Ireland vs Norway

Ireland and Norway compared on 267 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.

Where Ireland and Norway differ most

Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.

Population and ageing

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Population on 1 January
people
5,440,278 people 5,594,340 people −2.8% 2025 Eurostat
Population by age and sex
people
5,440,278 people 5,594,340 people −2.8% 2025 Eurostat
Crude birth rate
live births per 1,000 people
9.9 per 1,000 people 9.9 per 1,000 people same 2025 Eurostat
Crude death rate
deaths per 1,000 people
6.5 per 1,000 people 8.0 per 1,000 people −1.5 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Total fertility rate
live births per woman
1.47 births per woman 1.45 births per woman +1.4% 2024 Eurostat
Population aged 65 and over
% of total population
15.7% 19.0% −3.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Median age of the population
years
39.6 years 40.8 years −2.9% 2025 Eurostat
Old-age dependency ratio
people aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15 to 64
23.8 per 100 working-age people 29.2 per 100 working-age people −18.5% 2025 Eurostat
Natural population change
per 1,000 people
3.4 per 1,000 people 1.8 per 1,000 people +1.6 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Population estimates and projections
people
5,196,630 people 5,519,167 people −5.8% 2023 UN Population Division
Median age estimates and projections
years
38.4 years 39.5 years −2.8% 2023 UN Population Division
Fertility rate estimates and projections
live births per woman
1.60 births per woman 1.40 births per woman +13.7% 2023 UN Population Division
Population growth estimates and projections
% per year
1.19% 1.11% +0.08 percentage points 2023 UN Population Division
Population
people
5,484,367 people 5,610,870 people −2.3% 2025 World Bank
Population growth
annual % change
1.63% 0.69% +0.94 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 65 and over
% of total population
16.2% 19.1% −2.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Population aged 0 to 14
% of total population
18.1% 15.9% +2.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Fertility rate
births per woman
1.47 births per woman 1.45 births per woman +1.4% 2024 World Bank
Crude birth rate
births per 1,000 people
10.0 per 1,000 people 9.7 per 1,000 people +0.3 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Crude death rate
deaths per 1,000 people
6.5 per 1,000 people 7.9 per 1,000 people −1.4 per 1,000 people 2024 World Bank
Urban population share
% of total population
64.6% 83.6% −19.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Adolescent birth rate
births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19
4.0 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 1.3 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 +2.7 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 2024 World Bank
Age dependency ratio
dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64
52.2 per 100 working-age people 53.9 per 100 working-age people −1.6 per 100 working-age people 2025 World Bank
Population density
people per square kilometre of land
78.3 people per km² 15.3 people per km² +412.0% 2024 World Bank
Urban population growth
annual % change
2.00% 0.98% +1.02 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Migration and citizenship

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Immigration
people
127,664 immigrants 66,077 immigrants +93.2% 2024 Eurostat
Emigration
people
58,077 emigrants 31,968 emigrants +81.7% 2024 Eurostat
Acquisitions of citizenship
people
24,059 people 27,460 people −12.4% 2024 Eurostat
First-time asylum applicants
people
12,975 applicants 3,320 applicants +290.8% 2025 Eurostat
Net migration rate
per 1,000 people
9.4 per 1,000 people 4.0 per 1,000 people +5.4 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Net migration estimates and projections
per 1,000 people
8.4 per 1,000 people 9.7 per 1,000 people −1.3 per 1,000 people 2023 UN Population Division
Net migration
people
35,417 people 29,798 people +18.9% 2025 World Bank
International migrant stock
% of population
23.1% 18.2% +4.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Personal remittances received
% of GDP
0.1% 0.2% −0.1 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Employment and occupations

