Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 21 times the population of Ireland: 116.79 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is about 50% larger than the Philippines', at $721.70B versus $487.09B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $461.62B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 2.2% | 2025 | 3.2% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $5,697 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 13.1 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 69.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Ireland (97% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is 4.9 times the size of Ireland: 342,353 km² versus 70,273 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 78.
Military
The Philippines spends 4.6 times as much on defence as Ireland: $6.12B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the Philippines carries the heavier military burden: 1.3% of GDP versus 0.2%.
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Ireland?
- The Philippines is larger by land area. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so the Philippines is 4.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Ireland?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Ireland?
- The Philippines spends more: $6.12B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).