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Iceland vs Ireland statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 5.4M in Ireland (ranked 120/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 26,599 sq mi for Ireland (ranked 104th vs. 119th).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland Ireland
Population
397129
5518360
Population rank 173/197 121/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$609B
2024
GDP rank 108/197 25/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$112,895
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 4/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$133,437
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$236B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
38.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$43,766
2024
Government debt per person rank 9/185 11/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$47,851
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 26,599 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
207 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
1.5
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
39.7 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
82.9 years
2026

Iceland and Ireland: Comparison Charts

Iceland and Ireland economies compared

GDP
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year GDP
Iceland Ireland
2024 $33,255,181,469 $609,157,459,747
2023 $31,677,891,897 $567,372,737,459
2022 $29,166,102,877 $548,341,794,599
2021 $26,234,872,402 $530,394,123,830
2020 $22,034,665,041 $436,009,027,819
2019 $24,985,687,022 $407,211,793,801
2018 $26,677,652,544 $395,780,319,817
2017 $25,060,086,488 $348,355,212,569
2016 $21,083,713,310 $305,431,252,709
2015 $17,700,486,957 $302,101,388,556
2014 $18,052,183,515 $266,490,442,124
2013 $16,244,319,959 $242,924,245,719
2012 $14,943,757,823 $226,921,827,888
2011 $15,394,005,872 $240,975,871,047
2010 $13,922,711,577 $221,732,824,603
2009 $13,212,543,838 $236,443,115,854
2008 $18,247,921,360 $275,447,471,451
2007 $21,960,110,030 $270,079,279,420
2006 $17,671,649,843 $232,180,617,162
2005 $17,146,410,561 $211,876,989,656
2004 $13,963,943,244 $194,372,115,041
2003 $11,564,687,742 $164,670,771,260
2002 $9,416,199,700 $128,596,035,288
2001 $8,323,401,820 $109,346,669,230
2000 $9,140,168,922 $100,207,610,430
1999 $9,107,644,691 $98,893,958,263
1998 $8,637,732,542 $90,199,410,116
1997 $7,716,781,803 $82,856,648,758
1996 $7,686,566,105 $75,790,786,290
1995 $7,372,640,169 $69,139,823,232
1994 $6,612,804,056 $57,097,656,066
1993 $6,435,952,174 $52,417,477,614
1992 $7,328,497,599 $55,918,538,121
1991 $7,151,260,062 $49,787,501,584
1990 $6,694,851,159 $49,305,632,408
1989 $5,870,854,233 $39,238,392,678
1988 $6,320,093,411 $37,772,896,221
1987 $5,713,281,235 $33,920,518,493
1986 $4,129,080,094 $28,714,571,852
1985 $3,088,359,967 $21,270,013,326
1984 $2,964,568,006 $20,106,648,455
1983 $2,862,634,164 $20,766,047,764
1982 $3,318,714,326 $21,474,752,962
1981 $3,615,094,820 $20,670,190,138
1980 $3,499,616,683 $21,747,855,640
1979 $2,953,176,971 $18,319,334,300
1978 $2,599,627,089 $14,647,996,074
1977 $2,285,707,749 $11,248,340,431
1976 $1,727,845,419 $9,453,756,015
1975 $1,456,052,700 $9,483,808,362
1974 $1,568,154,077 $7,896,860,615
1973 $1,194,794,186 $7,481,173,066
1972 $869,002,946 $6,318,060,582
1971 $693,679,545 $5,098,250,287
1970 $545,115,909 $4,395,995,086
1969 $435,659,610 $3,902,721,632
1968 $498,365,200 $3,378,701,147
1967 $652,609,076 $3,445,739,915
1966 $660,663,763 $3,198,820,904
1965 $550,150,988 $3,035,655,794
1964 $456,206,299 $2,851,091,646
1963 $357,240,896 $2,505,073,358
1962 $299,309,938 $2,329,372,972
1961 $266,711,460 $2,151,772,980
1960 $260,984,499 $1,998,550,222

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Iceland and Ireland economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland Ireland
2024 $86,041 $112,895
2023 $82,139 $106,819
2022 $76,350 $105,191
2021 $70,425 $103,783
2020 $60,128 $86,514
2019 $69,296 $81,828
2018 $75,634 $80,804
2017 $72,976 $72,161
2016 $62,854 $64,130
2015 $53,506 $64,250
2014 $55,140 $57,215
2013 $50,173 $52,538
2012 $46,595 $49,336
2011 $48,255 $52,614
2010 $43,776 $48,624
2009 $41,484 $52,133
2008 $57,489 $61,353
2007 $70,483 $61,396
2006 $58,172 $54,329
2005 $57,784 $50,933
2004 $47,810 $47,754
2003 $39,944 $41,204
2002 $32,749 $32,705
2001 $29,208 $28,282
2000 $32,504 $26,335
1999 $32,834 $26,338
1998 $31,519 $24,295
1997 $28,462 $22,551
1996 $28,584 $20,836
1995 $27,565 $19,158
1994 $24,858 $15,903
1993 $24,404 $14,657
1992 $28,072 $15,714
1991 $27,740 $14,087
1990 $26,272 $14,031
1989 $23,219 $11,176
1988 $25,307 $10,716
1987 $23,238 $9,582
1986 $16,980 $8,112
1985 $12,793 $6,012
1984 $12,378 $5,692
1983 $12,080 $5,915
1982 $14,191 $6,161
1981 $15,666 $5,986
1980 $15,340 $6,372
1979 $13,082 $5,430
1978 $11,630 $4,400
1977 $10,305 $3,427
1976 $7,848 $2,920
1975 $6,680 $2,973
1974 $7,287 $2,517
1973 $5,627 $2,424
1972 $4,155 $2,080
1971 $3,366 $1,704
1970 $2,666 $1,487
1969 $2,142 $1,331
1968 $2,473 $1,159
1967 $3,284 $1,187
1966 $3,378 $1,107
1965 $2,861 $1,055
1964 $2,414 $995
1963 $1,924 $878
1962 $1,641 $821
1961 $1,490 $762
1960 $1,486 $707

