Ireland vs United States
Ireland vs United States: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 82.4 years in Ireland and 79.3 years in United States, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Ireland, by 3.1 years, or 1.04 times that in United States.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Ireland has been higher since 2001, when it overtook United States.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at 91.8 years and United States at 89.2 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Ireland | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82.4 | 79.3 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 82.1 | 78 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 81.9 | 76.4 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 82.4 | 77 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 82.4 | 78.9 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 82.1 | 78.8 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 82.1 | 78.7 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 81.7 | 78.7 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 81.5 | 78.7 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 81.4 | 78.9 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 81.1 | 78.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 80.9 | 78.8 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 80.7 | 78.7 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 80.6 | 78.7 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 80.1 | 78.5 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 79.8 | 78.1 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 79.6 | 78.1 | 69 |
| 2006 | 79.2 | 77.8 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 78.9 | 77.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 78.5 | 77.5 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 78.1 | 77.1 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 77.6 | 77 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 77.1 | 76.9 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 76.5 | 76.8 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 76.1 | 76.7 | 66 |
| 1998 | 76.2 | 76.7 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 76 | 76.5 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 75.8 | 76.2 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 75.5 | 75.9 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 75.8 | 75.7 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 75.3 | 75.6 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 75.4 | 75.8 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 75 | 75.5 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 74.8 | 75.4 | 64 |
| 1989 | 74.5 | 75.1 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 74.4 | 74.8 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 74.4 | 74.9 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 73.6 | 74.7 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 73.6 | 74.7 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 73.6 | 74.7 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 73.2 | 74.6 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 73.2 | 74.5 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 72.9 | 74.1 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 72.5 | 73.7 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 72.2 | 73.8 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 71.9 | 73.4 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 71.9 | 73.2 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 71.8 | 72.8 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 71.7 | 72.5 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 71.1 | 72 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 71.2 | 71.4 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 71 | 71.2 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 71.6 | 71.1 | 56 |
| 1970 | 70.8 | 70.7 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 70.8 | 70.5 | 56 |
| 1968 | 70.9 | 70.2 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 71.2 | 70.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 70.2 | 70.2 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 70.6 | 70.3 | 54 |
| 1964 | 70.5 | 70.2 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 70.2 | 69.9 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 70 | 70.1 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 69.6 | 70.3 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 70.2 | 69.8 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 69.4 | 69.9 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 69.3 | 69.7 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 69 | 69.4 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 69 | 69.6 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 68 | 69.6 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 68 | 69.5 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 67.9 | 68.7 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 67.2 | 68.4 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 64.8 | 68.2 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 65.6 | 68.1 | 46.4 |
| 1949 | – | 67.6 | – |
| 1948 | – | 67.2 | – |
| 1947 | – | 66.8 | – |
| 1946 | 61.4 | 66.1 | – |
| 1945 | – | 65.6 | – |
| 1944 | – | 65.1 | – |
| 1943 | – | 64.4 | – |
| 1942 | – | 64.5 | – |
| 1941 | 60 | 63.8 | – |
| 1940 | – | 63.2 | – |
| 1939 | – | 63.1 | – |
| 1938 | – | 62.4 | – |
| 1937 | – | 61 | – |
| 1936 | 58.9 | 60.4 | – |
| 1935 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1934 | – | 60.2 | – |
| 1933 | – | 60.9 | – |
| 1932 | – | 61 | – |
| 1931 | – | 60.3 | – |
| 1930 | – | 59.6 | – |
| 1929 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1928 | – | 58.3 | – |
| 1927 | – | 59.4 | – |
| 1926 | 57.6 | 57.9 | – |
| 1925 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1924 | – | 58.5 | – |
| 1923 | – | 57.5 | – |
| 1922 | – | 58.1 | – |
| 1921 | – | 58.2 | – |
| 1920 | – | 55.4 | – |
| 1919 | – | 55.3 | – |
| 1918 | – | 47.2 | – |
| 1917 | – | 54 | – |
| 1916 | – | 54.2 | – |
| 1915 | – | 55.1 | – |
| 1914 | – | 54.6 | – |
| 1913 | – | 53.5 | – |
| 1912 | – | 54.1 | – |
| 1911 | 53.8 | 53.4 | – |
| 1910 | – | 51.8 | – |
| 1909 | – | 52.8 | – |
| 1908 | – | 51.9 | – |
| 1907 | – | 50.2 | – |
| 1906 | – | 50.1 | – |
| 1905 | – | 50.3 | – |
| 1904 | – | 49.6 | – |
| 1903 | – | 50.6 | – |
| 1902 | – | 50.5 | – |
| 1901 | 49.4 | 49.3 | – |
| 1890 | – | 45.2 | – |
| 1880 | – | 39.4 | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | United States | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82.681.8–83.5 | 79.578.5–80.5 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 82.881.5–84 | 79.678.2–80.9 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 82.981.3–84.5 | 79.878.1–81.4 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 83.181.3–84.8 | 79.978–81.7 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 83.281.3–85.1 | 80.177.8–82.1 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 83.481.2–85.4 | 80.277.7–82.4 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 83.681.2–85.7 | 80.477.7–82.8 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 83.781.2–85.9 | 80.577.7–83.1 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 83.981.2–86.2 | 80.777.6–83.4 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 8481.3–86.5 | 80.877.5–83.7 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 84.281.4–86.8 | 8177.5–84 | 75 |