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Unemployment rate, ages 15 to 74
% of the labour force
4.7% 4.5% +0.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Youth unemployment rate, ages 15 to 24
% of the labour force aged 15 to 24
11.8% 14.0% −2.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Long-term unemployment rate
% of the labour force
1.1% 0.7% +0.4 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Employment rate, ages 20 to 64
% of population aged 20 to 64
80.2% 79.5% +0.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Employment rate of women, ages 20 to 64
% of women aged 20 to 64
75.7% 77.0% −1.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Monthly unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted)
% of the labour force
4.7% 5.0% −0.3 percentage points September 2026 Eurostat
Usual weekly working hours
hours per week
35.7 hours per week 34.8 hours per week +0.9 hours per week 2025 Eurostat
Part-time employment
% of total employment
19.5% 23.4% −3.9 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Monthly youth unemployment
% of the labour force under 25
11.4% 16.7% −5.3 percentage points September 2026 Eurostat
Employment of older workers
% of population aged 55 to 64
69.4% 72.6% −3.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
ILO estimate of the unemployment rate
% of the labour force aged 15 and over
4.6% 4.6% 0 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
ILO estimate of youth unemployment
% of the labour force aged 15 to 24
10.5% 13.4% −2.9 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Labour force participation
% of working-age population aged 15 and over
64.8% 65.6% −0.8 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Women's labour force participation
% of women aged 15 and over
59.8% 62.1% −2.3 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Employment-to-population ratio
% of population aged 15 and over
61.8% 62.6% −0.7 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
OECD monthly unemployment rate
% of the labour force aged 15 and over, seasonally adjusted
5.0% 5.0% same September 2026 OECD
Employment in agriculture
% of total employment
3.9% 2.5% +1.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in industry
% of total employment
18.2% 17.8% +0.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Employment in services
% of total employment
77.9% 79.7% −1.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Wages and labour costs

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Median equivalised net income
euro per year
€35,138 per year €41,923 per year −16.2% 2025 Eurostat
Unadjusted gender pay gap
% of men's average gross hourly earnings
8.3%p (provisional) 13.0%dp (definition differs (see metadata), provisional) −4.7 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Hourly labour cost
euro per hour worked
€44.2 per hour €56.2 per hour −21.4% 2025 Eurostat
Net annual earnings
euro per year
€43,897 per year €45,795 per year −4.1% 2023 Eurostat

Economy and productivity

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
GDP per capita in euro
euro per person, current prices
€110,150 per person €83,860 per person +31.3% 2025 Eurostat
GDP per capita in PPS
index, EU27 (from 2020) = 100
211 (EU = 100) 163 (EU = 100) +48 points 2024 Eurostat
Real GDP growth
% change on previous year, chain-linked volumes
8.0% 1.1% +6.9 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
GDP in euro
million euro, current prices
€602,441 million €470,359 million +28.1% 2025 Eurostat
Quarterly GDP growth (seasonally adjusted)
% change on previous quarter
10.2% 0.7% +9.5 percentage points Q2 2026 Eurostat
Labour productivity growth
% change on previous year
6.2% 0.6% +5.6 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
GDP growth, year on year
% change on the same quarter a year earlier
-0.4% 1.6% −2.0 percentage points Q2 2026 Eurostat
GDP in US dollars
current US dollars
US$721.7 billion US$530.8 billion +36.0% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita in US dollars
current US dollars per person
US$131,592 per person US$94,594 per person +39.1% 2025 World Bank
GDP per capita, PPP
constant 2021 international dollars per person
Int$131,338 per person Int$95,173 per person +38.0% 2025 World Bank
GNI per capita, Atlas method
current US dollars per person
US$87,360 per person US$97,310 per person −10.2% 2025 World Bank
Real GDP growth
annual % change
12.3% 1.1% +11.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Services share of GDP
% of GDP
56.7% 55.0% +1.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Investment share of GDP
% of GDP
22.9% 23.2% −0.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Savings share of GDP
% of GDP
31.3% 37.3% −6.0 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Household consumption per person
constant 2015 US dollars per person
US$24,486 per person US$39,799 per person −38.5% 2025 World Bank

Prices and purchasing power

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
HICP inflation
annual average rate of change, %
2.1% 2.8% −0.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
HICP price index
index, 2015 = 100
121.90 (2015 = 100) 139.20 (2015 = 100) −17.30 points 2025 Eurostat
Monthly HICP inflation
% change on the same month a year earlier
3.8% 3.4% +0.4 percentage points September 2026 Eurostat
Consumer price level index
index, EU27 (from 2020) = 100
141 (EU = 100) 134 (EU = 100) +7 points 2024 Eurostat
Food price inflation (HICP)
annual average rate of change, %
4.0% 5.5% −1.5 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Energy price inflation (HICP)
annual average rate of change, %
-0.3% 2.3% −2.6 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
OECD monthly CPI inflation
% change on the same month a year earlier
4.1% 3.4% +0.7 percentage points September 2026 OECD
Consumer price inflation
annual % change
2.2% 3.0% −0.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Consumer price index
index, 2010 = 100
130.0 (2010 = 100) 149.6 (2010 = 100) −19.5 points 2025 World Bank
Inflation measured by the GDP deflator
annual % change
1.0% 1.4% −0.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Exchange rate to the US dollar
local currency units per US dollar, annual average
0.885 per US$ 10.396 per US$ −91.5% 2025 World Bank

