Updated
Overview
Denmark and Ireland are nearly matched in population: 6.01 million versus 5.48 million people (2025).
Ireland's economy is about 55% larger than Denmark's, at $721.70B versus $462.53B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $76,970 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Denmark | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $462.53B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $429.46B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $76,970 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.9% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.9% | 2.2% | 2025 | 1.4% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.5% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 92 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,992 | $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $2,579 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.04 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 6.01 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 6.05 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.3 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.3 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 43,094 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.4/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 28 Mt | 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.7 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $9.96B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.4% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 15,000 | 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 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.9% in Denmark and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $5,697 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 41.3 years.
Denmark is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Denmark is 39% smaller than Ireland: 43,094 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Denmark spends 7.5 times as much on defence as Ireland: $9.96B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Denmark carries the heavier military burden: 2.4% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Denmark fields the larger armed forces: 15,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Denmark bigger than Ireland?
- Ireland is larger by land area. Denmark covers 43,094 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Ireland is 63% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Denmark or Ireland?
- Denmark has the larger population: 6.01 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Denmark richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $76,970. Total GDP tells the same story: $462.53B for Denmark versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Denmark or Ireland?
- Denmark spends more: $9.96B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).