Ireland vs Japan
A data-driven side-by-side: investment score, economy, business climate, political stability, and tax — to help you decide where to invest, incorporate, or relocate.
Overall: Ireland ranks higher
Ireland scores 85/100 on our composite investment index, ahead of Japan at 82/100. This blends economic strength, political stability, business climate, financial maturity, and growth outlook. Read the breakdown below to see where each country actually leads.
Category breakdown
88
Economic strength
Ireland leads
80
88
Political stability
88
88
Business climate
Ireland leads
85
78
Financial maturity
Ireland leads
72
80
Growth outlook
Ireland leads
55
Macro snapshot
546
GDP (USD bn)
-3684.4 bn
4,230
2.8%
GDP growth (%)
+1.8 pp
1.0%
$106,210
GDP per capita (USD)
+72210.0
$34,000
2.2%
Inflation (%)
-0.5 pp
2.7%
18.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+17.7 pp
0.8%
44%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-210.8 pp
255%
5.2
Population (M)
-118.8M
124
Ireland — strong sectors
- Technology15.2% of GDP92
- Pharmaceuticals12.8% of GDP90
- Financial Services8.5% of GDP82
- Agriculture & Food2.5% of GDP72
Japan — strong sectors
- Technology8.0% of GDP88
- Automotive5.0% of GDP85
- Manufacturing20.0% of GDP82
- Financial Services6.0% of GDP78
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Ireland or Japan?
Our composite investment index gives Ireland a score of 85/100 and Japan a score of 82/100. Ireland ranks higher overall, but the right answer depends on your sector and risk tolerance — see the category breakdown above.
Is Ireland a safer market than Japan?
Risk classification puts Ireland as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate) and Japan as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Ireland or Japan?
Ireland is currently growing at 2.8% per year, vs 1.0% for Japan. Ireland has the faster headline growth rate today.