Taking a straight comparison of GDP per head at current exchange rates Ireland's per capita GDP is second only to Luxemburg in the EU and is exactly double that of the UK.
In terms of wealth, the UK still has higher gross financial wealth than Ireland. Also, if we look at levels of consumption adjusted for purchasing power parity, the UK is slightly higher.
A calculation is then generally made to adjust for different price levels in various countries. These GDP per capita figures – published by Eurostat – show Ireland in second place to Luxembourg in the EU and at about third place in the world, with Singapore also ahead.
The cost of living in Ireland can be slightly higher than that of the UK, largely due to more expensive taxes, rents, and goods. Living in Ireland is much more costly than living in the UK. Ireland is 16% pricier than the United Kingdom.
In terms of GDP per capita, Ireland is ranked as one of the wealthiest countries in the OECD and the EU-27, at 4th in the OECD-28 rankings. In terms of GNP per capita, a better measure of national income, Ireland ranks below the OECD average, despite significant growth in recent years, at 10th in the OECD-28 rankings.
Why the UK's Downfall is Making Ireland Insanely Rich
Why is Ireland so rich?
There are many cited root causes of the Celtic Tiger: low corporate taxes, low wages, U.S. economic boom, foreign investment, stable national economy, adequate budget policies, EU membership, and EU subsidies.
Luxembourg is the wealthiest country in the European Union, per capita, and its citizens enjoy a high. It is a major center for large private banking, and its finance sector is the biggest contributor to its economy.
UK nationals do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland. Within the Common Travel Area ( CTA ), British and Irish citizens can live and work freely in each other's countries and travel freely between them. Both the UK and Irish governments are committed to protecting the CTA .
“Income tax rates are broadly similar at 20% / 41% in Republic of Ireland and 20% / 40% in the UK. One significant difference is the treatment of dividend income.” Income tax is due in the state where the person is resident.
The average annual earnings for employees in Ireland is €44,202 per year or €3,683 per month (gross salary). The average weekly earnings is €850.05, according to the latest Earnings and Labour Costs figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Germany vs Ireland: Economic Indicators Comparison
Germany with a GDP of $3.9T ranked the 4th largest economy in the world, while Ireland ranked 33rd with $382.5B. By GDP 5-years average growth and GDP per capita, Germany and Ireland ranked 136th vs 1st and 19th vs 7th, respectively.
The United States is the world's richest country by a wide margin. It's a global hub for finance, tech, energy, and entertainment. From Silicon Valley to Wall Street, American firms shape worldwide trends. The country benefits from vast natural resources, advanced infrastructure, and a culture of innovation.
Ireland is a first-world country, but with a third-world memory. Though largely white, Anglophone and westernized, Ireland histori- cally was in the paradoxical position of being a colony within Europe.
Mexico, Australia and New Zealand ranked higher than Ireland, but the Irish were recorded as significantly happier than those in the UK and US, which ranked 23 and 24 respectively on the happiness scale. Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Lebanon were ranked the least happy countries in the world for 2024.
Singapore, Luxembourg, and Ireland stand out as the richest countries for 2025, with GDP/Capita in PPP of $156,755, $152,915, and $134,000, respectively.
That's entirely a personal answer. But economically, if you are below the 90th percentile in income, Ireland is the better choice; the UK is actually below the OECD average up to that level, while Ireland is above it.
The country that has the highest taxes is the Ivory Coast (60%), according to statistics platform Data Panda's 2025 survey. Other countries with high taxes are Finland (56%), Japan (55%), Austria (55%), Denmark (55%), Sweden (52%), Aruba (52%), Belgium (50%), Israel (50%), and Slovenia (50%).
DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland has leapfrogged the Bahamas to become the world's ninth most significant tax haven, according to a ranking by pressure group the Tax Justice Network, which campaigns for tax transparency.
There are some common factors across all categories that feed into higher price levels in Ireland. As an island with a relatively dispersed population, transport costs for goods are higher, and given our small population, markets here are less competitive, which leads to higher prices.
HSE Ireland, the Health Service Executive, is a public healthcare provider. Also known in Gaelic as Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte, it is Ireland's version of the NHS. Whereas the NHS is funded by National Insurance payments and some niche or uncommon services are paid for, the HSE is a little more complex.
Anyone can buy property in Ireland, including Irish citizens, EU/EEA citizens and non-EU citizens³. You can even be a non-EEA national, and you don't have to live in Ireland to be able to buy a home. However, it's important to note that property ownership doesn't automatically give you the right to live in Ireland.
Important point of clarity for the question. If you are asking about total GDP then population is a major factor. While Germany may have the 3rd largest economy in the world and Britain the 6th, Germany has 12 million more people than the UK.
