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Ireland vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population of 5.4M (ranked 120/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Ireland's land area is 26,599 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 119th vs. 105th).

By GDP, Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Ireland South Korea
Population
5518360
51649918
Population rank 121/197 31/197
GDP
$609B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 25/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 4/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$236B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 11/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 26,599 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
207 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
39.7 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Ireland and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Ireland and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Ireland South Korea
2024 $609,157,459,747 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $567,372,737,459 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $548,341,794,599 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $530,394,123,830 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $436,009,027,819 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $407,211,793,801 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $395,780,319,817 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $348,355,212,569 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $305,431,252,709 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $302,101,388,556 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $266,490,442,124 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $242,924,245,719 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $226,921,827,888 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $240,975,871,047 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $221,732,824,603 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $236,443,115,854 $983,065,242,417
2008 $275,447,471,451 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $270,079,279,420 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $232,180,617,162 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $211,876,989,656 $971,740,329,984
2004 $194,372,115,041 $823,251,107,639
2003 $164,670,771,260 $728,516,494,684
2002 $128,596,035,288 $650,014,391,470
2001 $109,346,669,230 $567,564,806,235
2000 $100,207,610,430 $597,487,173,479
1999 $98,893,958,263 $515,697,079,289
1998 $90,199,410,116 $397,297,216,492
1997 $82,856,648,758 $589,202,526,424
1996 $75,790,786,290 $631,196,863,758
1995 $69,139,823,232 $586,286,469,401
1994 $57,097,656,066 $479,181,794,217
1993 $52,417,477,614 $405,705,302,846
1992 $55,918,538,121 $366,921,291,825
1991 $49,787,501,584 $340,851,946,804
1990 $49,305,632,408 $292,064,221,389
1989 $39,238,392,678 $254,236,243,100
1988 $37,772,896,221 $205,477,530,605
1987 $33,920,518,493 $152,240,393,646
1986 $28,714,571,852 $119,965,960,795
1985 $21,270,013,326 $103,764,281,281
1984 $20,106,648,455 $99,749,645,089
1983 $20,766,047,764 $89,621,208,322
1982 $21,474,752,962 $79,921,300,447
1981 $20,670,190,138 $74,287,368,087
1980 $21,747,855,640 $66,547,970,351
1979 $18,319,334,300 $68,083,884,298
1978 $14,647,996,074 $52,824,793,388
1977 $11,248,340,431 $39,064,462,810
1976 $9,453,756,015 $30,371,074,380
1975 $9,483,808,362 $22,126,033,058
1974 $7,896,860,615 $19,860,929,977
1973 $7,481,173,066 $14,067,523,813
1972 $6,318,060,582 $10,990,490,570
1971 $5,098,250,287 $10,005,257,131
1970 $4,395,995,086 $9,085,001,794
1969 $3,902,721,632 $7,743,940,189
1968 $3,378,701,147 $6,167,109,472
1967 $3,445,739,915 $4,895,076,718
1966 $3,198,820,904 $3,957,064,541
1965 $3,035,655,794 $3,141,131,708
1964 $2,851,091,646 $3,476,789,682
1963 $2,505,073,358 $4,007,692,308
1962 $2,329,372,972 $2,826,923,077
1961 $2,151,772,980 $2,427,244,761
1960 $1,998,550,222 $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Ireland and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ireland South Korea
2024 $112,895 $36,239
2023 $106,819 $35,674
2022 $105,191 $34,822
2021 $103,783 $37,518
2020 $86,514 $33,646
2019 $81,828 $33,827
2018 $80,804 $35,364
2017 $72,161 $33,297
2016 $64,130 $30,832
2015 $64,250 $30,172
2014 $57,215 $30,667
2013 $52,538 $28,449
2012 $49,336 $26,601
2011 $52,614 $26,175
