GeoRealityMatch
Scenic view of Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey amidst urban architecture and vibrant city life.Gothic architecture of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on a sunny day.

Ireland

Europe · Northern Europe

Very high safetyExpensive cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high for Europe. Living costs are high.

vs Netherlandsvs United Kingdomvs Portugal
Safety

5th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.371lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#5 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
51Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€35,138per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
43.8New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
6.9years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 142% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 102% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$100K$200K$155,089 PPP$131,592Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $54,329 a person, $44,223 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2007, $61,396 a person, $46,782 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2008, $61,353 a person, $44,169 at PPP, inflation 4%2009, $52,133 a person, $41,491 at PPP, inflation -4.4%2010, $48,624 a person, $43,163 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2011, $52,614 a person, $45,458 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2012, $49,336 a person, $46,654 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $52,538 a person, $48,763 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $57,215 a person, $52,582 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2015, $64,250 a person, $71,520 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $64,130 a person, $72,941 at PPP2017, $72,161 a person, $80,409 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2018, $80,804 a person, $86,369 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2019, $81,828 a person, $92,042 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2020, $86,514 a person, $97,677 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2021, $103,783 a person, $116,703 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $105,191 a person, $138,465 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2023, $106,819 a person, $133,440 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2024, $112,895 a person, $140,779 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2025, $131,592 a person, $155,089 at PPP, inflation 2.2%$0$100K$200KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $54,329 a person, $44,223 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2007, $61,396 a person, $46,782 at PPP, inflation 4.9%2008, $61,353 a person, $44,169 at PPP, inflation 4%2009, $52,133 a person, $41,491 at PPP, inflation -4.4%2010, $48,624 a person, $43,163 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2011, $52,614 a person, $45,458 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2012, $49,336 a person, $46,654 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2013, $52,538 a person, $48,763 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $57,215 a person, $52,582 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2015, $64,250 a person, $71,520 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $64,130 a person, $72,941 at PPP2017, $72,161 a person, $80,409 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2018, $80,804 a person, $86,369 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2019, $81,828 a person, $92,042 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2020, $86,514 a person, $97,677 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2021, $103,783 a person, $116,703 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $105,191 a person, $138,465 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2023, $106,819 a person, $133,440 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2024, $112,895 a person, $140,779 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2025, $131,592 a person, $155,089 at PPP, inflation 2.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.0years, at birthVery high
#19 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
6.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Lower youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
11.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceLow
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
208 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
Native EnglishEF English Proficiency Index scoreNativeEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet208 MbpsVery fast
Mobile71 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Gothic architecture of Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin on a sunny day.
How it changed

Ireland's Human Development Index

0.949Very high human development

11th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 9th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #8Netherlands0.955
  2. #10Belgium0.951
  3. #11Ireland0.949
  4. #12Finland0.948
  5. #13Singapore0.946
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.776 in 1990 to 0.949 in 2023.

0.750.881.000.94919902000201020231990: 0.7761991: 0.7801992: 0.7871993: 0.7941994: 0.8051995: 0.8091996: 0.8161997: 0.8231998: 0.8551999: 0.8582000: 0.8692001: 0.8762002: 0.8832003: 0.8912004: 0.8992005: 0.9052006: 0.9082007: 0.9112008: 0.9072009: 0.9072010: 0.9152011: 0.9092012: 0.9112013: 0.9152014: 0.9212015: 0.9312016: 0.9362017: 0.9412018: 0.9442019: 0.9472020: 0.9482021: 0.9462022: 0.9472023: 0.9490.750.881.0019902000201020231990: 0.7761991: 0.7801992: 0.7871993: 0.7941994: 0.8051995: 0.8091996: 0.8161997: 0.8231998: 0.8551999: 0.8582000: 0.8692001: 0.8762002: 0.8832003: 0.8912004: 0.8992005: 0.9052006: 0.9082007: 0.9112008: 0.9072009: 0.9072010: 0.9152011: 0.9092012: 0.9112013: 0.9152014: 0.9212015: 0.9312016: 0.9362017: 0.9412018: 0.9442019: 0.9472020: 0.9482021: 0.9462022: 0.9472023: 0.949

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83 years2024at birthUp 4.1 years from 78.9 years in 2005
Internet users
97%2024of people onlineUp 42 points from 55% in 2006
Urban population
65%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 4 points from 61% in 2006
Births per woman
1.472024births per womanDown 0.39 from 1.86 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
13%2021of energy usedUp 10 points from 2% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 5.3 t from 11.3 t in 2005
Forest area
12%2023of land under forestUp 2 points from 10% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

English-speaking EU hub with a booming tech sector and a severe housing shortage in Dublin. The case for living here is peace, high incomes for Europe and long lives. The case against is a high cost of living.

About Ireland

Ireland is a green Atlantic island with a culture built on storytelling, music, and a deeply social relationship with language that makes it one of the most naturally welcoming places in the English-speaking world. The landscape of cliffs, bogs, stone walls, and castle ruins has an ancient, weather-beaten quality, and the towns and villages have a genuine warmth of pub culture and conversation. Those who connect with Celtic tradition, literature, and the particular Irish way of talking about everything will find it hard to leave.

Practical facts

  • CapitalDublin
  • LanguagesEnglish, Irish
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area68,890 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Ireland's Human Development Index?

Ireland's Human Development Index is 0.949 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #11 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Ireland safe?

Ireland scores 1.37 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #5 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Ireland?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Ireland at 70.6 (New York = 100); that is #131 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Ireland?

Life expectancy at birth in Ireland is 83.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #19 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Ireland?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Ireland at 167.7, ranked #29 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.