Updated
Overview
The United Kingdom has 13 times the population of Ireland: 69.49 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
The United Kingdom's economy is 5.5 times the size of Ireland's, at $4.00T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $57,602 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.00T | $721.70B | 2025 | $3.64T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $57,602 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.4% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.9% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 3.3% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 89 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,567 | Higher: $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $2,532 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.40 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 69.49 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 68.75 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.54 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 83% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 242,900 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 286.1/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 313 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.5 t | 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $81.76B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 153,000 | 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 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.9% in the United Kingdom and 2.2% in Ireland.
Average monthly earnings favour Ireland: $5,697 against $3,567 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.1 (the United Kingdom) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Life expectancy is 1.6 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 81.4).
The United Kingdom is considerably more urbanized: 83% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, the United Kingdom is 3.5 times the size of Ireland: 242,900 km² versus 70,273 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
The United Kingdom is far more densely settled: 286 people per km² against 78.
Military
The United Kingdom spends 61 times as much on defence as Ireland: $81.76B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United Kingdom carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.2%.
The United Kingdom fields the larger armed forces: 153,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United Kingdom bigger than Ireland?
- The United Kingdom is larger by land area. The United Kingdom covers 242,900 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so the United Kingdom is 3.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United Kingdom or Ireland?
- The United Kingdom has the larger population: 69.49 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United Kingdom richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $57,602. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.00T for the United Kingdom versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, the United Kingdom or Ireland?
- The United Kingdom spends more: $81.76B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).