Housing and households

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
House price change
annual average rate of change, %
7.5% 5.7% +1.8 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Housing cost overburden rate
% of population
5.3% 13.5% −8.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Overcrowding rate
% of population
5.4% 6.8% −1.4 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Home ownership rate
% of population
70.9% 80.0% −9.1 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Inability to keep home adequately warm
% of population
4.5% 1.7% +2.8 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Average household size
people per household
2.7 people per household 2.0 people per household +0.7 people per household 2025 Eurostat
House prices, quarterly
% change on the same quarter a year earlier
6.0%p (provisional) 4.2% +1.8 percentage points Q2 2026 Eurostat
Arrears on utility bills
% of population
8.8% 3.2% +5.6 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Slum population
% of urban population
8.5% 0.0% +8.5 percentage points 2022 World Bank

Education and skills

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
NEET rate, ages 15 to 29
% of population aged 15 to 29
8.1% 6.9% +1.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 34
% of population aged 25 to 34
66.8% 56.8% +10.0 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Early leavers from education and training
% of population aged 18 to 24
3.6% 3.8% −0.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Adult participation in learning
% of population aged 25 to 64
14.6% 21.5% −6.9 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
ILO estimate of the youth NEET rate
% of youth aged 15 to 24
5.8% 6.0% −0.2 percentage points 2025 ILOSTAT
Out-of-school children
% of children of primary school age
1.8%nat_est (National estimate) 0.9%nat_est (National estimate) +0.9 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school adolescents
% of adolescents of lower secondary school age
0.1%nat_est (National estimate) 0.5%nat_est (National estimate) −0.4 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Out-of-school youth
% of youth of upper secondary school age
0.6%nat_est (National estimate) 5.6%nat_est (National estimate) −5.0 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Primary net enrolment
% of children of primary school age
98.2%nat_est (National estimate) 99.1%nat_est (National estimate) −0.9 percentage points 2022 UNESCO UIS
Education share of public spending
% of total government expenditure
12.3% 15.0% −2.7 percentage points 2021 UNESCO UIS
Education spending
% of GDP
2.9% 7.0% −4.1 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Primary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official primary school-age population
96.5% 99.0% −2.5 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Tertiary education enrolment (gross)
% of the population in the five years after secondary school age
77.6% 97.6% −20.0 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Primary school completion rate
% of the relevant age group
93.7% 99.3% −5.5 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Secondary school enrolment (gross)
% of the official secondary school-age population
130.6% 119.4% +11.2 percentage points 2022 World Bank

