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Ireland vs United Kingdom statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population of 5.4M (ranked 120/197), compared with 69.2M in The United Kingdom (ranked 21/197). Ireland's land area is 26,599 sq mi versus 93,410 sq mi for The United Kingdom (ranked 119th vs. 78th).

By GDP, Ireland ranks 25/197 ($609B) and The United Kingdom ranks 6/197 ($3.69T). By GDP per capita, Ireland ranks 4/197 ($112,895), while The United Kingdom ranks 22/197 ($53,246).

Main facts and rankings

Ireland United Kingdom
Population
5518360
70154914
Population rank 121/197 22/197
GDP
$609B
2024
$3.69T
2024
GDP rank 25/197 6/197
GDP per capita
$112,895
2024
$53,246
2024
GDP per capita rank 4/197 22/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$133,437
2024
$62,009
2024
Government debt
$236B
2024
$3.73T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
38.8%
2024
101.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$43,766
2024
$53,900
2024
Government debt per person rank 11/185 7/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$47,851
2026
$39,230
2026
Land area 26,599 sq mi 93,410 sq mi
Population density
207 ppl/mi²
2026
750 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.5
2023
1.56
2023
Median age
39.7 years
2024
41 years
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
81.7 years
2026

Ireland and United Kingdom: Comparison Charts

Ireland and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP
Ireland United Kingdom
2024 $609,157,459,747 $3,686,033,044,482
2023 $567,372,737,459 $3,420,796,653,789
2022 $548,341,794,599 $3,181,244,350,465
2021 $530,394,123,830 $3,194,559,188,926
2020 $436,009,027,819 $2,724,001,478,305
2019 $407,211,793,801 $2,875,710,080,015
2018 $395,780,319,817 $2,897,028,009,916
2017 $348,355,212,569 $2,699,118,387,873
2016 $305,431,252,709 $2,706,807,606,539
2015 $302,101,388,556 $2,945,579,890,258
2014 $266,490,442,124 $3,085,362,169,410
2013 $242,924,245,719 $2,796,908,333,283
2012 $226,921,827,888 $2,719,715,961,540
2011 $240,975,871,047 $2,675,590,034,129
2010 $221,732,824,603 $2,496,740,681,057
2009 $236,443,115,854 $2,429,358,155,476
2008 $275,447,471,451 $2,945,251,838,235
2007 $270,079,279,420 $3,104,699,879,952
2006 $232,180,617,162 $2,719,558,417,663
2005 $211,876,989,656 $2,551,361,818,182
2004 $194,372,115,041 $2,429,774,807,763
2003 $164,670,771,260 $2,061,227,755,102
2002 $128,596,035,288 $1,790,536,570,743
2001 $109,346,669,230 $1,656,171,009,069
2000 $100,207,610,430 $1,671,597,821,153
1999 $98,893,958,263 $1,693,458,987,219
1998 $90,199,410,116 $1,660,821,464,061
1997 $82,856,648,758 $1,569,317,288,802
1996 $75,790,786,290 $1,425,287,051,482
1995 $69,139,823,232 $1,349,094,208,616
1994 $57,097,656,066 $1,140,489,745,944
1993 $52,417,477,614 $1,061,388,722,256
1992 $55,918,538,121 $1,179,659,529,660
1991 $49,787,501,584 $1,142,797,178,131
1990 $49,305,632,408 $1,093,169,389,205
1989 $39,238,392,678 $926,884,816,754
1988 $37,772,896,221 $910,122,732,124
1987 $33,920,518,493 $745,162,608,269
1986 $28,714,571,852 $601,452,653,181
1985 $21,270,013,326 $489,285,164,271
1984 $20,106,648,455 $461,487,097,632
1983 $20,766,047,764 $489,618,008,186
1982 $21,474,752,962 $515,048,916,841
1981 $20,670,190,138 $540,765,675,241
1980 $21,747,855,640 $564,947,710,899
1979 $18,319,334,300 $438,994,070,309
1978 $14,647,996,074 $335,883,029,722
1977 $11,248,340,431 $263,066,457,352
1976 $9,453,756,015 $232,614,555,256
1975 $9,483,808,362 $241,756,637,168
1974 $7,896,860,615 $206,131,369,799
1973 $7,481,173,066 $192,537,971,583
1972 $6,318,060,582 $169,965,034,965
1971 $5,098,250,287 $148,113,896,325
1970 $4,395,995,086 $130,671,946,244
1969 $3,902,721,632 $116,464,702,803
1968 $3,378,701,147 $107,759,910,068
1967 $3,445,739,915 $113,116,888,211
1966 $3,198,820,904 $108,572,752,102
1965 $3,035,655,794 $101,824,755,079
1964 $2,851,091,646 $94,407,558,351
1963 $2,505,073,358 $86,561,961,812
1962 $2,329,372,972 $81,247,564,157
1961 $2,151,772,980 $77,741,965,703
1960 $1,998,550,222 $73,233,967,692

