China vs Ireland
China vs Ireland: Median age
Median age in 2023: 39.1 years in China and 38.4 years in Ireland, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in China, by 0.6 years, or 1.02 times that in Ireland.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- China has been higher since 2007, when it overtook Ireland.
- In 2023, China ranked 60 and Ireland ranked 64 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts China at 60.7 years and Ireland at 49.9 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | China | Ireland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39.1 | 38.4 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 38.5 | 38 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 38 | 37.6 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 37.5 | 37.3 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 37 | 36.9 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 36.6 | 36.5 | 29 |
| 2017 | 36.3 | 36.1 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 36 | 35.7 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 35.7 | 35.4 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 35.4 | 35 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 35.1 | 34.6 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 34.9 | 34.2 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 34.5 | 33.8 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 34.1 | 33.3 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 33.7 | 32.9 | 27 |
| 2008 | 33.3 | 32.5 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.8 | 32.4 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 32.3 | 32.4 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 31.8 | 32.4 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 31.2 | 32.4 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 30.7 | 32.1 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 30.1 | 31.9 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 29.5 | 31.7 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 29 | 31.5 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 28.4 | 31.3 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 27.8 | 31 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 27.2 | 30.6 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 26.7 | 30.3 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 26.1 | 30 | 24 |
| 1994 | 25.6 | 29.6 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 25.1 | 29.2 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 24.6 | 28.9 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 24.1 | 28.6 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 23.7 | 28.2 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 23.4 | 27.8 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 23 | 27.3 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 22.6 | 26.9 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 22.2 | 26.5 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 21.7 | 26.3 | 22 |
| 1984 | 21.4 | 26 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 21.2 | 25.8 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 21.2 | 25.7 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 21.1 | 25.6 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 20.9 | 25.5 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 20.6 | 25.5 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 20.2 | 25.4 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 19.8 | 25.4 | 21 |
| 1976 | 19.4 | 25.4 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 19.1 | 25.4 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 18.8 | 25.4 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 18.5 | 25.6 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 18.3 | 25.7 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 18.1 | 26 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 18 | 26.2 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 18 | 26.4 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 18.1 | 26.7 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 18.1 | 26.9 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 18.2 | 27.2 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 18.5 | 27.6 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 18.9 | 27.9 | 21 |
| 1963 | 19.4 | 28.2 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 19.9 | 28.5 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 20 | 28.8 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 19.9 | 29.1 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 19.9 | 29.3 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 19.9 | 29.3 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 20.2 | 29.3 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 20.5 | 29.3 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 20.7 | 29.2 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 21 | 29.1 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 21.3 | 29 | 22 |
| 1952 | 21.6 | 28.8 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 22 | 28.8 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 22.3 | 29 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | China | Ireland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 39.639.6–39.6 | 38.738.6–38.8 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 40.140–40.2 | 3938.6–39.3 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 40.740.5–40.7 | 39.238.6–39.8 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 41.241.1–41.3 | 39.438.4–40.3 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 41.841.6–41.9 | 39.638.3–40.8 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 42.342.2–42.5 | 39.738.1–41.3 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 42.942.7–43.1 | 39.937.8–41.9 | 32 |
| 2031 | 43.543.3–43.7 | 40.137.6–42.5 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 44.143.8–44.3 | 40.237.2–43.1 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 44.744.4–44.9 | 40.336.9–43.7 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 45.345–45.5 | 40.436.6–44.3 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 45.845.5–46.1 | 40.536.3–44.9 | 33 |
| 2036 | 46.446.1–46.7 | 40.636–45.5 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 4746.6–47.3 | 40.735.8–46.1 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 47.547.2–47.8 | 40.835.6–46.6 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 48.147.7–48.4 | 40.935.4–47.2 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 48.648.2–49 | 4135.3–47.8 | 34 |
