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Ireland vs United Kingdom
Side-by-side comparison of Ireland and United Kingdom from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
United Kingdom
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,099 years
In short
Ireland scores 80.4 in the NationsTree Index (5th in the world) and United Kingdom scores 74.6 (22nd), a gap of 5.9 points. Their trees are 20 m and 44 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
United Kingdom has 13 times the population of Ireland. United Kingdom is 3.5 times larger than Ireland by land area. United Kingdom has an economy 5.3 times the size of Ireland (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Ireland 5.5 million and United Kingdom 69.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $155,089 in Ireland and $64,606 in United Kingdom (2025, international dollars). People in Ireland live on average 1.6 years longer (83.0 vs 81.4 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Ireland ranks higher in the world on 27 and United Kingdom on 9. Ireland is clearly stronger in economy, main industries and trade. United Kingdom is clearly stronger in military, tourism and science & innovation.
As a nation, United Kingdom is the older of the two (statehood since 927, 1,099 years), compared with Ireland (since 1937). Over the last five years Ireland improved faster (direction score 86 vs 15 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Ireland and United Kingdom.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Ireland overtook United Kingdom in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Ireland overtook United Kingdom in life expectancy in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Ireland overtook United Kingdom in GDP per person (PPP) in 1998 and has stayed ahead since.
United Kingdom has been ahead of Ireland in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
IrelandUnited Kingdom All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Ireland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 70,280121st/216 · 2024 | 243,61079th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 68,890120th/216 · 2024 | 241,93079th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.5 m121st/217 · 2025 | 69.5 m22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.63%65th/217 · 2025 | 0.30%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 78.3126th/216 · 2024 | 286.444th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 64.6%108th/217 · 2025 | 83.3%50th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 18.1%138th/217 · 2025 | 17.0%155th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 16.2%61st/217 · 2025 | 19.7%39th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $721.70 bn23rd/210 · 2025 | $4.00 trn5th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $850.57 bn40th/199 · 2025 | $4.49 trn9th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $720.31 bn40th/199 · 2025 | $3.75 trn10th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $131,5925th/210 · 2025 | $57,60227th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $155,0893rd/199 · 2025 | $64,60632nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $87,3607th/201 · 2025 | $54,55025th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 12.3%4th/210 · 2025 | 1.4%162nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.2%65th/180 · 2025 | 3.9%118th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.6%78th/187 · 2025 | 4.7%80th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 130.7%54th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 34.8%48th/189 · 2025 | 102.1%171st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.9%24th/192 · 2025 | -5.3%154th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.1%169th/197 · 2025 | 0.6%179th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 37.8%20th/200 · 2025 | 16.5%152nd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 33.9%3rd/192 · 2025 | 7.7%128th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 56.7%113th/200 · 2025 | 73.1%21st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.01 trn8th/182 · 2025 | $1.22 trn4th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $720.92 bn16th/182 · 2025 | $1.28 trn4th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 140.1%5th/183 · 2025 | 30.6%111th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 99.9%9th/183 · 2025 | 31.9%126th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 240.0%5th/183 · 2025 | 62.5%124th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.3%131st/170 · 2025 | 7.2%63rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 91.4%3rd/171 · 2025 | 59.7%55th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 7.4%127th/171 · 2025 | 6.7%131st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%149th/171 · 2025 | 5.7%59th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 53.5%8th/168 · 2024 | 29.2%17th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 8.0%24th/191 · 2025 | -3.0%116th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 10.4%18th/196 · 2025 | 0.9%147th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%157th/209 · 2021 | 0.6%127th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%111th/197 · 2021 | 0.42%56th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.05%65th/197 · 2021 | 0.17%55th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%60th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.04%77th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%90th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%153rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 6.3%126th/206 · 2024 | 25.3%39th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 9,40049th/183 · 2022 | 2,144103rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 11.0 m23rd/194 · 2019 | 11.1 m22nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $4.16 bn35th/175 · 2020 | $31.66 bn1998 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.7%158th/168 · 2020 | 8.2%1998 |
| Outbound trips departures | 2.3 m46th/107 · 2020 | 23.8 m8th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.023rd/217 · 2024 | 81.442nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.930th/196 · 2024 | 4.736th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.8835th/174 · 2023 | 3.3053rd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.059th/145 · 2023 | 2.475th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 92%86th/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 92.5%40th/153 · 2023 | 99.8%3rd/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 130.6%9th/173 · 2022 | 112.1%23rd/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 24.7%61st/217 · 2025 | 31.1%38th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 6.9%89th/193 · 2024 | 11.1%16th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 77.6%33rd/150 · 2022 | 80.4%26th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.94911th/193 · 2023 | 0.94613th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.018th/108 · 2023 | 32.437th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.1%10th/108 · 2023 | 0.4%27th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 96.1%49th/150 · 2024 | 99.8%17th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 81.3%48th/144 · 2024 | 97.8%13th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 97.2%16th/186 · 2024 | 95.5%26th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 113112th/210 · 2024 | 12284th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 32.351st/208 · 2024 | 42.222nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.5038th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 1,65058th/82 · 2021 | 16,17913th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 192.5 m3rd/161 · 2023 | 118.9 m7th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.04163rd/203 · 2024 | 4.22139th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.7%129th/212 · 2021 | 12.2%131st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 7.529th/200 · 2023 | 9.543rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.0%158th/214 · 2024 | 13.5%149th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,47046th/149 · 2024 | 2,09555th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 85.715th/205 · 2025 | 77.628th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 78.519th/207 · 2025 | 78.918th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 84.216th/207 · 2025 | 79.526th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 78.762nd/207 · 2025 | 70.792nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 83.38th/205 · 2025 | 80.614th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 87.16th/205 · 2025 | 81.319th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.719th/145 · 2023 | 1.147th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.55 bn72nd/156 · 2025 | $88.98 bn6th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.2%151st/156 · 2025 | 2.4%45th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 0.9%150th/154 · 2025 | 5.4%73rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 | 153,00041st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.37%136th/168 · 2020 | 0.45%121st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 14.0 m99th/163 · 2025 | 609.0 m16th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 24.0 m42nd/65 · 2025 | 702.0 m9th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.59%26th/110 · 2023 | 2.68%13th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6876th/137 · 2024 | 11,1059th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 8,72046th/197 · 2023 | 97,5365th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.5 m (2025) compared with 5.5 m for Ireland (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom is larger: 243,610 km² (2024) compared with 70,280 km² for Ireland (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $4.49 trn intl. (2025) compared with $850.57 bn intl. for Ireland (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Ireland or United Kingdom?
Ireland has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $155,089 intl. (2025) compared with $64,606 intl. for United Kingdom (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Ireland or United Kingdom?
Ireland has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.0 years (2024) compared with 81.4 years for United Kingdom (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom spends more on the military: $88.98 bn (2025) compared with $1.55 bn for Ireland (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Ireland or United Kingdom?
Ireland: 80.4 points (5th in the world); United Kingdom: 74.6 points (22nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Belgium
Kazakhstan
Romania
Sweden
Switzerland
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
MexicoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Ireland vs United Kingdom — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/ireland-vs-united-kingdom. Data as of 26 October 2026.