Health and healthcare

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Life expectancy at birth
years
83.1 years 83.2 years −0.1% 2024 Eurostat
Infant mortality rate
deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
3.3 per 1,000 live births 2.1 per 1,000 live births +1.2 per 1,000 live births 2024 Eurostat
Hospital beds
beds per 100,000 inhabitants
293 per 100,000 people 320 per 100,000 people −28 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Practising physicians
physicians per 100,000 inhabitants
388 per 100,000 people 507 per 100,000 people −119 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
People reporting good or very good health
% of people aged 16 or over
79.4% 73.7% +5.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Health spending share of GDP
% of GDP
6.0% 7.6%p (provisional) −1.7 percentage points 2022 Eurostat
Practising nurses
nurses per 100,000 inhabitants
1,419 per 100,000 people 1,524 per 100,000 people −105 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Healthy life years at birth
years
66.9 years 64.8 years +3.2% 2024 Eurostat
Life expectancy at age 65
years
21.0 years 20.9 years +0.5% 2024 Eurostat
Adults with obesity
% of people aged 15 and over
18.2% 12.6% +5.6 percentage points 2014 Eurostat
Daily smokers
% of people aged 15 and over
14.1% 10.3% +3.8 percentage points 2019 Eurostat
Life expectancy estimates and projections
years
82.4 years 83.3 years −1.1% 2023 UN Population Division
Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections
years
20.5 years 20.8 years −1.2% 2023 UN Population Division
Healthy life expectancy
years
70.2 years 70.4 years −0.3% 2023 WHO
UHC service coverage
index from 0 to 100
82 89 −7 points 2023 WHO
Alcohol consumption
litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15+
9.58 litres 6.11 litres +56.7% 2024 WHO
Adult obesity
% of adults aged 18+
27.9% 20.2% +7.7 percentage points 2024 WHO
Hypertension
% of adults aged 30 to 79
32.3% 30.5% +1.8 percentage points 2019 WHO
Suicide rate
deaths per 100,000 people
7.2 per 100,000 people 11.6 per 100,000 people −4.4 per 100,000 people 2023 WHO
Premature NCD mortality
% probability
8.5% 7.6% +0.9 percentage points 2023 WHO
Physical inactivity
% of adults aged 18+
23.9% 38.1% −14.2 percentage points 2022 WHO
DTP3 immunisation
% of one-year-olds
90% 96% −6.0 percentage points 2025 WHO
Anaemia in women
% of women aged 15 to 49
14.0% 16.3% −2.3 percentage points 2023 WHO
Poisoning deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
0.3 per 100,000 people 0.3 per 100,000 people same 2023 WHO
Nurses and midwives
per 10,000 people
147.8 per 10,000 people 160.4 per 10,000 people −12.6 per 10,000 people 2023 WHO
Dentists
per 10,000 people
4.75 per 10,000 people 8.79 per 10,000 people −4.04 per 10,000 people 2023 WHO
Life expectancy at birth
years
83.0 years 83.2 years −0.2% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, women
years
84.7 years 84.8 years −0.1% 2024 World Bank
Life expectancy at birth, men
years
81.4 years 81.6 years −0.2% 2024 World Bank
Health spending share of GDP
% of GDP
6.6% 9.4% −2.9 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Under-five mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
3.9 per 1,000 live births 2.5 per 1,000 live births +1.4 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Infant mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
3.4 per 1,000 live births 2.0 per 1,000 live births +1.4 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Maternal mortality ratio
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
4 per 100,000 live births 1 per 100,000 live births +3 per 100,000 live births 2023 World Bank
Physicians
physicians per 1,000 people
3.88 per 1,000 people 4.98 per 1,000 people −1.10 per 1,000 people 2023 World Bank
Hospital beds
beds per 1,000 people
3.0 per 1,000 people 3.3 per 1,000 people −0.3 per 1,000 people 2023 World Bank
Measles immunisation
% of children aged 12 to 23 months
90% 96% −6.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Tobacco use
% of adults aged 15 and over
18.2% 12.9% +5.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Out-of-pocket health spending
% of current health expenditure
11.3% 13.7% −2.4 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Health spending per person
current US dollars per person
US$6,878 per person US$8,296 per person −17.1% 2023 World Bank
Diabetes prevalence
% of population aged 20 to 79
3.6% 4.8% −1.2 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Neonatal mortality rate
deaths per 1,000 live births
2.6 per 1,000 live births 1.4 per 1,000 live births +1.2 per 1,000 live births 2024 World Bank
Tuberculosis incidence
new cases per 100,000 people
6 per 100,000 people 3 per 100,000 people +3 per 100,000 people 2024 World Bank

Internet and digital society

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Households with internet access
% of households
95.5% 99.0% −3.5 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Internet use in the last three months
% of individuals
99.8% 98.8% +1.0 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Daily internet use
% of individuals
99.3% 95.0% +4.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Basic digital skills
% of individuals
82.8% 79.8% +3.0 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Online shopping
% of individuals
95.1% 92.5% +2.5 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
ICT specialists in employment
% of total employment
6.2%e (estimated) 5.9% +0.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Internet users
% of population
97.2% 99.0% −1.8 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Mobile subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
113 per 100 people 109 per 100 people +3 per 100 people 2024 World Bank
Fixed broadband subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 people
32.3 per 100 people 45.2 per 100 people −12.9 per 100 people 2024 World Bank

