Ireland vs South Korea
Ireland vs South Korea: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 82.4 years in Ireland and 84.3 years in South Korea, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Korea, by 1.9 years, or 1.02 times that in Ireland.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- South Korea has been higher since 2008, when it overtook Ireland.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at 91.8 years and South Korea at 93.1 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Ireland | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82.4 | 84.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 82.1 | 82.7 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 81.9 | 83.9 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 82.4 | 83.7 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 82.4 | 83.7 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 82.1 | 83.3 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 82.1 | 83.3 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 81.7 | 82.9 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 81.5 | 82.5 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 81.4 | 82.4 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 81.1 | 81.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 80.9 | 81.3 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 80.7 | 81.2 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80.6 | 80.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 80.1 | 80.6 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 79.8 | 80 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.6 | 79.4 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79.2 | 79 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 78.9 | 78.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 78.5 | 78 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 78.1 | 77.5 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 77.6 | 77.2 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 77.1 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 76.5 | 76.2 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 76.1 | 75.6 | 66 |
| 1998 | 76.2 | 75 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 76 | 74.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 75.8 | 74 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 75.5 | 73.4 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 75.8 | 72.9 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 75.3 | 72.8 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 75.4 | 72.2 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 75 | 71.4 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 74.8 | 71 | 64 |
| 1989 | 74.5 | 70.7 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 74.4 | 70.2 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 74.4 | 69.3 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 73.6 | 69 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 73.6 | 68.4 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 73.6 | 68.1 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 73.2 | 66.7 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 73.2 | 67.1 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 72.9 | 67.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 72.5 | 64.9 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 72.2 | 66.1 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 71.9 | 65 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 71.9 | 64.6 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 71.8 | 65 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 71.7 | 64.7 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 71.1 | 64.2 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 71.2 | 63.8 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 71 | 63.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 71.6 | 62.7 | 56 |
| 1970 | 70.8 | 62.2 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 70.8 | 61.4 | 56 |
| 1968 | 70.9 | 60.9 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 71.2 | 60.9 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 70.2 | 55.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.6 | 55.8 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.5 | 55.3 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 70.2 | 55 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 70 | 55 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 69.6 | 54.4 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 70.2 | 53.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 69.4 | 52.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 69.3 | 51.8 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 69 | 51.6 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 69 | 50.2 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 68 | 48.4 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 68 | 46.1 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 67.9 | 40.5 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 67.2 | 36.6 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 64.8 | 26.6 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 65.6 | 22.2 | 46.4 |
| 1946 | 61.4 | – | – |
| 1942 | – | 44.9 | – |
| 1941 | 60 | – | – |
| 1938 | – | 42.6 | – |
| 1936 | 58.9 | – | – |
| 1933 | – | 37.4 | – |
| 1928 | – | 33.6 | – |
| 1926 | 57.6 | – | – |
| 1923 | – | 29.5 | – |
| 1918 | – | 27 | – |
| 1913 | – | 25 | – |
| 1911 | 53.8 | – | – |
| 1908 | – | 23.5 | – |
| 1901 | 49.4 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.681.8–83.5 | 84.483.5–85.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 82.881.5–84 | 84.583.2–85.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 82.981.3–84.5 | 84.683.1–86.2 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 83.181.3–84.8 | 84.783–86.6 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 83.281.3–85.1 | 84.982.9–86.9 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 83.481.2–85.4 | 8582.8–87.2 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 83.681.2–85.7 | 85.182.8–87.5 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 83.781.2–85.9 | 85.282.8–87.8 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 83.981.2–86.2 | 85.382.8–88.1 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 8481.3–86.5 | 85.482.7–88.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 84.281.4–86.8 | 85.582.8–88.6 | 75 |
