Updated
Overview
Egypt has 22 times the population of Ireland: 118.37 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is 2.0 times the size of Egypt's, at $721.70B versus $365.25B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $389.06B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 28.3% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $5,697 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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 4.4%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 11.2 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 71.8).
Ireland is considerably more urbanized: 65% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Ireland (97% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 14 times the size of Ireland: 1,002,450 km² versus 70,273 km².
Military
Egypt spends about 80% more on defence than Ireland: $2.40B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Ireland?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Egypt is 14 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Ireland?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Ireland?
- Egypt spends more: $2.40B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).