -5.38%
2013 -6.28% -3.82%
2012 -8.42% -7.43%
2011 -13.5% -5.25%
2010 -32.1% -5.49%
2009 -13.9% -2.98%
2008 -7.03% -0.36%
2007 0.27% 0.55%
2006 2.78% -0.44%
2005 1.57% 0.23%
2004 1.3% -0.74%
2003 0.35% -0.51%
2002 -0.52% -1.77%
2001 0.96% -1.96%
2000 4.86% -0.62%
1999 3.54% 0.27%
1998 2.07% 1.64%
1997 1.37% 1.92%
1996 -0.2% 1.21%
1995 -2.07% -5.82%
1994 -1.98% -9.51%
1993 -2.7% -13.2%
1992 -2.92% -9.89%
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) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1926–1994, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/ireland/samoa | 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 Samoa's surplus of $60.3M, or 4.68% of GDP.

Over the past 34 years, Ireland recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Ireland posted an annual deficit equal to 2.24% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.32% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Ireland

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Ireland Samoa
2025 2.21% 2.21%
2024 2.11% 2.17%
2023 6.3% 7.92%
2022 7.83% 11%
2021 2.34% 3.13%
2020 -0.33% -1.57%
2019 0.94% 0.98%
2018 0.47% 4.2%
2017 0.36% 1.75%
2016 0.02% 1.3%
2015 -0.33% 0.72%
2014 0.19% -0.41%
2013 0.52% 0.61%
2012 1.69% 2.05%
2011 2.55% 5.24%
2010 -0.92% 0.78%
2009 -4.45% 6.32%
2008 4.04% 11.6%
2007 4.89% 5.58%
2006 3.94% 3.7%
2005 2.46% 1.86%
2004 2.18% 16.3%
2003 3.49% 0.12%
2002 4.63% 8.05%
2001 4.85% 3.84%
2000 5.58% 0.97%
1999 1.63% 0.27%
1998 2.41% 2.22%
1997 1.54% 6.86%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Ireland has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.18%, compared with 3.78% in Samoa. In 2025, inflation was 2.21% in Ireland and 2.21% in Samoa.

Top exports between countries

Ireland
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $452K
Machinery & equipment $1K
Samoa
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Ireland Samoa
Current account balance
$106B
2024
$89.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
7/190
2024
64/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+17.4%
2024
+6.93%
2025
Goods imports
$165B
2024
$440M
2025
Goods exports
$356B
2024
$24.2M
2025
Service imports
$467B
2024
$108M
2025
Service exports
$526B
2024
$328M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
99.9%
2025
43%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
140.1%
2025
27.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Ireland Samoa
Economic freedom 83.3 68
Economic freedom ranking 3/197 52/197
Property rights 94.4 77.1
Government integrity 84 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 95.4 77.6
Tax burden 77.7 79.3
Government spending 85.9 75.2
Fiscal health 97 98.7
Business freedom 85.5 63.7
Labor freedom 61.3 73.7
Monetary freedom 79.3 69.4
Trade freedom 79.4 67.2
Investment freedom 90 40
Financial freedom 70 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Ireland
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Ireland Samoa
2026 83.3 68
2025 83.1 66.6
2024 82.6 67.2
2023 82 68.3
2022 82 68.3
2021 81.4 61.9
2020 80.9 62.1
2019 80.5 62.2
2018 80.4 61.5
2017 76.7 58.4
2016 77.3 63.5
2015 76.6 61.9
2014 76.2 61.1
2013 75.7 57.1
2012 76.9 60.5
2011 78.7 60.6
2010 81.3 60.4
2009 82.2 59.5
2008 82.5 -
2007 82.6 -
2006 82.2 -
2005 80.8 -
2004 80.3 -
2003 80.9 -
2002 80.5 -
2001 81.2 63.1
2000 76.1 60.8
1999 74.6 58.7
1998 73.7 49.9
1997 72.6 51.5
1996 68.5 47.6
1995 68.5 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Ireland is 83.3, ranking 3/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Ireland Samoa
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2025
72.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
37.8%
2025
10.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.06%
2025
9.09%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$479B
2025
$1.24B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$106,310
2025
$9,300
2025
Total reserves including gold
$13.7B
2025
$598M
2025
Total reserves ranking
73/177
2025
153/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
$62.3B
2024
-$1.83M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$4.82B
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$67.1B
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14%
2021
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.9%
2025
30%
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/samoa | 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 (1992–2025, 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 (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.