Ireland vs Spain
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 Spain at 76/100. 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
74
88
Political stability
Ireland leads
78
88
Business climate
Ireland leads
74
78
Financial maturity
Ireland leads
72
80
Growth outlook
Ireland leads
72
Macro snapshot
546
GDP (USD bn)
-1036.0 bn
1,582
2.8%
GDP growth (%)
+0.3 pp
2.5%
$106,210
GDP per capita (USD)
+72930.0
$33,280
2.2%
Inflation (%)
-0.6 pp
2.8%
18.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+15.7 pp
2.8%
44%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-63.3 pp
108%
5.2
Population (M)
-42.9M
48.1
Ireland — strong sectors
- Technology15.2% of GDP92
- Pharmaceuticals12.8% of GDP90
- Financial Services8.5% of GDP82
- Agriculture & Food2.5% of GDP72
Spain — strong sectors
- Tourism12.0% of GDP82
- Renewable Energy5.0% of GDP80
- Automotive4.0% of GDP72
- Agriculture3.0% of GDP68
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Ireland or Spain?
Our composite investment index gives Ireland a score of 85/100 and Spain a score of 76/100. 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 Spain?
Risk classification puts Ireland as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate) and Spain as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Ireland or Spain?
Ireland is currently growing at 2.8% per year, vs 2.5% for Spain. Ireland has the faster headline growth rate today.