Business and industry

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Industrial production
index, 2021 = 100
122.4 (2021 = 100) 105.0 (2021 = 100) +16.6% 2025 Eurostat
Enterprise birth rate
% of active enterprises
10.8% 10.8% same 2024 Eurostat
Monthly industrial production
% change on the same month a year earlier
-19.1%p (provisional) -1.8% −17.3 percentage points September 2026 Eurostat
Industry share of GDP
% of GDP
37.8% 34.5% +3.3 percentage points 2025 World Bank
New businesses registered
new limited liability companies
23,440 companies 30,147 companies −22.2% 2024 World Bank
Medium and high-tech manufacturing
% of manufacturing value added
54.5% 40.6% +14.0 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Manufacturing share of GDP
% of GDP
33.9% 6.1% +27.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Trade and investment

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Exports share of GDP
% of GDP
146.9% 45.6% +101.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Imports share of GDP
% of GDP
109.3% 33.8% +75.5 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Current account balance, quarterly
% of GDP
13.0% 19.1% −6.1 percentage points Q2 2026 Eurostat
Exports share of GDP
% of GDP
140.1% 45.4% +94.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Imports share of GDP
% of GDP
99.9% 33.7% +66.2 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Trade as a share of GDP
% of GDP
240.0% 79.1% +160.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Foreign direct investment inflows
% of GDP
10.4% -1.3% +11.7 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Current account balance
% of GDP
6.3% 14.1% −7.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
High-technology exports
% of manufactured exports
53.5% 25.4% +28.1 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Tourism and accommodation

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Nights spent in tourist accommodation
nights
41,905,894 nights 40,590,017 nights +3.2% 2025 Eurostat
Arrivals at tourist accommodation
arrivals
12,574,517 arrivals 21,422,152 arrivals −41.3% 2025 Eurostat
Bed-place occupancy rate in hotels
% of available bed places
58.0% 41.3% +16.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat

Transport and mobility

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Car share of passenger transport
% of inland passenger-kilometres
77.9%e (estimated) 88.6%e (estimated) −10.7 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Car ownership
cars per 1,000 inhabitants
475 per 1,000 peoplei (value imputed by Eurostat or other receiving agencies) 524 per 1,000 people −49 per 1,000 people 2025 Eurostat
Road traffic deaths
deaths per 100,000 inhabitants
3.2 per 100,000 people 1.6 per 100,000 people +1.6 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Rail passenger transport
million passenger-kilometres
2,812 million passenger-km 3,968 million passenger-km −29.1% 2025 Eurostat
Road share of inland freight transport
% of inland freight tonne-kilometres
99.4% 87.5% +11.9 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
New zero-emission cars
% of newly registered passenger cars
18.6% 95.1% −76.4 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Road traffic deaths
deaths per 100,000 people
3.1 per 100,000 people 2.1 per 100,000 people +1.0 per 100,000 people 2019 World Bank
Air passengers carried
passengers
34,748,853 passengers 12,277,222 passengers +183.0% 2004 World Bank

Energy and electricity

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Renewable energy share
% of gross final energy consumption
17.2%p (provisional) 82.4%p (provisional) −65.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Renewable electricity share
% of gross electricity consumption
41.7%p (provisional) 122.0%p (provisional) −80.3 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Energy import dependency
% of gross available energy
79.5% -677.2% +756.7 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Electricity price for households
euro per kWh, all taxes included
€0.3871 per kWh €0.1993 per kWh +94.2% H1 2026 Eurostat
Primary energy consumption
million tonnes of oil equivalent
14.3 Mtoe 25.3 Mtoe −43.5% 2024 Eurostat
Access to electricity
% of population
100.0% 100.0% same 2024 World Bank
Clean cooking access
% of population
100.0% 100.0% same 2024 World Bank
Renewable energy share
% of total final energy consumption
12.7% 61.4% −48.7 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Fossil electricity share
% of total electricity production
49.5% 0.7% +48.8 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Net energy imports
% of energy use
87.2% -729.0% +816.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Climate and emissions

