Updated
Overview
The Netherlands has 3.3 times the population of Ireland: 18.09 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
The Netherlands' economy is about 85% larger than Ireland's, at $1.33T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $73,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Netherlands | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.33T | $721.70B | 2025 | $1.23T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $73,684 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.8% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.3% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.9% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 84 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,402 | $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,538 | Higher: $2,579 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 18.09 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 17.83 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.5 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.44 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.0 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 96% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 97% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 41,850 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 432.2/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 115 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.3 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $23.18B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 41,000 | 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 1.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.3% in the Netherlands and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour the Netherlands: $6,402 against $5,697 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 41.5 years.
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 82.0).
The Netherlands is considerably more urbanized: 96% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, the Netherlands is 40% smaller than Ireland: 41,850 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
The Netherlands is far more densely settled: 432 people per km² against 78.
Military
The Netherlands spends 17 times as much on defence as Ireland: $23.18B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Netherlands carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.2%.
The Netherlands fields the larger armed forces: 41,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Netherlands bigger than Ireland?
- Ireland is larger by land area. The Netherlands covers 41,850 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Ireland is 68% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, the Netherlands or Ireland?
- The Netherlands has the larger population: 18.09 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Netherlands richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $73,684. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.33T for the Netherlands versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, the Netherlands or Ireland?
- The Netherlands spends more: $23.18B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).