Ireland vs Spain
Ireland vs Spain: Median age
Median age in 2023: 38.4 years in Ireland and 44.9 years in Spain, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Spain, by 6.5 years, or 1.17 times that in Ireland.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Spain has been higher since 1962, when it overtook Ireland.
- In 2023, Ireland ranked 64 and Spain ranked 16 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at 49.9 years and Spain at 52.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 30.4 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Ireland | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 38.4 | 44.9 | 30.4 |
| 2022 | 38 | 44.4 | 30.1 |
| 2021 | 37.6 | 43.9 | 29.8 |
| 2020 | 37.3 | 43.5 | 29.6 |
| 2019 | 36.9 | 43.1 | 29.3 |
| 2018 | 36.5 | 42.8 | 29 |
| 2017 | 36.1 | 42.4 | 28.8 |
| 2016 | 35.7 | 42.1 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | 35.4 | 41.6 | 28.3 |
| 2014 | 35 | 41.2 | 28.1 |
| 2013 | 34.6 | 40.6 | 27.8 |
| 2012 | 34.2 | 40.1 | 27.6 |
| 2011 | 33.8 | 39.6 | 27.4 |
| 2010 | 33.3 | 39.2 | 27.2 |
| 2009 | 32.9 | 38.8 | 27 |
| 2008 | 32.5 | 38.4 | 26.7 |
| 2007 | 32.4 | 38.2 | 26.5 |
| 2006 | 32.4 | 38 | 26.3 |
| 2005 | 32.4 | 37.8 | 26.1 |
| 2004 | 32.4 | 37.5 | 25.9 |
| 2003 | 32.1 | 37.3 | 25.7 |
| 2002 | 31.9 | 37.1 | 25.5 |
| 2001 | 31.7 | 36.8 | 25.3 |
| 2000 | 31.5 | 36.3 | 25.1 |
| 1999 | 31.3 | 35.9 | 24.9 |
| 1998 | 31 | 35.5 | 24.7 |
| 1997 | 30.6 | 35.1 | 24.4 |
| 1996 | 30.3 | 34.7 | 24.2 |
| 1995 | 30 | 34.3 | 24 |
| 1994 | 29.6 | 33.9 | 23.8 |
| 1993 | 29.2 | 33.6 | 23.5 |
| 1992 | 28.9 | 33.2 | 23.3 |
| 1991 | 28.6 | 32.9 | 23.1 |
| 1990 | 28.2 | 32.5 | 22.9 |
| 1989 | 27.8 | 32.1 | 22.8 |
| 1988 | 27.3 | 31.8 | 22.6 |
| 1987 | 26.9 | 31.5 | 22.4 |
| 1986 | 26.5 | 31.2 | 22.2 |
| 1985 | 26.3 | 30.9 | 22 |
| 1984 | 26 | 30.6 | 21.9 |
| 1983 | 25.8 | 30.4 | 21.8 |
| 1982 | 25.7 | 30.1 | 21.7 |
| 1981 | 25.6 | 29.9 | 21.6 |
| 1980 | 25.5 | 29.8 | 21.5 |
| 1979 | 25.5 | 29.6 | 21.3 |
| 1978 | 25.4 | 29.4 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 25.4 | 29.2 | 21 |
| 1976 | 25.4 | 29.1 | 20.8 |
| 1975 | 25.4 | 29 | 20.7 |
| 1974 | 25.4 | 29 | 20.5 |
| 1973 | 25.6 | 29 | 20.4 |
| 1972 | 25.7 | 29 | 20.4 |
| 1971 | 26 | 29.1 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | 26.2 | 29.1 | 20.3 |
| 1969 | 26.4 | 29.3 | 20.3 |
| 1968 | 26.7 | 29.4 | 20.4 |
| 1967 | 26.9 | 29.4 | 20.5 |
| 1966 | 27.2 | 29.3 | 20.6 |
| 1965 | 27.6 | 29.2 | 20.8 |
| 1964 | 27.9 | 29.1 | 21 |
| 1963 | 28.2 | 29 | 21.2 |
| 1962 | 28.5 | 28.8 | 21.4 |
| 1961 | 28.8 | 28.6 | 21.4 |
| 1960 | 29.1 | 28.4 | 21.5 |
| 1959 | 29.3 | 28.2 | 21.5 |
| 1958 | 29.3 | 28.1 | 21.5 |
| 1957 | 29.3 | 28 | 21.6 |
