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Ireland vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population of 5.4M (ranked 120/197), compared with 124M in Japan (ranked 12/197). Ireland's land area is 26,599 sq mi versus 140,761 sq mi for Japan (ranked 119th vs. 61st).

By GDP, Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T). By GDP per capita, Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895), while Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487).

Main facts and rankings

Ireland Japan
Population
5518360
122677250
Population rank 121/197 12/197
GDP
$609B
2024
$4.03T
2024
GDP rank 25/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$32,487
2024
GDP per capita rank 4/197 38/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$236B
2024
$9.51T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
236.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
$76,704
2024
Government debt per person rank 11/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$23,653
2026
Land area 26,599 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
207 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
39.7 years
2024
50.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
85.1 years
2026

Ireland and Japan: Comparison Charts

Ireland and Japan economies compared

GDP
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year GDP
Ireland Japan
2024 $609,157,459,747 $4,027,597,523,551
2023 $567,372,737,459 $4,213,167,237,906
2022 $548,341,794,599 $4,262,463,317,797
2021 $530,394,123,830 $5,039,148,168,861
2020 $436,009,027,819 $5,054,068,005,376
2019 $407,211,793,801 $5,117,993,853,017
2018 $395,780,319,817 $5,040,880,939,325
2017 $348,355,212,569 $4,930,837,369,151
2016 $305,431,252,709 $5,003,677,627,544
2015 $302,101,388,556 $4,444,930,651,964
2014 $266,490,442,124 $4,896,994,405,353
2013 $242,924,245,719 $5,212,328,181,166
2012 $226,921,827,888 $6,272,362,996,105
2011 $240,975,871,047 $6,233,147,172,341
2010 $221,732,824,603 $5,759,071,769,013
2009 $236,443,115,854 $5,289,493,117,994
2008 $275,447,471,451 $5,106,679,115,127
2007 $270,079,279,420 $4,579,750,920,355
2006 $232,180,617,162 $4,601,663,122,650
2005 $211,876,989,656 $4,831,467,035,390
2004 $194,372,115,041 $4,893,116,005,657
2003 $164,670,771,260 $4,519,561,645,254
2002 $128,596,035,288 $4,182,846,045,874
2001 $109,346,669,230 $4,374,711,694,091
2000 $100,207,610,430 $4,968,359,075,957
1999 $98,893,958,263 $4,635,982,224,064
1998 $90,199,410,116 $4,098,362,709,531
1997 $82,856,648,758 $4,492,448,605,639
1996 $75,790,786,290 $4,923,391,533,852
1995 $69,139,823,232 $5,545,563,663,890
1994 $57,097,656,066 $4,998,797,547,741
1993 $52,417,477,614 $4,536,940,479,038
1992 $55,918,538,121 $3,980,702,922,118
1991 $49,787,501,584 $3,648,065,760,649
1990 $49,305,632,408 $3,185,904,656,664
1989 $39,238,392,678 $3,109,455,047,824
1988 $37,772,896,221 $3,125,724,434,401
1987 $33,920,518,493 $2,580,748,422,781
1986 $28,714,571,852 $2,120,083,812,110
1985 $21,270,013,326 $1,427,019,759,717
1984 $20,106,648,455 $1,345,824,500,837
1983 $20,766,047,764 $1,270,859,919,743
1982 $21,474,752,962 $1,158,731,426,906
1981 $20,670,190,138 $1,245,221,410,764
1980 $21,747,855,640 $1,129,377,244,854
1979 $18,319,334,300 $1,077,910,077,676
1978 $14,647,996,074 $1,035,611,588,217
1977 $11,248,340,431 $737,069,290,928
1976 $9,453,756,015 $598,883,902,156
1975 $9,483,808,362 $532,861,438,885
1974 $7,896,860,615 $490,035,789,970
1973 $7,481,173,066 $441,460,582,536
1972 $6,318,060,582 $324,933,841,269
1971 $5,098,250,287 $245,364,056,622
1970 $4,395,995,086 $217,223,652,719
1969 $3,902,721,632 $184,298,841,305
1968 $3,378,701,147 $156,897,496,759
1967 $3,445,739,915 $132,475,614,227
1966 $3,198,820,904 $113,046,784,179
1965 $3,035,655,794 $97,338,107,606
1964 $2,851,091,646 $87,490,590,818
1963 $2,505,073,358 $74,379,284,603
1962 $2,329,372,972 $64,987,857,542
1961 $2,151,772,980 $57,266,758,180
1960 $1,998,550,222 $47,419,238,274