| 2035 | 84.381.3–87.1 | 85.682.8–88.9 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 84.481.4–87.3 | 85.782.7–88.9 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 84.681.4–87.5 | 85.882.8–89.2 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 84.781.6–87.8 | 8682.8–89.5 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 84.881.6–88.1 | 86.182.8–89.7 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 8581.7–88.4 | 86.282.8–90 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 85.181.7–88.7 | 86.382.8–90.2 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 85.281.8–88.9 | 86.482.8–90.3 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 85.481.8–89.2 | 86.582.9–90.5 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 85.581.8–89.4 | 86.682.9–90.8 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 85.682–89.6 | 86.882.8–90.8 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 85.782–89.8 | 86.983–91 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 85.982.2–90.1 | 8782.9–91.3 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 8682.1–90.2 | 87.182.9–91.5 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 86.182.1–90.5 | 87.282.8–91.9 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 86.282.2–90.6 | 87.382.8–91.9 | 77 |
| 2051 | 86.482.3–90.7 | 87.582.9–92.1 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 86.582.3–90.8 | 87.682.9–92.3 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 86.682.5–91.1 | 87.783–92.5 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 86.782.5–91.3 | 87.882.9–92.5 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 86.882.6–91.5 | 87.983–92.9 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 8782.7–91.8 | 8883.1–93.1 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 87.182.7–92 | 88.183.1–93.2 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 87.282.8–92.3 | 88.383.3–93.7 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 87.382.9–92.4 | 88.483.3–93.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 87.482.8–92.6 | 88.583.3–93.9 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 87.582.9–92.8 | 88.683.3–94.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 87.782.9–93 | 88.783.2–94.3 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 87.882.9–93.2 | 88.883.4–94.3 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 87.982.9–93.4 | 88.983.5–94.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 8882.9–93.6 | 8983.5–94.8 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 88.182.9–93.6 | 89.283.7–95.2 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 88.283.1–93.9 | 89.383.7–95.4 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 88.383.1–94 | 89.483.9–95.4 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 88.483.1–94.1 | 89.583.8–95.7 | 79 |
| 2070 | 88.683.2–94.1 | 89.683.8–95.9 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 88.783.2–94.4 | 89.783.8–96 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 88.883.2–94.5 | 89.883.9–96.4 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 88.983.5–94.5 | 9084–96.5 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 8983.6–94.8 | 90.183.8–96.7 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 89.183.6–94.8 | 90.283.7–96.9 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 89.283.6–95 | 90.383.9–97.2 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 89.383.6–95.2 | 90.483.9–97.2 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 89.483.7–95.3 | 90.583.8–97.3 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 89.583.9–95.6 | 90.683.8–97.5 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 89.784.1–95.8 | 90.783.9–97.7 | 80 |
| 2081 | 89.784–96 | 90.984–97.9 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 89.984.1–96.1 | 9183.8–98.1 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 9084–96.4 | 91.184–98.3 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 90.184.2–96.5 | 91.284–98.5 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 90.284.3–96.5 | 91.384–98.6 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 90.384.2–96.8 | 91.484.2–98.7 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 90.484.2–96.7 | 91.684.4–98.9 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 90.584.3–97 | 91.784.3–99 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 90.684.2–97.2 | 91.884.4–99.4 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 90.784.4–97.4 | 91.984.4–99.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 90.884.4–97.5 | 92.184.5–99.8 | 81 |
| 2092 | 90.984.4–97.7 | 92.284.8–99.8 | 81 |
| 2093 | 9184.3–97.8 | 92.384.9–100.1 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 91.184.5–97.9 | 92.484.9–100.4 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 91.284.5–98.2 | 92.584.9–100.8 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 91.384.5–98.2 | 92.785.1–100.9 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 91.484.6–98.4 | 92.885.2–101.1 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 91.684.7–98.5 | 92.985.3–101.4 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 91.784.7–98.5 | 9385.3–101.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 91.884.7–98.7 | 93.185.4–101.6 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- 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
Ireland vs South Korea
Health
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Korea: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Korea: 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterIreland: 96% in 2022South Korea: 99.3% in 2022
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017South Korea: 3.17% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017South Korea: 20.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023South Korea: 51.8 million people in 2023
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023South Korea: -0.04% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023South Korea: 0.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025South Korea: 81.2% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023South Korea: 44.5 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023South Korea: 18.3% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Korea: 1.7 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025South Korea: 2.6% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025South Korea: $48.9B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025South Korea: $924 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025South Korea: 10.8% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020South Korea: 569,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022South Korea: 2% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020South Korea: 2.01% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025South Korea: 222 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025South Korea: 2.02 billion TIV in 2025