Ireland vs United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom at 79/100. 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
76
88
Political stability
Ireland leads
82
88
Business climate
Ireland leads
84
78
Financial maturity
Ireland leads
75
80
Growth outlook
Ireland leads
68
Macro snapshot
546
GDP (USD bn)
-2794.4 bn
3,340
2.8%
GDP growth (%)
+2.3 pp
0.5%
$106,210
GDP per capita (USD)
+58210.0
$48,000
2.2%
Inflation (%)
-1.8 pp
4.0%
18.5%
FDI (% of GDP)
+16.0 pp
2.5%
44%
Public debt (% of GDP)
-52.8 pp
97%
5.2
Population (M)
-62.8M
68
Ireland — strong sectors
- Technology15.2% of GDP92
- Pharmaceuticals12.8% of GDP90
- Financial Services8.5% of GDP82
- Agriculture & Food2.5% of GDP72
United Kingdom — strong sectors
- Financial Services12.0% of GDP92
- Technology8.0% of GDP82
- Healthcare9.0% of GDP80
- Energy4.0% of GDP75
Frequently asked
Which is better for investment: Ireland or United Kingdom?
Our composite investment index gives Ireland a score of 85/100 and United Kingdom a score of 79/100. 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 United Kingdom?
Risk classification puts Ireland as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate) and United Kingdom as safe (Strong fundamentals, stable governance, favorable investment climate).
Which has higher GDP growth: Ireland or United Kingdom?
Ireland is currently growing at 2.8% per year, vs 0.5% for United Kingdom. Ireland has the faster headline growth rate today.