| 2035 | 84.381.3–87.1 | 81.177.5–84.3 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 84.481.4–87.3 | 81.377.5–84.6 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 84.681.4–87.5 | 81.477.4–84.8 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 84.781.6–87.8 | 81.677.4–85 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 84.881.6–88.1 | 81.777.5–85.3 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 8581.7–88.4 | 81.877.5–85.4 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 85.181.7–88.7 | 8277.5–85.7 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 85.281.8–88.9 | 82.177.5–85.9 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 85.481.8–89.2 | 82.377.6–86.1 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 85.581.8–89.4 | 82.477.5–86.4 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 85.682–89.6 | 82.577.8–86.6 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 85.782–89.8 | 82.777.7–86.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 85.982.2–90.1 | 82.877.7–87 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 8682.1–90.2 | 8377.9–87.2 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 86.182.1–90.5 | 83.177.8–87.2 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 86.282.2–90.6 | 83.277.9–87.5 | 77 |
| 2051 | 86.482.3–90.7 | 83.478.1–87.8 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 86.582.3–90.8 | 83.578–88.1 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 86.682.5–91.1 | 83.778–88.3 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 86.782.5–91.3 | 83.878.1–88.6 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 86.882.6–91.5 | 83.978.4–88.7 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 8782.7–91.8 | 84.178.2–88.9 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 87.182.7–92 | 84.278.4–89.4 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 87.282.8–92.3 | 84.378.6–89.5 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 87.382.9–92.4 | 84.478.5–89.7 | 78 |
| 2060 | 87.482.8–92.6 | 84.678.7–90 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 87.582.9–92.8 | 84.778.6–90.1 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 87.782.9–93 | 84.878.7–90.4 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 87.882.9–93.2 | 8578.8–90.5 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 87.982.9–93.4 | 85.178.9–90.7 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 8882.9–93.6 | 85.278.8–90.7 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 88.182.9–93.6 | 85.379.1–90.8 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 88.283.1–93.9 | 85.579.4–90.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 88.383.1–94 | 85.679.3–91 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 88.483.1–94.1 | 85.779.3–91.4 | 79 |
| 2070 | 88.683.2–94.1 | 85.879.6–91.8 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 88.783.2–94.4 | 85.979.4–91.9 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 88.883.2–94.5 | 8679.5–92.1 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 88.983.5–94.5 | 86.279.6–92.1 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 8983.6–94.8 | 86.379.6–92.3 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 89.183.6–94.8 | 86.479.9–92.4 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 89.283.6–95 | 86.579.7–92.6 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 89.383.6–95.2 | 86.679.7–92.7 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 89.483.7–95.3 | 86.779.9–93 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 89.583.9–95.6 | 86.879.8–93.3 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 89.784.1–95.8 | 8780.2–93.5 | 80 |
| 2081 | 89.784–96 | 87.180–93.7 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 89.984.1–96.1 | 87.280.1–93.7 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 9084–96.4 | 87.380.3–93.9 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 90.184.2–96.5 | 87.480.3–94 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 90.284.3–96.5 | 87.580.3–94.2 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 90.384.2–96.8 | 87.680.6–94.5 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 90.484.2–96.7 | 87.880.6–94.7 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 90.584.3–97 | 87.980.2–94.7 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 90.684.2–97.2 | 8880.7–95 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 90.784.4–97.4 | 88.180.9–95.1 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 90.884.4–97.5 | 88.280.7–95.4 | 81 |
| 2092 | 90.984.4–97.7 | 88.381–95.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 9184.3–97.8 | 88.481–95.8 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 91.184.5–97.9 | 88.581.3–95.9 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 91.284.5–98.2 | 88.681.5–96 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 91.384.5–98.2 | 88.781.4–96.2 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 91.484.6–98.4 | 88.981.1–96.3 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 91.684.7–98.5 | 8981.5–96.6 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 91.784.7–98.5 | 89.181.5–96.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 91.884.7–98.7 | 89.281.5–96.7 | 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 United States
Health
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024United States: 0.7 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United States: 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterIreland: 96% in 2022United States: 97.5% in 2022
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017United States: 4.84% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017United States: 12.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023United States: 344 million people in 2023
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023United States: 0.58% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023United States: 1.62 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025United States: 80.2% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023United States: 38 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023United States: 17.4% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023United States: 3.9 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025United States: 3.12% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025United States: $929B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025United States: $2,755 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025United States: 8.3% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020United States: 1.4 million people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022United States: 12.36% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020United States: 0.84% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025United States: 745 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025United States: 14 billion TIV in 2025