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Ireland and United Kingdom economies compared

GDP per capita
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year GDP per capita
Ireland United Kingdom
2024 $112,895 $53,246
2023 $106,819 $49,944
2022 $105,191 $47,057
2021 $103,783 $47,691
2020 $86,514 $40,813
2019 $81,828 $43,159
2018 $80,804 $43,703
2017 $72,161 $40,917
2016 $64,130 $41,258
2015 $64,250 $45,255
2014 $57,215 $47,746
2013 $52,538 $43,607
2012 $49,336 $42,688
2011 $52,614 $42,296
2010 $48,624 $39,778
2009 $52,133 $39,009
2008 $61,353 $47,652
2007 $61,396 $50,629
2006 $54,329 $44,695
2005 $50,933 $42,240
2004 $47,754 $40,504
2003 $41,204 $34,557
2002 $32,705 $30,159
2001 $28,282 $28,014
2000 $26,335 $28,384
1999 $26,338 $28,858
1998 $24,295 $28,396
1997 $22,551 $26,910
1996 $20,836 $24,503
1995 $19,158 $23,253
1994 $15,903 $19,709
1993 $14,657 $18,389
1992 $15,714 $20,487
1991 $14,087 $19,901
1990 $14,031 $19,095
1989 $11,176 $16,239
1988 $10,716 $15,987
1987 $9,582 $13,119
1986 $8,112 $10,611
1985 $6,012 $8,652
1984 $5,692 $8,179
1983 $5,915 $8,692
1982 $6,161 $9,146
1981 $5,986 $9,599
1980 $6,372 $10,032
1979 $5,430 $7,805
1978 $4,400 $5,977
1977 $3,427 $4,681
1976 $2,920 $4,138
1975 $2,973 $4,300
1974 $2,517 $3,666
1973 $2,424 $3,426
1972 $2,080 $3,030
1971 $1,704 $2,650
1970 $1,487 $2,348
1969 $1,331 $2,101
1968 $1,159 $1,952
1967 $1,187 $2,059
1966 $1,107 $1,987
1965 $1,055 $1,874
1964 $995 $1,748
1963 $878 $1,613
1962 $821 $1,526
1961 $762 $1,472
1960 $707 $1,398

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Ireland vs. United Kingdom life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Ireland United Kingdom
2026 82.9 81.7
2025 82.7 81.6
2024 82.6 81.4
2023 82.4 81.3
2022 82.1 81.1
2021 81.9 80.7
2020 82.4 80.4
2019 82.4 81.4
2018 82.1 81.1
2017 82.1 81.2
2016 81.7 81.1
2015 81.5 80.9
2014 81.4 81.2
2013 81.1 80.9
2012 80.9 80.9
2011 80.7 80.8
2010 80.6 80.4
2009 80.1 80.2
2008 79.8 79.7
2007 79.6 79.5
2006 79.2 79.3
2005 78.9 79.1
2004 78.5 78.9
2003 78.1 78.3
2002 77.6 78.2
2001 77.1 78.1
2000 76.5 77.8
1999 76.1 77.4
1998 76.2 77.3
1997 76 77.1
1996 75.8 76.9
1995 75.5 76.6
1994 75.8 76.7
1993 75.3 76.2
1992 75.4 76.3
1991 75 75.9
1990 74.8 75.7
1989 74.5 75.4
1988 74.4 75.3
1987 74.4 75.1
1986 73.6 74.8
1985 73.6 74.5
1984 73.6 74.7
1983 73.2 74.3
1982 73.2 74
1981 72.9 73.9
1980 72.5 73.6
1979 72.2 73.2
1978 71.9 73
1977 71.9 73.1
1976 71.8 72.6
1975 71.7 72.7
1974 71.1 72.4
1973 71.2 72.2
1972 71 72
1971 71.6 72.2
1970 70.8 71.9
1969 70.8 71.7
1968 70.9 71.7
1967 71.2 72.1
1966 70.2 71.4
1965 70.6 71.5
1964 70.4 71.5
1963 70.2 70.8
1962 69.9 70.9
1961 69.6 70.8
1960 70.2 71
1959 69.4 70.8
1958 69.3 70.7
1957 69 70.5
1956 69 70.4
1955 68 70.1
1954 68 70.2
1953 67.9 69.8
1952 67.2 69.5
1951 64.8 68.2
1950 65.6 68.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Ireland and United Kingdom population clocks and comparison

