Ireland vs United Kingdom
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Ireland and United Kingdom: the larger economy is United Kingdom ($609.2B vs $3.69T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Ireland ($112,895 vs $53,246). Life expectancy is higher in Ireland (83.0 vs 81.4 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Ireland vs United Kingdom: side by side
| Indicator | Ireland | United Kingdom | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $609.2B | $3.69T | United Kingdom |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $112,895 | $53,246 | Ireland |
| Population, total | 5,395,790 | 69,226,000 | United Kingdom |
| Population growth (annual %) | 1.6% | 1.1% | Ireland |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.6% | 1.1% | Ireland |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.1% | 3.3% | Ireland |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 4.6% | 4.7% | Ireland |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 83.0 | 81.4 | Ireland |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 97.2% | 95.5% | Ireland |
| Urban population (% of total) | 64.3% | 83.2% | United Kingdom |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 6.04 | 4.22 | United Kingdom |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): United Kingdom
- GDP per capita (income): Ireland
- Life expectancy: Ireland
- Internet users: Ireland
- Lower inflation: Ireland
- Lower unemployment: Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Is Ireland or United Kingdom richer?
Ireland is richer on GDP per capita — Ireland at $112,895 versus $53,246 for United Kingdom (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is United Kingdom ($609.2B vs $3.69T).
Which has a bigger economy, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has the larger economy: Ireland's GDP is $609.2B and United Kingdom's is $3.69T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Ireland or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom is more populous: Ireland has about 5.4 million people and United Kingdom about 69.2 million.
Where do people live longer, Ireland or United Kingdom?
Life expectancy is higher in Ireland: 83.0 years in Ireland versus 81.4 in United Kingdom (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20