Updated
Overview
Turkey (Türkiye) has 16 times the population of Ireland: 85.88 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Turkey (Türkiye)'s economy is 2.2 times the size of Ireland's, at $1.60T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $18,599 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Turkey (Türkiye) | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.60T | $721.70B | 2025 | $1.32T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $18,599 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.6% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 34.9% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 58.5% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 8.5% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 41 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,001 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $659 | Higher: $2,579 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 85.88 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 84.63 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 33.5 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.4 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 90% | Higher: 97% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 783,562 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.6/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 513 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.9 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $24.98B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.9% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 512,000 | 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 3.6%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Turkey (Türkiye) at 34.9%, while the other economy sits at 2.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Turkey (Türkiye): a price level of 41 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $1,001 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Turkey (Türkiye) is the younger society: median age 33.5 versus 39.0 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 77.4).
Turkey (Türkiye) is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, Turkey (Türkiye) is 11 times the size of Ireland: 783,562 km² versus 70,273 km².
Military
Turkey (Türkiye) spends 19 times as much on defence as Ireland: $24.98B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Turkey (Türkiye) carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Turkey (Türkiye) fields the larger armed forces: 512,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) bigger than Ireland?
- Turkey (Türkiye) is larger by land area. Turkey (Türkiye) covers 783,562 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Turkey (Türkiye) is 11 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Turkey (Türkiye) or Ireland?
- Turkey (Türkiye) has the larger population: 85.88 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Turkey (Türkiye) richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $18,599. Total GDP tells a different story: $1.60T for Turkey (Türkiye) versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Turkey (Türkiye) or Ireland?
- Turkey (Türkiye) spends more: $24.98B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
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