⌛ Then vs now
How has Ireland changed since 1990?
1990 then 2026 latest dataPeople in Ireland now live 8.2 years longer than in 1990.
Land
Farmland
65.9% in 1990, 65.1% in 2024.
People
Population
3.51 million in 1990, 5.48 million in 2025.
Fertility rate
2.11 children per woman in 1990, 1.47 children per woman in 2024.
Median age
28.2 years in 1990, 38.4 years in 2023.
Aged 65 and over
11.4% in 1990, 16.2% in 2025.
Money
GDP per person (PPP)
Int$13,700 in 1990, Int$155,000 in 2025.
Economy size (GDP)
$49.3 billion in 1990, $722 billion in 2025.
Unemployment
15.8% in 1991, 4.6% in 2025.
Military spending
1.2% in 1990, 0.2% in 2025.
Tax revenue (central government)
25.4% in 1990, 17.9% in 2024.
Health
Life expectancy
74.8 years in 1990, 83 years in 2024.
Infant mortality
7.6 per 1,000 in 1990, 3.4 per 1,000 in 2024.
Adult obesity
13.4% in 1990, 30.6% in 2024.
Hospital beds
6.1 per 1,000 in 1990, 3 per 1,000 in 2023.
Everyday life
Meat supply
90.3 kg in 1990, 98.4 kg in 2023.
Daily calories
3,640 kcal in 1990, 3,920 kcal in 2023.
Years of schooling
9.1 years in 1990, 11.7 years in 2023.
Working hours
2,100 hours in 1990, 1,650 hours in 2023.
Olympic medals (all time)
13 in 1990, 42 in 2026.
Connected
Urban population
57% in 1990, 65% in 2025.
Internet users
0% in 1990, 97% in 2024.
Access to electricity
100% in 1990, 100% in 2024.
Mobile subscriptions
1 in 1990, 113 in 2024.
Planet
CO₂ per person
9.4 t in 1990, 6.3 t in 2024.
Forest cover
6.7% in 1990, 12% in 2024.
Renewable electricity
4.9% in 1990, 48.1% in 2025.
Safety
Homicide rate
0.5 per 100k in 1990, 0.7 per 100k in 2023.