Updated
Overview
The United States has 62 times the population of Ireland: 341.78 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 43 times the size of Ireland's, at $30.77T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $90,027 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $721.70B | 2025 | $29.18T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $90,027 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 2.2% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $5,697 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,257 | Higher: $2,579 | 2026 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 95% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 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 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 2.2% in Ireland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Ireland: a price level of 85 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $5,697 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 38.5 (the United States) and 39.0 (Ireland).
Life expectancy is 4.1 years longer in Ireland (83.0 vs 78.9).
The United States is considerably more urbanized: 80% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 140 times the size of Ireland: 9,833,517 km² versus 70,273 km².
Ireland is far more densely settled: 78 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 750 times as much on defence as Ireland: $997.31B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 0.2%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Ireland?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so the United States is 140 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Ireland?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $90,027. Total GDP tells a different story: $30.77T for the United States versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Ireland?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).