Updated
Overview
Portugal has 2.0 times the population of Ireland: 10.80 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Ireland's economy is 2.1 times the size of Portugal's, at $721.70B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Portugal | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $346.64B | Higher: $721.70B | 2025 | $308.68B / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $32,082 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.9% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.3% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 2.4% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.2% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 60 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,426 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,147 | Higher: $2,579 | 2025 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.80 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 10.19 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 46.9 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.4 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 61% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 88% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 92,090 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 117.3/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 36 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.4 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.64B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.5% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 52,000 | 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 1.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.3% in Portugal and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the younger society: median age 39.0 versus 46.9 years.
Geography
By land area, Portugal is 31% larger than Ireland: 92,090 km² versus 70,273 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Portugal spends 3.5 times as much on defence as Ireland: $4.64B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Portugal carries the heavier military burden: 1.5% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Portugal fields the larger armed forces: 52,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Portugal bigger than Ireland?
- Portugal is larger by land area. Portugal covers 92,090 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Portugal is 31% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Portugal or Ireland?
- Portugal has the larger population: 10.80 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Portugal richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $346.64B for Portugal versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Portugal or Ireland?
- Portugal spends more: $4.64B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).