Population
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year Population
Ireland United Kingdom
2024 5,395,790 69,226,000
2023 5,311,538 68,492,000
2022 5,212,836 67,604,000
2021 5,110,585 66,984,000
2020 5,039,747 66,744,000
2019 4,976,456 66,631,000
2018 4,898,022 66,289,000
2017 4,827,445 65,966,000
2016 4,762,722 65,607,000
2015 4,701,957 65,088,000
2014 4,657,740 64,620,000
2013 4,623,816 64,139,000
2012 4,599,533 63,711,000
2011 4,580,084 63,258,810
2010 4,560,155 62,766,365
2009 4,535,375 62,276,270
2008 4,489,544 61,806,995
2007 4,398,942 61,322,463
2006 4,273,591 60,846,820
2005 4,159,914 60,401,206
2004 4,070,262 59,987,905
2003 3,996,521 59,647,577
2002 3,931,947 59,370,479
2001 3,866,243 59,119,673
2000 3,805,174 58,892,514
1999 3,754,786 58,682,466
1998 3,712,696 58,487,141
1997 3,674,171 58,316,954
1996 3,637,510 58,166,950
1995 3,608,841 58,019,030
1994 3,590,386 57,865,745
1993 3,576,261 57,718,614
1992 3,558,430 57,580,402
1991 3,534,235 57,424,897
1990 3,513,974 57,247,586
1989 3,511,009 57,076,711
1988 3,524,949 56,928,327
1987 3,540,057 56,802,050
1986 3,539,690 56,681,396
1985 3,538,082 56,550,268
1984 3,532,423 56,422,072
1983 3,510,600 56,332,848
1982 3,485,800 56,313,641
1981 3,453,000 56,333,829
1980 3,412,800 56,314,216
1979 3,373,750 56,246,951
1978 3,329,100 56,196,504
1977 3,282,200 56,193,492
1976 3,238,050 56,211,968
1975 3,189,550 56,225,800
1974 3,137,500 56,229,974
1973 3,085,950 56,194,527
1972 3,036,850 56,086,065
1971 2,992,050 55,896,223
1970 2,957,250 55,663,250
1969 2,932,650 55,441,750
1968 2,915,550 55,211,700
1967 2,902,450 54,943,600
1966 2,888,800 54,648,500
1965 2,877,300 54,348,050
1964 2,866,550 54,000,000
1963 2,852,650 53,650,000
1962 2,836,050 53,250,000
1961 2,824,400 52,800,000
1960 2,828,600 52,400,000

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Fertility rates in Ireland and United Kingdom

Fertility rate
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland United Kingdom
2023 1.5 1.56
2022 1.54 1.56
2021 1.78 1.58
2020 1.63 1.57
2019 1.71 1.63
2018 1.75 1.68
2017 1.77 1.74
2016 1.81 1.79
2015 1.85 1.8
2014 1.89 1.81
2013 1.93 1.83
2012 1.98 1.92
2011 2.03 1.91
2010 2.05 1.92
2009 2.06 1.89
2008 2.06 1.91
2007 2.01 1.86
2006 1.91 1.82
2005 1.86 1.76
2004 1.93 1.75
2003 1.96 1.7
2002 1.97 1.63
2001 1.94 1.63
2000 1.89 1.64
1999 1.9 1.68
1998 1.94 1.71
1997 1.93 1.72
1996 1.88 1.73
1995 1.84 1.71
1994 1.85 1.74
1993 1.9 1.76
1992 1.99 1.79
1991 2.08 1.82
1990 2.11 1.83
1989 2.08 1.79
1988 2.17 1.82
1987 2.32 1.81
1986 2.44 1.78
1985 2.48 1.79
1984 2.58 1.77
1983 2.74 1.77
1982 2.94 1.78
1981 3.05 1.82
1980 3.21 1.9
1979 3.21 1.86
1978 3.21 1.75
1977 3.24 1.69
1976 3.29 1.74
1975 3.37 1.81
1974 3.59 1.92
1973 3.71 2.04
1972 3.84 2.2
1971 3.93 2.41
1970 3.85 2.44
1969 3.83 2.51
1968 3.77 2.6
1967 3.84 2.68
1966 3.94 2.78
1965 4.04 2.86
1964 4.07 2.93
1963 4.01 2.88
1962 3.92 2.86
1961 3.78 2.78
1960 3.78 2.69

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Ireland and United Kingdom demographics compared

