United Kingdom vs Ireland: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Ireland | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 69.5m2025 | 5.5m2025 | 22 · 121 |
| Area | 243,610 km²2024 | 70,280 km²2024 | 79 · 121 |
| Density | 286.42024 | 78.32024 | 44 · 126 |
| Urban share | 83.3%2025 | 64.6%2025 | 50 · 108 |
| Fertility | 1.552024 | 1.472024 | 142 · 159 |
| Aged 65+ | 19.7%2025 | 16.2%2025 | 39 · 61 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $4.0tn2025 | $722bn2025 | 5 · 23 |
| GDP per capita | $57,6022025 | $131,5922025 | 27 · 5 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $64,6062025 | $155,0892025 | 32 · 3 |
| GDP growth | 1.4%2025 | 12.3%2025 | 162 · 4 |
| Agriculture share | 0.6%2025 | 1.1%2025 | 180 · 170 |
| Industry share | 16.5%2025 | 37.8%2025 | 152 · 20 |
| Services share | 73.1%2025 | 56.7%2025 | 22 · 114 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 3.9%2025 | 2.2%2025 | 63 · 116 |
| Tax revenue | 26.9%2024 | 17.9%2024 | 9 · 62 |
| Military spending | 2.35%2025 | 0.22%2025 | 45 · 151 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 30.6%2025 | 140.1%2025 | 112 · 5 |
| FDI inflows | 0.9%2025 | 10.4%2025 | 147 · 18 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.7%2025 | 4.6%2025 | 108 · 110 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 40.5%2025 | 25.3%2025 | 28 · 99 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 80.4%2023 | 77.6%2022 | 28 · 35 |
| Education spending | 5.9%2021 | 2.9%2021 | 30 · 144 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs2024 | 83.0 yrs2024 | 42 · 23 |
| Infant mortality | 4.12024 | 3.42024 | 158 · 164 |
| Health spending | 11.1%2024 | 6.9%2024 | 16 · 89 |
| Physicians | 3.302023 | 3.882023 | 53 · 35 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 95.5%2024 | 97.2%2024 | 26 · 16 |
| Fixed broadband | 42.22024 | 32.32024 | 22 · 51 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 115 · 49 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 4.22 t2024 | 6.04 t2024 | 65 · 41 |
| Renewable energy | 12.2%2021 | 12.7%2021 | 133 · 129 |
| Forest cover | 13.5%2024 | 12.0%2024 | 149 · 158 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
United KingdomIreland
Life expectancy
United KingdomIreland
Population
United KingdomIreland
Internet users
United KingdomIreland
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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