Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 3.8 times the population of Ireland: 20.84 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is 2.4 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $721.70B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $288.41B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 6.5% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 8.8% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $5,697 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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 6.5%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 8.5 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 74.5).
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 39 times the size of Ireland: 2,724,900 km² versus 70,273 km².
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 8.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $1.21B (Kazakhstan) and $1.33B (Ireland).
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Ireland?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Kazakhstan is 39 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Ireland?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Ireland?
- Ireland spends more: $1.33B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).