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Greenhouse gas emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
10.0 t CO2e per person 8.0 t CO2e per person +25.0% 2024 Eurostat
Total greenhouse gas emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
53.9 Mt CO2e 44.6 Mt CO2e +20.9% 2024 Eurostat
Temperature change
°C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average
1.89 °Ce (Estimated value) 2.52 °Ce (Estimated value) −0.64 °C 2025 FAOSTAT
Agrifood emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
7.66 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) 3.33 t CO2e per persone (Estimated value) +129.6% 2024 FAOSTAT
Total greenhouse gas emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
59.7 Mt CO2e 53.8 Mt CO2e +11.0% 2024 World Bank
Greenhouse gas emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
11.1 t CO2e per person 9.6 t CO2e per person +14.6% 2024 World Bank
CO2 emissions per person
tonnes of CO2 per person
6.04 t CO2 per person 7.18 t CO2 per person −15.9% 2024 World Bank
Methane emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
18.1 Mt CO2e 8.8 Mt CO2e +105.2% 2024 World Bank
Nitrous oxide emissions
million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
8.32 Mt CO2e 3.69 Mt CO2e +125.2% 2024 World Bank

Air quality and ecosystems

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
PM2.5 air pollution
micrograms per cubic metre
6.6 µg/m³ 5.1 µg/m³ +30.0% 2023 WHO
Forest area
% of land area
12.0% 33.2% −21.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Protected areas
% of total territorial area
4.0% 5.4% −1.4 percentage points 2025 World Bank
PM2.5 air pollution exposure
micrograms per cubic metre
7.5 µg/m³ 5.5 µg/m³ +36.1% 2023 World Bank
Terrestrial protected areas
% of land area
14.2% 17.8% −3.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank

Water, sanitation and waste

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Municipal waste generated per person
kilograms per person per year
576 kg per person 721 kg per person −20.1% 2024 Eurostat
Recycling rate of municipal waste
% of municipal waste generated
43.1% 46.9% −3.8 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Total waste generated per person
kilograms per person per year
3,101 kg per person 2,368 kg per person +31.0% 2024 Eurostat
Basic drinking water access
% of population
97.1% 100.0% −2.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Safely managed drinking water
% of population
96.1% 99.1% −2.9 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Basic sanitation access
% of population
89.7% 98.0% −8.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Level of water stress
% of available freshwater resources
8.1% 2.0% +6.0 percentage points 2022 World Bank
Renewable internal freshwater per person
cubic metres per person
9,400 m³ per person 70,000 m³ per person −86.6% 2022 World Bank
Safely managed sanitation
% of population
81.3% 77.9% +3.3 percentage points 2024 World Bank

Agriculture, food and fisheries

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Area under organic farming
% of utilised agricultural area
5.0% 4.6% +0.4 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Cost of a healthy diet
international dollars (PPP) per person per day
Int$3.14 per person per daye (Estimated value) Int$4.91 per person per daye (Estimated value) −36.0% 2025 FAOSTAT
Healthy diet unaffordable
% of the population
0.9%e (Estimated value) 1.2%e (Estimated value) −0.3 percentage points 2025 FAOSTAT
Pesticide use
kg of active ingredients per hectare of cropland
4.94 kg/hae (Estimated value) 0.86 kg/hae (Estimated value) +474.4% 2024 FAOSTAT
Nitrogen fertiliser use
kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland
164.5 kg/hae (Estimated value) 122.8 kg/hae (Estimated value) +34.0% 2024 FAOSTAT
Agriculture share of GDP
% of GDP
1.1% 1.6% −0.6 percentage points 2025 World Bank
Cereal yield
kilograms per hectare
7,325 kg per hectare 4,220 kg per hectare +73.6% 2024 World Bank
Agricultural land
% of land area
65.1% 2.7% +62.4 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Capture fisheries production
metric tonnes
245,629 tonnes 2,329,285 tonnes −89.5% 2024 World Bank
Prevalence of undernourishment
% of population
2.5% 2.5% same 2024 World Bank
Food production index
index, 2014 to 2016 = 100
107.2 (2014-16 = 100) 98.6 (2014-16 = 100) +8.7% 2024 World Bank
Fertiliser use
kilograms per hectare of arable land
986.6 kg per hectare 193.2 kg per hectare +410.8% 2024 World Bank
Land area
square kilometres
68,890 km² 364,270 km² −81.1% 2024 World Bank