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

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

Ireland and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ireland Japan
2024 $112,895 $32,487
2023 $106,819 $33,836
2022 $105,191 $34,066
2021 $103,783 $40,095
2020 $86,514 $40,029
2019 $81,828 $40,416
2018 $80,804 $39,751
2017 $72,161 $38,834
2016 $64,130 $39,375
2015 $64,250 $34,961
2014 $57,215 $38,475
2013 $52,538 $40,899
2012 $49,336 $49,145
2011 $52,614 $48,760
2010 $48,624 $44,968
2009 $52,133 $41,309
2008 $61,353 $39,876
2007 $61,396 $35,779
2006 $54,329 $35,992
2005 $50,933 $37,813
2004 $47,754 $38,299
2003 $41,204 $35,387
2002 $32,705 $32,821
2001 $28,282 $34,406
2000 $26,335 $39,169
1999 $26,338 $36,610
1998 $24,295 $32,424
1997 $22,551 $35,638
1996 $20,836 $39,150
1995 $19,158 $44,198
1994 $15,903 $39,934
1993 $14,657 $36,345
1992 $15,714 $31,993
1991 $14,087 $29,428
1990 $14,031 $25,801
1989 $11,176 $25,266
1988 $10,716 $25,500
1987 $9,582 $21,142
1986 $8,112 $17,452
1985 $6,012 $11,809
1984 $5,692 $11,207
1983 $5,915 $10,652
1982 $6,161 $9,780
1981 $5,986 $10,583
1980 $6,372 $9,669
1979 $5,430 $9,301
1978 $4,400 $9,012
1977 $3,427 $6,473
1976 $2,920 $5,310
1975 $2,973 $4,776
1974 $2,517 $4,448
1973 $2,424 $4,061
1972 $2,080 $3,031
1971 $1,704 $2,321
1970 $1,487 $2,101
1969 $1,331 $1,803
1968 $1,159 $1,553
1967 $1,187 $1,326
1966 $1,107 $1,144
1965 $1,055 $994
1964 $995 $903
1963 $878 $776
1962 $821 $685
1961 $762 $609
1960 $707 $509

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

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

Ireland vs. Japan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ireland Japan
2026 82.9 85.1
2025 82.7 85
2024 82.6 84.9
2023 82.4 84.7
2022 82.1 84.1
2021 81.9 84.6
2020 82.4 84.7
2019 82.4 84.4
2018 82.1 84.3
2017 82.1 84.2
2016 81.7 84.1
2015 81.5 83.9
2014 81.4 83.6
2013 81.1 83.4
2012 80.9 83.2
2011 80.7 82.7
2010 80.6 82.9
2009 80.1 83
2008 79.8 82.6
2007 79.6 82.5
2006 79.2 82.4
2005 78.9 82
2004 78.5 82.1
2003 78.1 81.9
2002 77.6 81.8
2001 77.1 81.5
2000 76.5 81.2
1999 76.1 80.6
1998 76.2 80.6
1997 76 80.6
1996 75.8 80.4
1995 75.5 79.7
1994 75.8 79.8
1993 75.3 79.4
1992 75.4 79.3
1991 75 79.3
1990 74.8 79
1989 74.5 79
1988 74.4 78.5
1987 74.4 78.6
1986 73.6 78.2
1985 73.6 77.8
1984 73.6 77.5
1983 73.2 77.1
1982 73.2 77.1
1981 72.9 76.6
1980 72.5 76.1
1979 72.2 76.2
1978 71.9 75.7
1977 71.9 75.3
1976 71.8 74.8
1975 71.7 74.4
1974 71.1 73.8
1973 71.2 73.4
1972 71 73.3
1971 71.6 72.8
1970 70.8 72
1969 70.8 71.9
1968 70.9 71.7
1967 71.2 71.4
1966 70.2 71.1
1965 70.6 70.3
1964 70.4 70.2
1963 70.2 69.7
1962 69.9 68.7
1961 69.6 68.4
1960 70.2 67.7
1959 69.4 67.5
1958 69.3 67
1957 69 65.4
1956 69 65.6
1955 68 65.7
1954 68 64.5
1953 67.9 63.3
1952 67.2 63
1951 64.8 61
1950 65.6 59.3

