Iceland vs Ireland: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 108 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Iceland and Ireland: Iceland leads on Major Urban Areas Population (216,000 people) against Ireland (1.27 people); Iceland leads on Radios (260,000) against Ireland (2.55); Iceland leads on Labor Force Participation Rate (248,400) against Ireland (2.86). Across 108 compared metrics, Iceland wins on 42 and Ireland wins on 53.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 44 metrics compared
- Environment: 6 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 27 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 99.83 %★ | 96.5 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 100% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 81.36 points | 86.92 points★ | |
| Radios | 260,000★ | 2.55 | |
| Televisions | 98,000★ | 1.82 | |
| Waterways | none | 700 |
Economy
44 metricsEnvironment
6 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | 294,776 | -257,316★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 3.1★ | 35.49 | |
| Continental Shelf | edge of continental margin or 200 nm; | no precise definition; | |
| Population Distribution | Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west | population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 24 Cubic meters per year★ | 10.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 170★ | 52 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.16 % | 2.15 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 23.66 | 111.64★ | |
| Agricultural land | 18,720 sq. km | 41,336 sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 4,970 km★ | 1,448 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 5,604.12 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 162.41 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 0.5★ | 0 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 96.93 % | 97.46 %★ | |
| Administrative Divisions | 64★ | 28 | |
| Independence | 1 | 6★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 7.94★ | 10.3 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 6.9★ | 3.6 | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.6 % of GDP★ | 6.1 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | 0.1 %★ | 0.3 % | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 2.8 people/sq km | 2.9 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 3 %★ | 4 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 28.7 | 30.9★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 21.9 %★ | 25.3 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | note: estimate does not include children | 7,800 | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | NA |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 0 | 9,000★ |
People and Society
27 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 14.35★ | 4.17 | |
| Airports | 82 | 100★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 20 | 23★ | |
| Heliports | 1 | 10★ |