Poverty and social protection

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
At-risk-of-poverty rate
% of population
13.0% 11.3% +1.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Poverty or social exclusion rate
% of population
18.8% 16.1% +2.7 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Income inequality (Gini)
Gini coefficient, 0 to 100
27.2 (0 to 100) 23.7 (0 to 100) +3.5 points 2025 Eurostat
Income quintile share ratio (S80/S20)
ratio
3.89 times 3.39 times +14.7% 2025 Eurostat
Severe material and social deprivation
% of population
5.2% 2.6% +2.6 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Gini index
Gini index, 0 to 100
29.0 (0 to 100) 26.5 (0 to 100) +2.5 points 2023 World Bank
Income share held by the richest 10%
% of total income or consumption
24.1% 21.6% +2.5 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Extreme poverty rate
% of population
0.1% 0.2% −0.1 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Poverty rate at national poverty lines
% of population
14.0% 12.2% +1.8 percentage points 2021 World Bank
Poverty rate at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
0.1% 0.2% −0.1 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Poverty rate at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP)
% of population
0.3% 0.4% −0.1 percentage points 2023 World Bank

Government finance and taxation

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Government spending
% of GDP
22.3% 49.4% −27.1 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Tax-to-GDP ratio
% of GDP
22.7% 38.9% −16.2 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Government spending on health
% of GDP
5.2% 7.2% −2.0 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Government spending on education
% of GDP
2.7% 4.7% −2.0 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Government spending on social protection
% of GDP
8.2% 18.5% −10.3 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Government spending on defence
% of GDP
0.1% 2.1% −2.0 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
Government debt, quarterly
% of GDP
35.3%p (provisional) 60.8%p (provisional) −25.5 percentage points Q2 2026 Eurostat
Tax revenue
% of GDP
17.9% 24.5% −6.6 percentage points 2024 World Bank
Central government expense
% of GDP
19.2% 28.3% −9.1 percentage points 2022 World Bank

Science and innovation

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
R&D spending share of GDP
% of GDP
1.49%p (provisional) 1.79%p (provisional) −0.30 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Researchers as a share of the labour force
% of labour force (full-time equivalent)
1.11% 1.35%d (definition differs (see metadata)) −0.24 percentage points 2024 Eurostat
European patent applications
applications per million inhabitants
216.7 per million peoplep (provisional) 129.8 per million peoplep (provisional) +86.9 per million people 2025 Eurostat
R&D spending share of GDP
% of GDP
1.59% 1.85% −0.26 percentage points 2023 World Bank
Researchers per million people
researchers per million people
5,753 per million people 7,451 per million people −1,698 per million people 2023 World Bank
Scientific and technical journal articles
articles, fractional count
8,720 articles 13,756 articles −36.6% 2023 World Bank

Crime, justice and public safety

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Intentional homicides
offences per 100,000 inhabitants
0.69 per 100,000 people 0.70 per 100,000 people −0.01 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Crime or vandalism in the area
% of population
9.6% 5.9% +3.7 percentage points 2023 Eurostat
Robberies recorded by the police
offences per 100,000 inhabitants
28.7 per 100,000 people 27.4 per 100,000 people +1.3 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Burglaries recorded by the police
offences per 100,000 inhabitants
596.8 per 100,000 people 291.5 per 100,000 people +305.3 per 100,000 people 2014 Eurostat
Thefts recorded by the police
offences per 100,000 inhabitants
1,335 per 100,000 people 2,100 per 100,000 people −765 per 100,000 people 2024 Eurostat
Intentional homicides
victims per 100,000 people
0.7 per 100,000 people 0.7 per 100,000 people −0.1 per 100,000 people 2023 World Bank

Culture, society and wellbeing

MeasureIrelandNorwayIreland compared with NorwayPeriodSource
Cultural employment
% of total employment
3.4% 4.4% −1.0 percentage points 2025 Eurostat
Average life satisfaction
average rating, 0 to 10
7.6 out of 10 7.7 out of 10 −0.1 points 2025 Eurostat
Women in national parliament
% of seats in the single or lower chamber
25.3% 40.2% −14.9 percentage points 2025 World Bank

The difference column shows Ireland compared with Norway: in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.

Open a measure to see both countries on a chart. All statistics for Ireland · All statistics for Norway · Other pairs