Updated
Overview
Canada has 7.6 times the population of Ireland: 41.65 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Canada's economy is 3.2 times the size of Ireland's, at $2.32T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $55,698 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Canada | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.32T | $721.70B | 2025 | $2.24T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $55,698 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.7% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.1% | 2.2% | 2025 | 2.4% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.9% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 83 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $4,121 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,106 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $5.81 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 41.65 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 39.19 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.6 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.1 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,984,670 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 4.2/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 533 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.4 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $29.35B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 72,000 | 9,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.1% in Canada and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $4,121 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.6 (Canada) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Canada is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Canada is 142 times the size of Ireland: 9,984,670 km² versus 70,273 km².
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 4.
Military
Canada spends 22 times as much on defence as Ireland: $29.35B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Canada carries the heavier military burden: 1.3% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Canada fields the larger armed forces: 72,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Canada bigger than Ireland?
- Canada is larger by land area. Canada covers 9,984,670 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Canada is 142 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Canada or Ireland?
- Canada has the larger population: 41.65 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Canada richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $55,698. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.32T for Canada versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Canada or Ireland?
- Canada spends more: $29.35B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).