| 1956 | 29.3 | 27.9 | 21.7 |
| 1955 | 29.2 | 27.7 | 21.8 |
| 1954 | 29.1 | 27.5 | 21.9 |
| 1953 | 29 | 27.2 | 22 |
| 1952 | 28.8 | 27 | 22.1 |
| 1951 | 28.8 | 26.8 | 22.1 |
| 1950 | 29 | 26.5 | 22.2 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | Spain | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38.738.6–38.8 | 45.445.3–45.5 | 30.6 |
| 2025 | 3938.6–39.3 | 45.945.6–46.1 | 30.9 |
| 2026 | 39.238.6–39.8 | 46.345.9–46.7 | 31.1 |
| 2027 | 39.438.4–40.3 | 46.846.1–47.3 | 31.3 |
| 2028 | 39.638.3–40.8 | 47.246.4–47.9 | 31.6 |
| 2029 | 39.738.1–41.3 | 47.646.5–48.6 | 31.8 |
| 2030 | 39.937.8–41.9 | 48.146.6–49.2 | 32 |
| 2031 | 40.137.6–42.5 | 48.446.7–49.9 | 32.2 |
| 2032 | 40.237.2–43.1 | 48.846.6–50.5 | 32.4 |
| 2033 | 40.336.9–43.7 | 49.246.5–51.2 | 32.6 |
| 2034 | 40.436.6–44.3 | 49.546.4–51.8 | 32.8 |
| 2035 | 40.536.3–44.9 | 49.846.2–52.4 | 33 |
| 2036 | 40.636–45.5 | 50.146–53.1 | 33.2 |
| 2037 | 40.735.8–46.1 | 50.445.8–53.7 | 33.4 |
| 2038 | 40.835.6–46.6 | 50.645.4–54.3 | 33.6 |
| 2039 | 40.935.4–47.2 | 50.845–54.9 | 33.8 |
| 2040 | 4135.3–47.8 | 5144.6–55.4 | 34 |
| 2041 | 41.135.2–48.3 | 51.244–56 | 34.2 |
| 2042 | 41.335.2–48.9 | 51.443.3–56.5 | 34.4 |
| 2043 | 41.435.2–49.5 | 51.542.7–57.1 | 34.6 |
| 2044 | 41.635.2–50 | 51.642.2–57.6 | 34.8 |
| 2045 | 41.835.3–50.5 | 51.741.7–58.1 | 35 |
| 2046 | 4235.3–51 | 51.841.4–58.6 | 35.2 |
| 2047 | 42.235.4–51.6 | 51.841.3–59.1 | 35.4 |
| 2048 | 42.435.5–52.1 | 51.841.2–59.6 | 35.6 |
| 2049 | 42.635.6–52.6 | 51.841.1–60 | 35.9 |
| 2050 | 42.935.6–53.1 | 51.841.1–60.5 | 36.1 |
| 2051 | 43.135.6–53.6 | 51.741.2–60.9 | 36.3 |
| 2052 | 43.435.7–54.2 | 51.741.3–61.3 | 36.5 |
| 2053 | 43.735.8–54.8 | 51.741.3–61.8 | 36.7 |
| 2054 | 4435.9–55.4 | 51.741.4–62.2 | 36.9 |
| 2055 | 44.335.9–56 | 51.741.4–62.6 | 37.1 |
| 2056 | 44.635.9–56.5 | 51.741.4–63.1 | 37.3 |
| 2057 | 44.936–57.1 | 51.841.5–63.5 | 37.5 |
| 2058 | 45.236–57.6 | 51.841.5–63.9 | 37.6 |
| 2059 | 45.436–58.2 | 51.941.5–64.2 | 37.8 |
| 2060 | 45.736.1–58.8 | 5241.5–64.5 | 37.9 |
| 2061 | 45.936–59.4 | 52.241.4–64.8 | 38 |
| 2062 | 46.136–60 | 52.341.4–65.1 | 38.1 |
| 2063 | 46.336–60.6 | 52.441.3–65.4 | 38.3 |
| 2064 | 46.536–61.1 | 52.541.2–65.6 | 38.4 |
| 2065 | 46.636.1–61.7 | 52.641.1–65.9 | 38.5 |
| 2066 | 46.836.1–62.2 | 52.641–66.1 | 38.6 |
| 2067 | 46.936.1–62.7 | 52.740.8–66.3 | 38.7 |
| 2068 | 4736.2–63.2 | 52.740.7–66.6 | 38.8 |
| 2069 | 47.136.2–63.6 | 52.740.5–66.9 | 38.9 |
| 2070 | 47.236.2–64 | 52.740.4–67.1 | 39 |
| 2071 | 47.236.3–64.4 | 52.740.4–67.4 | 39.1 |
| 2072 | 47.236.4–64.8 | 52.640.3–67.8 | 39.2 |
| 2073 | 47.236.5–65.2 | 52.540.2–68.1 | 39.3 |
| 2074 | 47.236.6–65.6 | 52.440.2–68.4 | 39.4 |
| 2075 | 47.236.6–66 | 52.240.2–68.8 | 39.5 |