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Iceland vs. Ireland life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland Ireland
2026 83.3 82.9
2025 83.2 82.7
2024 83 82.6
2023 82.7 82.4
2022 81.6 82.1
2021 82.8 81.9
2020 82.7 82.4
2019 82.8 82.4
2018 82.5 82.1
2017 82.2 82.1
2016 81.8 81.7
2015 82.2 81.5
2014 82.4 81.4
2013 81.7 81.1
2012 82.3 80.9
2011 82 80.7
2010 81.6 80.6
2009 81.4 80.1
2008 81.2 79.8
2007 81.1 79.6
2006 80.9 79.2
2005 81.2 78.9
2004 80.7 78.5
2003 80.8 78.1
2002 80.3 77.6
2001 80.4 77.1
2000 79.5 76.5
1999 79.2 76.1
1998 79.4 76.2
1997 78.7 76
1996 78.6 75.8
1995 77.5 75.5
1994 79 75.8
1993 78.8 75.3
1992 78.6 75.4
1991 77.8 75
1990 77.7 74.8
1989 77.9 74.5
1988 76.9 74.4
1987 77.1 74.4
1986 77.9 73.6
1985 77.4 73.6
1984 77.3 73.6
1983 76.4 73.2
1982 76.8 73.2
1981 76.2 72.9
1980 76.6 72.5
1979 76.5 72.2
1978 76.4 71.9
1977 76.1 71.9
1976 76.6 71.8
1975 75.3 71.7
1974 74.1 71.1
1973 74.3 71.2
1972 74.4 71
1971 73.5 71.6
1970 73.8 70.8
1969 73.7 70.8
1968 73.9 70.9
1967 73.7 71.2
1966 73.1 70.2
1965 73.8 70.6
1964 73.5 70.4
1963 72.9 70.2
1962 73.6 69.9
1961 73.4 69.6
1960 74 70.2
1959 72.6 69.4
1958 73.3 69.3
1957 73.4 69
1956 72.9 69
1955 73.3 68
1954 73.3 68
1953 72.3 67.9
1952 72.4 67.2
1951 71 64.8
1950 71 65.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Iceland and Ireland population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year Population
Iceland Ireland
2024 386,506 5,395,790
2023 385,663 5,311,538
2022 382,003 5,212,836
2021 372,520 5,110,585
2020 366,463 5,039,747
2019 360,563 4,976,456
2018 352,721 4,898,022
2017 343,400 4,827,445
2016 335,439 4,762,722
2015 330,815 4,701,957
2014 327,386 4,657,740
2013 323,764 4,623,816
2012 320,716 4,599,533
2011 319,014 4,580,084
2010 318,041 4,560,155
2009 318,499 4,535,375
2008 317,414 4,489,544
2007 311,566 4,398,942
2006 303,782 4,273,591
2005 296,734 4,159,914
2004 292,074 4,070,262
2003 289,521 3,996,521
2002 287,523 3,931,947
2001 284,968 3,866,243
2000 281,205 3,805,174
1999 277,381 3,754,786
1998 274,047 3,712,696
1997 271,128 3,674,171
1996 268,916 3,637,510
1995 267,468 3,608,841
1994 266,021 3,590,386
1993 263,725 3,576,261
1992 261,057 3,558,430
1991 257,797 3,534,235
1990 254,826 3,513,974
1989 252,852 3,511,009
1988 249,740 3,524,949
1987 245,859 3,540,057
1986 243,180 3,539,690
1985 241,405 3,538,082
1984 239,511 3,532,423
1983 236,977 3,510,600
1982 233,860 3,485,800
1981 230,755 3,453,000
1980 228,138 3,412,800
1979 225,735 3,373,750
1978 223,537 3,329,100
1977 221,799 3,282,200
1976 220,154 3,238,050
1975 217,979 3,189,550
1974 215,209 3,137,500
1973 212,317 3,085,950
1972 209,137 3,036,850
1971 206,098 2,992,050
1970 204,438 2,957,250
1969 203,369 2,932,650
1968 201,488 2,915,550
1967 198,751 2,902,450
1966 195,570 2,888,800
1965 192,286 2,877,300
1964 188,983 2,866,550
1963 185,653 2,852,650
1962 182,378 2,836,050
1961 179,029 2,824,400
1960 175,574 2,828,600

