Ireland

Country in Europe

In brief

Health spending per person: $7,395 (2024). World rank 8 of 193; in Europe, 7 of 44. Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 14.8 (2023). World rank 4 of 192 (1 = best); in Europe, 4 of 42. Access to clean cooking fuels: 100% (2024). World rank 1 of 192 (1 = best); in Europe, 1 of 43. From 2014 to 2024: health spending 9.2% → 6.8% (share of GDP), health spending per person $5,310 → $7,395, and out-of-pocket health spending 14% → 10.6% (share of total). Better than all its neighbours (United Kingdom): secondary school enrolment, doctors per 1,000 people, nurses and midwives per 1,000 people, hospital beds per 1,000 people, and children vaccinated against measles. Worse than all its neighbours (United Kingdom): higher education enrolment, access to safe drinking water, access to basic sanitation, adults who use tobacco, and overweight adults.

Education

Adult literacy: No data
Primary school enrolment: 96.5% 2022
Secondary school enrolment: 131% 2022
Higher education enrolment: 77.6% 2022
Public spending on education, share of GDP: 2.9% 2021

Healthcare

Health spending, share of GDP: 6.8% 2024
Health spending per person: $7,395 2024
Out-of-pocket health spending, share of total: 10.6% 2024
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3.9 2023
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 14.8 2023
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 3 2023
Children vaccinated against measles: 90% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 3.4 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 3.9 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 4 2023
HIV prevalence, ages 15–49: 0.2% 2024
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 3.6% 2024
Overweight adults: 64.7% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: 18.2% 2024

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 97.1% 2024
Access to basic sanitation: 89.7% 2024
Access to clean cooking fuels: 100% 2024