| 2076 | 47.236.7–66.4 | 52.140.1–69.2 | 39.6 |
| 2077 | 47.236.8–66.7 | 5240.1–69.6 | 39.7 |
| 2078 | 47.236.9–67 | 51.840–70 | 39.8 |
| 2079 | 47.237–67.3 | 51.740–70.4 | 40 |
| 2080 | 47.337.2–67.5 | 51.640–70.8 | 40.1 |
| 2081 | 47.337.2–67.6 | 51.539.9–71.2 | 40.2 |
| 2082 | 47.437.3–67.7 | 51.540–71.6 | 40.3 |
| 2083 | 47.437.4–67.7 | 51.440–72 | 40.4 |
| 2084 | 47.637.6–67.6 | 51.340.1–72.4 | 40.5 |
| 2085 | 47.737.8–67.5 | 51.340.1–72.7 | 40.6 |
| 2086 | 47.837.9–67.4 | 51.340.2–73 | 40.7 |
| 2087 | 4837.9–67.1 | 51.340.2–73.3 | 40.9 |
| 2088 | 48.137.9–66.7 | 51.340.2–73.5 | 41 |
| 2089 | 48.337.9–66.1 | 51.440.3–73.8 | 41.1 |
| 2090 | 48.537.8–64.6 | 51.440.3–74 | 41.2 |
| 2091 | 48.737.8–62 | 51.540.4–74.3 | 41.3 |
| 2092 | 48.837.9–58.7 | 51.640.4–74.5 | 41.4 |
| 2093 | 4937.9–56.3 | 51.740.5–74.7 | 41.5 |
| 2094 | 49.238–54.5 | 51.740.6–74.8 | 41.6 |
| 2095 | 49.338–52.9 | 51.840.7–74.8 | 41.7 |
| 2096 | 49.538.1–51.2 | 51.940.7–74.7 | 41.8 |
| 2097 | 49.638.2–49.5 | 5240.8–74.4 | 41.9 |
| 2098 | 49.738.2–47.8 | 52.140.8–74.2 | 42 |
| 2099 | 49.838.2–46.5 | 52.240.8–73.9 | 42 |
| 2100 | 49.938.2–45.3 | 52.240.9–73.5 | 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
Ireland vs Spain
Health
- Life expectancyIreland: 82.4 years in 2023Spain: 83.7 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024Spain: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Spain: 2.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterIreland: 96% in 2022Spain: 99.6% in 2022
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017Spain: 3.54% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017Spain: 5.5 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023Spain: 47.9 million people in 2023
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023Spain: 0.02% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023Spain: 1.21 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025Spain: 80.5% in 2025
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023Spain: 20.7% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023Spain: 2.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025Spain: 2.13% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025Spain: $37.7B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025Spain: $839 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025Spain: 4.7% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020Spain: 199,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022Spain: 0.66% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020Spain: 0.87% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025Spain: 237 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025Spain: 341 million TIV in 2025