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

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

Ireland and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year Population
Ireland Japan
2024 5,395,790 123,975,371
2023 5,311,538 124,516,650
2022 5,212,836 125,124,989
2021 5,110,585 125,681,593
2020 5,039,747 126,261,000
2019 4,976,456 126,633,000
2018 4,898,022 126,811,000
2017 4,827,445 126,972,000
2016 4,762,722 127,076,000
2015 4,701,957 127,141,000
2014 4,657,740 127,276,000
2013 4,623,816 127,445,000
2012 4,599,533 127,629,000
2011 4,580,084 127,833,000
2010 4,560,155 128,070,000
2009 4,535,375 128,047,000
2008 4,489,544 128,063,000
2007 4,398,942 128,001,000
2006 4,273,591 127,854,000
2005 4,159,914 127,773,000
2004 4,070,262 127,761,000
2003 3,996,521 127,718,000
2002 3,931,947 127,445,000
2001 3,866,243 127,149,000
2000 3,805,174 126,843,000
1999 3,754,786 126,631,000
1998 3,712,696 126,400,000
1997 3,674,171 126,057,000
1996 3,637,510 125,757,000
1995 3,608,841 125,472,000
1994 3,590,386 125,178,000
1993 3,576,261 124,829,000
1992 3,558,430 124,425,000
1991 3,534,235 123,964,000
1990 3,513,974 123,478,000
1989 3,511,009 123,069,000
1988 3,524,949 122,578,000
1987 3,540,057 122,069,000
1986 3,539,690 121,482,000
1985 3,538,082 120,837,000
1984 3,532,423 120,083,000
1983 3,510,600 119,307,000
1982 3,485,800 118,480,000
1981 3,453,000 117,661,000
1980 3,412,800 116,807,000
1979 3,373,750 115,890,000
1978 3,329,100 114,913,000
1977 3,282,200 113,872,000
1976 3,238,050 112,775,000
1975 3,189,550 111,573,000
1974 3,137,500 110,162,000
1973 3,085,950 108,707,000
1972 3,036,850 107,188,000
1971 2,992,050 105,697,000
1970 2,957,250 103,403,000
1969 2,932,650 102,219,000
1968 2,915,550 101,011,000
1967 2,902,450 99,879,000
1966 2,888,800 98,851,000
1965 2,877,300 97,952,000
1964 2,866,550 96,903,000
1963 2,852,650 95,900,000
1962 2,836,050 94,933,000
1961 2,824,400 94,055,000
1960 2,828,600 93,216,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Ireland and Japan

Fertility rate
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland Japan
2023 1.5 1.2
2022 1.54 1.26
2021 1.78 1.3
2020 1.63 1.33
2019 1.71 1.36
2018 1.75 1.42
2017 1.77 1.43
2016 1.81 1.44
2015 1.85 1.45
2014 1.89 1.42
2013 1.93 1.43
2012 1.98 1.41
2011 2.03 1.39
2010 2.05 1.39
2009 2.06 1.37
2008 2.06 1.37
2007 2.01 1.34
2006 1.91 1.32
2005 1.86 1.26
2004 1.93 1.29
2003 1.96 1.29
2002 1.97 1.32
2001 1.94 1.33
2000 1.89 1.36
1999 1.9 1.34
1998 1.94 1.38
1997 1.93 1.39
1996 1.88 1.43
1995 1.84 1.42
1994 1.85 1.5
1993 1.9 1.46
1992 1.99 1.5
1991 2.08 1.53
1990 2.11 1.54
1989 2.08 1.57
1988 2.17 1.66
1987 2.32 1.69
1986 2.44 1.72
1985 2.48 1.76
1984 2.58 1.81
1983 2.74 1.8
1982 2.94 1.77
1981 3.05 1.74
1980 3.21 1.75
1979 3.21 1.77
1978 3.21 1.79
1977 3.24 1.8
1976 3.29 1.85
1975 3.37 1.91
1974 3.59 2.05
1973 3.71 2.14
1972 3.84 2.14
1971 3.93 2.16
1970 3.85 2.13
1969 3.83 2.13
1968 3.77 2.13
1967 3.84 2.23
1966 3.94 1.58
1965 4.04 2.14
1964 4.07 2.05
1963 4.01 2
1962 3.92 1.98
1961 3.78 1.96
1960 3.78 2