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Fertility rates in Iceland and Ireland

Fertility rate
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland Ireland
2023 1.59 1.5
2022 1.59 1.54
2021 1.82 1.78
2020 1.72 1.63
2019 1.74 1.71
2018 1.71 1.75
2017 1.71 1.77
2016 1.74 1.81
2015 1.8 1.85
2014 1.93 1.89
2013 1.93 1.93
2012 2.04 1.98
2011 2.02 2.03
2010 2.2 2.05
2009 2.23 2.06
2008 2.15 2.06
2007 2.09 2.01
2006 2.08 1.91
2005 2.05 1.86
2004 2.04 1.93
2003 1.99 1.96
2002 1.93 1.97
2001 1.95 1.94
2000 2.08 1.89
1999 1.99 1.9
1998 2.05 1.94
1997 2.04 1.93
1996 2.12 1.88
1995 2.08 1.84
1994 2.14 1.85
1993 2.22 1.9
1992 2.21 1.99
1991 2.18 2.08
1990 2.3 2.11
1989 2.19 2.08
1988 2.26 2.17
1987 2.06 2.32
1986 1.92 2.44
1985 1.93 2.48
1984 2.08 2.58
1983 2.24 2.74
1982 2.27 2.94
1981 2.33 3.05
1980 2.48 3.21
1979 2.49 3.21
1978 2.35 3.21
1977 2.31 3.24
1976 2.52 3.29
1975 2.65 3.37
1974 2.66 3.59
1973 2.94 3.71
1972 3.09 3.84
1971 2.92 3.93
1970 2.81 3.85
1969 2.99 3.83
1968 3.06 3.77
1967 3.28 3.84
1966 3.59 3.94
1965 3.73 4.04
1964 3.88 4.07
1963 3.99 4.01
1962 3.98 3.92
1961 3.88 3.78
1960 4.29 3.78

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Iceland and Ireland demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

Ireland
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland Ireland
2024 37.1 39.7
2023 36.9 39.4
2022 36.7 38.9
2021 36.7 38.6
2020 36.6 38.2
2019 36.5 37.8
2018 36.4 37.4
2017 36.3 37.1
2016 36.2 36.8
2015 36 36.4
2014 35.7 36
2013 35.5 35.6
2012 35.4 35.2
2011 35.1 34.8
2010 34.9 34.3
2009 34.6 33.9
2008 34.5 33.5
2007 34.6 33.4
2006 34.5 33.4
2005 34.2 33.4
2004 34 33.4
2003 33.7 33.2
2002 33.4 33
2001 33 32.7
2000 32.8 32.5
1999 32.6 32.2
1998 32.4 31.9
1997 32.1 31.6
1996 31.8 31.3
1995 31.5 30.9
1994 31.1 30.6
1993 30.8 30.2
1992 30.5 29.9
1991 30.2 29.6
1990 30 29.2
1989 29.6 28.8
1988 29.3 28.4
1987 29.1 27.9
1986 28.8 27.6
1985 28.4 27.3
1984 28 27.1
1983 27.7 26.9
1982 27.5 26.7
1981 27.2 26.6
1980 26.9 26.5
1979 26.7 26.5
1978 26.4 26.5
1977 26 26.5
1976 25.7 26.4
1975 25.4 26.5
1974 25.1 26.5
1973 24.9 26.7
1972 24.8 26.9
1971 24.7 27.1
1970 24.5 27.4
1969 24.3 27.6
1968 24.2 27.8
1967 24.1 28
1966 24.1 28.2
1965 24.2 28.6
1964 24.4 28.9
1963 24.7 29.2
1962 24.9 29.5
1961 25.2 29.8
1960 25.4 30.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland Ireland
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$435B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
22.3%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
2.9%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.24%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
9,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
+4.09%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
4.27%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
60.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
33.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
75
2026
83.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
24.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
3.7%
2023
Number of billionaires
1
2025
11
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.0003%
2025
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
43
2018
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$110B
2018
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$12.7B
2024
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
$656M
2024
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
10,951,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
0.68%
2020
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
98.3%
2024

Energy

Iceland Ireland
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
2,468 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
$52.6
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
32.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
6.04 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
82.4%
2023
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
12.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
8.94%
2023
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
85.8%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
6,145 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
37.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
3.88%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iceland Ireland
% of world population
0.005%
2024
0.07%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
+35,417
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
64.3%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.87 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.4 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
94.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
76
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
88
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
0.65
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
3.1
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
98%
2023
98.4%
2023
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
96.5%
2023

Health

Iceland Ireland
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
$7,395
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
$784
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
82.9 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
3.88
2023
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
31.6 years
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
3.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
29.3%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
3.6%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
87
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
19.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
10.8 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland Ireland
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
4,930 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
16,174 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
3,066 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
62,031 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  12. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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