2010 $48,624 $24,071
2009 $52,133 $19,937
2008 $61,353 $22,252
2007 $61,396 $25,078
2006 $54,329 $22,610
2005 $50,933 $20,167
2004 $47,754 $17,122
2003 $41,204 $15,212
2002 $32,705 $13,643
2001 $28,282 $11,981
2000 $26,335 $12,710
1999 $26,338 $11,063
1998 $24,295 $8,583
1997 $22,551 $12,822
1996 $20,836 $13,865
1995 $19,158 $13,002
1994 $15,903 $10,734
1993 $14,657 $9,180
1992 $15,714 $8,387
1991 $14,087 $7,873
1990 $14,031 $6,813
1989 $11,176 $5,989
1988 $10,716 $4,889
1987 $9,582 $3,658
1986 $8,112 $2,911
1985 $6,012 $2,543
1984 $5,692 $2,469
1983 $5,915 $2,246
1982 $6,161 $2,032
1981 $5,986 $1,918
1980 $6,372 $1,746
1979 $5,430 $1,814
1978 $4,400 $1,429
1977 $3,427 $1,073
1976 $2,920 $847
1975 $2,973 $627
1974 $2,517 $572
1973 $2,424 $412
1972 $2,080 $328
1971 $1,704 $304
1970 $1,487 $281.8
1969 $1,331 $245.5
1968 $1,159 $200
1967 $1,187 $162.5
1966 $1,107 $134.4
1965 $1,055 $109.4
1964 $995 $124.2
1963 $878 $147
1962 $821 $106.6
1961 $762 $94.2
1960 $707 $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Ireland vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ireland South Korea
2026 82.9 84.6
2025 82.7 84.5
2024 82.6 84.4
2023 82.4 84.3
2022 82.1 82.7
2021 81.9 83.9
2020 82.4 83.7
2019 82.4 83.7
2018 82.1 83.3
2017 82.1 83.3
2016 81.7 82.9
2015 81.5 82.5
2014 81.4 82.4
2013 81.1 81.8
2012 80.9 81.3
2011 80.7 81.2
2010 80.6 80.7
2009 80.1 80.6
2008 79.8 80
2007 79.6 79.4
2006 79.2 79
2005 78.9 78.4
2004 78.5 78
2003 78.1 77.5
2002 77.6 77.2
2001 77.1 76.9
2000 76.5 76.2
1999 76.1 75.6
1998 76.2 75
1997 76 74.5
1996 75.8 74
1995 75.5 73.4
1994 75.8 72.9
1993 75.3 72.7
1992 75.4 72.2
1991 75 71.4
1990 74.8 71
1989 74.5 70.7
1988 74.4 70.2
1987 74.4 69.3
1986 73.6 69
1985 73.6 68.4
1984 73.6 68.1
1983 73.2 66.7
1982 73.2 67.1
1981 72.9 67.1
1980 72.5 64.8
1979 72.2 66.1
1978 71.9 65
1977 71.9 64.6
1976 71.8 65
1975 71.7 64.7
1974 71.1 64.2
1973 71.2 63.8
1972 71 63.2
1971 71.6 62.7
1970 70.8 62.2
1969 70.8 61.4
1968 70.9 60.9
1967 71.2 60.9
1966 70.2 55.4
1965 70.6 55.8
1964 70.4 55.3
1963 70.2 55
1962 69.9 55
1961 69.6 54.4
1960 70.2 53.8
1959 69.4 52.9
1958 69.3 51.8
1957 69 51.6
1956 69 50.2
1955 68 48.4
1954 68 46.1
1953 67.9 40.5
1952 67.2 36.6
1951 64.8 26.6
1950 65.6 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Ireland and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Korea
2024 5,395,790 51,751,065
2023 5,311,538 51,712,619
2022 5,212,836 51,672,569
2021 5,110,585 51,769,539
2020 5,039,747 51,836,239
2019 4,976,456 51,764,822
2018 4,898,022 51,585,058
2017 4,827,445 51,361,911
2016 4,762,722 51,217,803
2015 4,701,957 51,014,947
2014 4,657,740 50,746,659
2013 4,623,816 50,428,893
2012 4,599,533 50,199,853
2011 4,580,084 49,936,638
2010 4,560,155 49,554,112
2009 4,535,375 49,307,835
2008 4,489,544 49,054,708
2007 4,398,942 48,683,638
2006 4,273,591 48,438,292
2005 4,159,914 48,184,561
2004 4,070,262 48,082,519
2003 3,996,521 47,892,330
2002 3,931,947 47,644,736
2001 3,866,243 47,370,164
2000 3,805,174 47,008,111
1999 3,754,786 46,616,677
1998 3,712,696 46,286,503
1997 3,674,171 45,953,580
1996 3,637,510 45,524,681
1995 3,608,841 45,092,991
1994 3,590,386 44,641,540
1993 3,576,261 44,194,628
1992 3,558,430 43,747,962
1991 3,534,235 43,295,704
1990 3,513,974 42,869,283
1989 3,511,009 42,449,038
1988 3,524,949 42,031,247
1987 3,540,057 41,621,690
1986 3,539,690 41,213,674
1985 3,538,082 40,805,744
1984 3,532,423 40,405,956
1983 3,510,600 39,910,403
1982 3,485,800 39,326,352
1981 3,453,000 38,723,248
1980 3,412,800 38,123,775
1979 3,373,750 37,534,236
1978 3,329,100 36,969,185
1977 3,282,200 36,411,795
1976 3,238,050 35,848,523
1975 3,189,550 35,280,725
1974 3,137,500 34,692,266
1973 3,085,950 34,103,149
1972 3,036,850 33,505,406
1971 2,992,050 32,882,704
1970 2,957,250 32,240,827
1969 2,932,650 31,544,266
1968 2,915,550 30,838,302
1967 2,902,450 30,130,983
1966 2,888,800 29,435,571
1965 2,877,300 28,704,674
1964 2,866,550 27,984,155
1963 2,852,650 27,261,747
1962 2,836,050 26,513,030
1961 2,824,400 25,765,673
1960 2,828,600 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Ireland and South Korea

Fertility rate
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland South Korea
2023 1.5 0.72
2022 1.54 0.78
2021 1.78 0.81
2020 1.63 0.84
2019 1.71 0.92
2018 1.75 0.98
2017 1.77 1.05
2016 1.81 1.17
2015 1.85 1.24
2014 1.89 1.21
2013 1.93 1.19
2012 1.98 1.3
2011 2.03 1.24
2010 2.05 1.23
2009 2.06 1.15
2008 2.06 1.19
2007 2.01 1.26
2006 1.91 1.13
2005 1.86 1.09
2004 1.93 1.16