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

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

Ireland and Japan demographics compared

Median age
Ireland

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
Ireland Japan
2024 39.7 50.4
2023 39.4 50
2022 38.9 49.5
2021 38.6 49.1
2020 38.2 48.7
2019 37.8 48.3
2018 37.4 48
2017 37.1 47.6
2016 36.8 47.3
2015 36.4 47
2014 36 46.6
2013 35.6 46.2
2012 35.2 45.8
2011 34.8 45.5
2010 34.3 45.2
2009 33.9 44.9
2008 33.5 44.6
2007 33.4 44.2
2006 33.4 43.9
2005 33.4 43.6
2004 33.4 43.2
2003 33.2 42.8
2002 33 42.5
2001 32.7 42.1
2000 32.5 41.8
1999 32.2 41.4
1998 31.9 41
1997 31.6 40.7
1996 31.3 40.3
1995 30.9 40
1994 30.6 39.6
1993 30.2 39.2
1992 29.9 38.7
1991 29.6 38.2
1990 29.2 37.7
1989 28.8 37.2
1988 28.4 36.8
1987 27.9 36.3
1986 27.6 35.9
1985 27.3 35.4
1984 27.1 34.9
1983 26.9 34.3
1982 26.7 33.7
1981 26.6 33.1
1980 26.5 32.8
1979 26.5 32.4
1978 26.5 32
1977 26.5 31.5
1976 26.4 30.9
1975 26.5 30.6
1974 26.5 30.4
1973 26.7 30.2
1972 26.9 29.9
1971 27.1 29.6
1970 27.4 29.2
1969 27.6 28.9
1968 27.8 28.6
1967 28 28.4
1966 28.2 28
1965 28.6 27.6
1964 28.9 27.2
1963 29.2 26.9
1962 29.5 26.5
1961 29.8 26.2
1960 30.1 25.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ireland Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$4.46T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
39.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.9%
2021
3.24%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.24%
2024
1.37%
2024
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
261,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.09%
2024
-1.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
2.54%
2024
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
69.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
28.6%
2023
Economic freedom index
83.3
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
23.9%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.4%
2020
Number of millionaires n/a
2,732,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.62%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
3,971
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
$6.31T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$1.23T
2024
Personal remittances received
$656M
2024
$4.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
10,951,000
2019
4,115,799
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.68%
2020
1.43%
2020
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
98.5%
2024

Energy

Ireland Japan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,468 kg
2023
3,039 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$52.6
2023
$16.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
32.6 megatons
2024
972 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.04 tons
2024
7.84 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
82.4%
2023
84.8%
2023
Renewable energy use share
12.7%
2021
8.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.94%
2023
10.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
85.8%
2023
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,145 kWh
2023
7,655 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
37.2%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.88%
2023
8.48%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
8.38%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Ireland Japan
% of world population
0.07%
2024
1.53%
2024
Annual migration change
+35,417
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
64.3%
2024
92.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.9
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
71
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
98
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.65
2023
0.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.1
2019
3.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2002
English speaking
98.4%
2023
15%
2025
People using the Internet
96.5%
2023
87%
2023

Health

Ireland Japan
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,395
2024
$3,638
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$784
2024
$445
2023
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
85.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2023
2.65
2022
Age at first childbirth
31.6 years
2023
30.7 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.8
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
29.3%
2022
5.57%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3.6%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
78
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.3%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
6.38 liters
2020

Territory

Ireland Japan
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
4,930 sq mi
2024
1,135 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
16,174 sq mi
2026
17,788 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,066 sq mi
2026
96,275 sq mi
2026
Roads length
62,031 mi
2018
757,310 mi
2021

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) (2000–2025, 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. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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