Median age
Ireland

United Kingdom
1x
Year Median age, years
Ireland United Kingdom
2024 39.7 41
2023 39.4 40.8
2022 38.9 40.5
2021 38.6 40.3
2020 38.2 40.2
2019 37.8 40.1
2018 37.4 40
2017 37.1 39.9
2016 36.8 39.8
2015 36.4 39.8
2014 36 39.7
2013 35.6 39.6
2012 35.2 39.5
2011 34.8 39.3
2010 34.3 39.2
2009 33.9 39
2008 33.5 38.9
2007 33.4 38.8
2006 33.4 38.6
2005 33.4 38.5
2004 33.4 38.4
2003 33.2 38.2
2002 33 38.1
2001 32.7 37.9
2000 32.5 37.7
1999 32.2 37.4
1998 31.9 37.2
1997 31.6 37
1996 31.3 36.8
1995 30.9 36.6
1994 30.6 36.5
1993 30.2 36.3
1992 29.9 36.2
1991 29.6 36.1
1990 29.2 36
1989 28.8 35.9
1988 28.4 35.7
1987 27.9 35.4
1986 27.6 35.4
1985 27.3 35.3
1984 27.1 35.2
1983 26.9 35
1982 26.7 34.8
1981 26.6 34.5
1980 26.5 34.4
1979 26.5 34.3
1978 26.5 34.2
1977 26.5 34.1
1976 26.4 34
1975 26.5 34
1974 26.5 34
1973 26.7 34
1972 26.9 34
1971 27.1 34.1
1970 27.4 34.2
1969 27.6 34.4
1968 27.8 34.6
1967 28 34.8
1966 28.2 34.9
1965 28.6 35.1
1964 28.9 35.2
1963 29.2 35.3
1962 29.5 35.3
1961 29.8 35.4
1960 30.1 35.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Ireland United Kingdom
GNI, Atlas method
$435B
2024
$3.42T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
22.3%
2024
44%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
2.9%
2021
4.96%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.24%
2024
2.28%
2024
Armed forces personnel
9,000
2020
153,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+4.09%
2024
-5.75%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.27%
2024
4.36%
2024
Services, % of GDP
60.6%
2024
72.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
33.6%
2024
17.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
83.3
2026
70.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.1%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
3%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
2,624,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
4.93%
2025
Number of billionaires
11
2025
55
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.0001%
2025
Listed domestic companies
43
2018
1,606
2022
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$110B
2018
$3.1T
2022
Total reserves including gold
$12.7B
2024
$175B
2024
Personal remittances received
$656M
2024
$4.83B
2024
International tourist arrivals
10,951,000
2019
11,101,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
0.68%
2020
8.24%
1998
Banked people share
98.3%
2024
99.3%
2024

Energy

Ireland United Kingdom
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,468 kg
2023
2,128 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$52.6
2023
$28.2
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
32.6 megatons
2024
292.4 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
6.04 tons
2024
4.22 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
82.4%
2023
75.5%
2023
Renewable energy use share
12.7%
2021
12.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
8.94%
2023
13.4%
2023
Net energy imports use share
85.8%
2023
44%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,145 kWh
2023
4,208 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
37.2%
2021
40.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
3.88%
2023
2.51%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.8%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Ireland United Kingdom
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.85%
2024
Annual migration change
+35,417
2025
+389,911
2025
Urban population
64.3%
2024
83.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
49.5:50.5
2024
49.2:50.8
2024
Average male height
5.87 ft
2025
5.85 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.38 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.9
2026
91
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
76
2025
70
2025
Higher education index
88
2026
100
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.65
2023
1.15
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.1
2019
3.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
167
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2003
English speaking
98.4%
2023
98.3%
2023
People using the Internet
96.5%
2023
96.3%
2023

Health

Ireland United Kingdom
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,395
2024
$5,860
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$784
2024
$853
2024
Life expectancy
82.9 years
2026
81.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.009%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.88
2023
3.3
2023
Age at first childbirth
31.6 years
2023
29 years
2018
Maternal mortality per 100K births
4
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
3.8
2023
4.5
2023
Obesity rate
29.3%
2022
27.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
3.6%
2024
7.4%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
83
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.3%
2022
14.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
10.7 liters
2020

Territory

Ireland United Kingdom
% of world land
0.05%
2026
0.16%
2026
Land area per capita
4,930 sq mi
2024
1,349 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
16,174 sq mi
2026
65,674 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,066 sq mi
2026
12,415 sq mi
2026
Roads length
62,031 mi
2018
263,542 mi
2020

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. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2018–2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  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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