2003 1.96 1.19
2002 1.97 1.18
2001 1.94 1.31
2000 1.89 1.48
1999 1.9 1.43
1998 1.94 1.46
1997 1.93 1.54
1996 1.88 1.57
1995 1.84 1.63
1994 1.85 1.66
1993 1.9 1.65
1992 1.99 1.76
1991 2.08 1.71
1990 2.11 1.57
1989 2.08 1.56
1988 2.17 1.55
1987 2.32 1.53
1986 2.44 1.58
1985 2.48 1.66
1984 2.58 1.74
1983 2.74 2.06
1982 2.94 2.39
1981 3.05 2.57
1980 3.21 2.82
1979 3.21 2.9
1978 3.21 2.64
1977 3.24 2.99
1976 3.29 3
1975 3.37 3.43
1974 3.59 3.77
1973 3.71 4.07
1972 3.84 4.12
1971 3.93 4.54
1970 3.85 4.53
1969 3.83 4.45
1968 3.77 4.51
1967 3.84 4.62
1966 3.94 4.78
1965 4.04 4.89
1964 4.07 5.07
1963 4.01 5.33
1962 3.92 5.56
1961 3.78 5.8
1960 3.78 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Ireland and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Ireland

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Ireland South Korea
2024 39.7 46.1
2023 39.4 45.5
2022 38.9 44.9
2021 38.6 44.4
2020 38.2 43.8
2019 37.8 43.1
2018 37.4 42.5
2017 37.1 41.9
2016 36.8 41.4
2015 36.4 40.8
2014 36 40.2
2013 35.6 39.5
2012 35.2 38.8
2011 34.8 38.2
2010 34.3 37.6
2009 33.9 37
2008 33.5 36.4
2007 33.4 35.8
2006 33.4 35.2
2005 33.4 34.5
2004 33.4 33.9
2003 33.2 33.4
2002 33 32.8
2001 32.7 32.3
2000 32.5 31.7
1999 32.2 31.2
1998 31.9 30.7
1997 31.6 30.2
1996 31.3 29.8
1995 30.9 29.4
1994 30.6 28.9
1993 30.2 28.3
1992 29.9 27.8
1991 29.6 27.2
1990 29.2 26.7
1989 28.8 26.3
1988 28.4 25.8
1987 27.9 25.3
1986 27.6 24.8
1985 27.3 24.2
1984 27.1 23.7
1983 26.9 23.3
1982 26.7 22.8
1981 26.6 22.5
1980 26.5 22.1
1979 26.5 21.6
1978 26.5 21.1
1977 26.5 20.7
1976 26.4 20.2
1975 26.5 19.9
1974 26.5 19.6
1973 26.7 19.3
1972 26.9 19.1
1971 27.1 19
1970 27.4 18.9
1969 27.6 18.8
1968 27.8 18.7
1967 28 18.6
1966 28.2 18.5
1965 28.6 18.6
1964 28.9 18.8
1963 29.2 19
1962 29.5 19.1
1961 29.8 19.2
1960 30.1 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ireland South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.9%
2021
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.24%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.09%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
83.3
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$656M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
10,951,000
2019
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.68%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Ireland South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,468 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$52.6
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
32.6 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.04 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
82.4%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
12.7%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.94%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
85.8%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,145 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
37.2%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.88%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Ireland South Korea
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+35,417
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
64.3%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.9
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.65
2023
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.1
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
98.8%
2018
English speaking
98.4%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
96.5%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Ireland South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,395
2024
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$784
2024
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
31.6 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.8
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
29.3%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3.6%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.3%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Ireland South Korea
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
4,930 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
16,174 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,066 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
62,031 mi
2018
68,794 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) (2000–2025, 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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