| 2041 | 49.148.6–49.5 | 41.135.2–48.3 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 49.549–50 | 41.335.2–48.9 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 49.949.3–50.4 | 41.435.2–49.5 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 50.349.6–50.8 | 41.635.2–50 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 50.649.9–51.2 | 41.835.3–50.5 | 35 |
| 2046 | 5150.2–51.6 | 4235.3–51 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 51.350.5–51.9 | 42.235.4–51.6 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 51.650.7–52.3 | 42.435.5–52.1 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 51.951–52.6 | 42.635.6–52.6 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 52.151.2–52.9 | 42.935.6–53.1 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 52.451.4–53.2 | 43.135.6–53.6 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 52.751.6–53.5 | 43.435.7–54.2 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 52.951.8–53.8 | 43.735.8–54.8 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 53.252.1–54.1 | 4435.9–55.4 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 53.452.3–54.4 | 44.335.9–56 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 53.752.5–54.7 | 44.635.9–56.5 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 53.952.8–55 | 44.936–57.1 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 54.253–55.2 | 45.236–57.6 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 54.453.2–55.5 | 45.436–58.2 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 54.753.4–55.8 | 45.736.1–58.8 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 54.953.6–56.1 | 45.936–59.4 | 38 |
| 2062 | 55.253.8–56.4 | 46.136–60 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 55.554.1–56.8 | 46.336–60.6 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 55.854.4–57.1 | 46.536–61.1 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 56.154.7–57.5 | 46.636.1–61.7 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 56.454.9–57.9 | 46.836.1–62.2 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 56.755.2–58.3 | 46.936.1–62.7 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 57.155.5–58.7 | 4736.2–63.2 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 57.455.7–59.1 | 47.136.2–63.6 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 57.756–59.5 | 47.236.2–64 | 39 |
| 2071 | 58.156.3–60 | 47.236.3–64.4 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 58.556.6–60.4 | 47.236.4–64.8 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 58.956.9–60.9 | 47.236.5–65.2 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 59.257.2–61.3 | 47.236.6–65.6 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 59.657.5–61.8 | 47.236.6–66 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 6057.7–62.3 | 47.236.7–66.4 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 60.357.9–62.7 | 47.236.8–66.7 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 60.758.1–63.2 | 47.236.9–67 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 61.158.1–63.7 | 47.237–67.3 | 40 |
| 2080 | 61.457.9–64.2 | 47.337.2–67.5 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 61.757.6–64.7 | 47.337.2–67.6 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 6257.2–65.2 | 47.437.3–67.7 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 62.257.1–65.7 | 47.437.4–67.7 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 62.256.9–66.3 | 47.637.6–67.6 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 62.256.7–66.8 | 47.737.8–67.5 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 6256.6–67.3 | 47.837.9–67.4 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 61.956.4–67.8 | 4837.9–67.1 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 61.756.3–68.2 | 48.137.9–66.7 | 41 |
| 2089 | 61.656.2–68.6 | 48.337.9–66.1 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 61.456.1–69 | 48.537.8–64.6 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 61.356.1–69.3 | 48.737.8–62 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 61.256–69.6 | 48.837.9–58.7 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 61.156–69.7 | 4937.9–56.3 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 6156–69.8 | 49.238–54.5 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 60.956–69.8 | 49.338–52.9 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 60.856.1–69.7 | 49.538.1–51.2 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 60.856.2–69.6 | 49.638.2–49.5 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 60.756.3–69.5 | 49.738.2–47.8 | 42 |
| 2099 | 60.756.4–69.3 | 49.838.2–46.5 | 42 |
| 2100 | 60.756.5–69.1 | 49.938.2–45.3 | 42.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Half the people are older than this age and half are younger.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
China vs Ireland
Health
- Life expectancyChina: 78 years in 2023Ireland: 82.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityChina: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024Ireland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityChina: 5.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023Ireland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionChina: 3.31% in 2017Ireland: 4.25% in 2017
- Suicide rateChina: 7.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Ireland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationChina: 1.42 billion people in 2023Ireland: 5.2 million people in 2023
- Population growthChina: -0.24% a year in 2023Ireland: 1.19% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateChina: 1 births per woman in 2023Ireland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationChina: 66.3% in 2025Ireland: 64.6% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overChina: 14.3% in 2023Ireland: 15.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateChina: -0.4 per 1,000 people in 2023Ireland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingChina: 1.73% of GDP in 2025Ireland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsChina: $335B in 2025Ireland: $1.46B in 2025
- Military spending per personChina: $237 in 2025Ireland: $272 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingChina: 5.1% of government spending in 2025Ireland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelChina: 2.54 million people in 2020Ireland: 9,000 people in 2020
- National powerChina: 23.41% of world capability in 2022Ireland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersChina: 0.33% of the labour force in 2020Ireland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsChina: 207 million TIV in 2025Ireland: 14 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsChina: 880 million TIV in 2025Ireland: 24 million TIV in 2025