Ireland vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 176 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
United Kingdom has 13.1 times as many people as Ireland (69.96 million vs 5.36 million). United Kingdom's economy is 5.9 times the size of Ireland's ($4.1 trillion vs $691.57 billion GDP).
Comparing Ireland and United Kingdom: Ireland leads on Oil Imports (176,000) against United Kingdom (1.45); Ireland leads on Oil Consumption (159,700) against United Kingdom (1.62); Ireland leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (153,700) against United Kingdom (1.58). Across 176 compared metrics, Ireland wins on 76 and United Kingdom wins on 85.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 66 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 25 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 4 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 32.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | 42.16 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 97.19 %ā | 95.47 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 96.5 %ā | 96.3 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 96% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 32.3 Mbps | 42.16 Mbpsā | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 86.92 pointsā | 78.89 points | |
| Radios | 2.55 | 84.5ā | |
| Televisions | 1.82 | 30.5ā | |
| Waterways | 956 | 3,200ā |
Economy
66 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | -257,316ā | 5.08M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 7,905.99 % | 12,600 %ā | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 10.75 Ā°Cā | 10.37 Ā°C | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 35.49ā | 340.94 | |
| Continental Shelf | no precise definition; | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,124.48 mmā | 962.53 mm | |
| Population Distribution | 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 | the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 14.24 sq km | 28.58 sq kmā | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 14.2 % | 28.4 %ā | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 10.8 Cubic meters per yearā | 9.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 52 | 147ā | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 4 species | 4 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 2.15 % | 9.75 %ā | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 111.64 | 115ā | |
| Agricultural land | 41,336 sq. km | 172,448.2 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 68,890 | 241,930ā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 1,448 km | 12,429 kmā | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 162.41 cubic meters per inhabitantā | 75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 0 | 718ā |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 97.46 %ā | 86.77 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 28 | England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 77 index | 71 indexā | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 77 indexā | 71 index | |
| Independence | 6 | no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 8 | 10.98ā | |
| Prison Population Rate | 101 per 100,000ā | 139.33 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 77 | 71ā | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
25 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 8,000 personnel | 150,000 personnelā | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 0.22 %ā | 2.35 % | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 9,000 | 153,000ā |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 4.17ā | 2.25 | |
| Airports | 100 | 1,057ā | |
| Civil Air Travel | 23 | 618ā | |
| Heliports | 10 | 139ā |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š®šŖ Ireland | š¬š§ United Kingdom | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 18.15B USD | 73.51B USDā |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ireland vs United Kingdom
Which has a larger population, Ireland or United Kingdom?ā¾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom has 13.1 times as many people as Ireland (69.96 million vs 5.36 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Ireland or United Kingdom?ā¾
United Kingdom. United Kingdom's economy is 5.9 times the size of Ireland's ($4.1 trillion vs $691.57 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Ireland or United Kingdom?ā¾
Ireland is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $128,998 in Ireland vs $58,622 in United Kingdom (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).