Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 47 times the population of Ireland: 255.22 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is about 75% larger than Pakistan's, at $721.70B versus $407.31B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $373.07B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.7% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 12.6% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 180 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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 3.7%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 15.2 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 67.8).
Ireland is considerably more urbanized: 65% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Ireland (97% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 13 times the size of Ireland: 881,912 km² versus 70,273 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 78.
Military
Pakistan spends 7.6 times as much on defence as Ireland: $10.17B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Ireland?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Pakistan is 13 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Ireland?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Ireland?
- Pakistan spends more: $10.17B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).