Updated
Overview
Russia has 26 times the population of Ireland: 143.51 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 3.5 times the size of Ireland's, at $2.56T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $721.70B | 2025 | $2.17T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 6.7% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 85 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $5,697 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 94% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Russia) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Life expectancy is 9.6 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 73.4).
Russia is considerably more urbanized: 75% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 243 times the size of Ireland: 17,098,242 km² versus 70,273 km².
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 112 times as much on defence as Ireland: $148.97B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Ireland?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Russia is 243 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Ireland?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Ireland?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).