Cyprus vs Ireland development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Cyprus has a slightly higher birth rate at 10.8 per 1,000 people compared to Ireland's 10.3, ranking it 7th in the world while Ireland ranks 13th. In terms of death rates, Cyprus's rate of 7.1 is higher than Ireland's 6.6, which positions Cyprus at 75th place compared to Ireland's 80th. Life expectancy is another critical indicator, with Cyprus at 81.6 years versus Ireland's 82.9 years, ranking 31st and 12th respectively. The under-5 mortality rate is slightly lower in Cyprus at 3.5 compared to Ireland's 3.8, which is noteworthy as it's considered important for assessing child health outcomes. The prevalence of undernourishment is the same in both countries at 2.5%, indicating good food security. In terms of healthcare resources, Cyprus has 3.6 physicians per 1,000 people against Ireland's 4.1, indicating a marginally less robust healthcare workforce. Current health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is higher in Cyprus at 8.9 compared to Ireland's 6.1, suggesting a greater financial commitment to health services.

Economy

The economies of Cyprus and Ireland show significant differences, particularly in GDP per capita, where Cyprus stands at $38,654, ranking 45th globally, while Ireland's GDP per capita is $107,316, placing it 5th. Similarly, in GDP per capita measured by purchasing power parity (PPP), Cyprus's value is $61,240 compared to Ireland's $131,175. Government effectiveness is also more pronounced in Ireland, scoring 1.6 against Cyprus's 0.7. Inflation rates are marginally lower in Cyprus at 1.8% compared to Ireland's 2.1%. However, Cyprus's economy is heavily dependent on exports, with 96.7% of its GDP stemming from exports of goods and services, whereas Ireland's figure is 148%, the highest global rank. Cyprus faced negative foreign direct investment inflows at -10.5%, significantly better than Ireland's -25.4%.

Trade and Investment

Cyprus and Ireland are both heavily reliant on trade, with Cyprus's exports of goods and services constituting 96.7% of its GDP, which places it 16th worldwide. Ireland's figure of 148% signifies a robust export-oriented economy ranked 5th globally. Conversely, Cyprus's imports of goods and services make up 93.1% of its GDP, while Ireland's imports represent 105% of GDP. This dependence on trade illustrates the vulnerability of both economies to global market fluctuations. However, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows are problematic for both nations, with Cyprus experiencing a -10.5% inflow, indicating serious capital flight, while Ireland's scenario is worse at -25.4%.

Governance and Institutions

When it comes to governance, Ireland outperforms Cyprus significantly in various metrics. The Control of Corruption score is higher in Ireland at 1.6 versus Cyprus's 0.3, indicating more effective anti-corruption measures. The Government Effectiveness index also shows Ireland with a score of 1.6 compared to Cyprus's 0.7, which reflects better institutional performance. Political stability and the absence of violence is comparatively favorable in Ireland with a score of 0.9, while Cyprus scores lower at 0.4. The Rule of Law and Regulatory Quality also favor Ireland, making it easier for businesses to operate effectively.

Infrastructure and Technology

Ireland shows marked superiority in infrastructure quality compared to Cyprus, with a Logistics Performance Index score of 3.5 against Cyprus's 2.8. Internet usage is also notably higher in Ireland, at 96.5% of its population compared to 91.2% in Cyprus, highlighting Ireland's digital advancement. Both countries engage in research and development spending, but Cyprus spends only 0.7% of its GDP compared to Ireland's 1%, which can affect long-term competitiveness in innovation and technology sectors. Cyprus's level of water stress is concerning as it stands at 32.1% compared to Ireland's more sustainable 22.2%, which may have implications for future agricultural and industrial productivity.

Environment and Sustainability

In terms of environmental performance, Cyprus shows a relatively better renewable energy consumption rate at 15.6% compared to Ireland's 12.7%. However, total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are higher in Cyprus at 7.7 tons compared to Ireland's 10.9 tons, reflecting a more sustainable environmental approach in Cyprus. Furthermore, sustainable water use in Cyprus is concerning with 32.1%, ranking it lower on the sustainability index while Ireland ranks better at 22.2%. Both countries have equal prevalence of undernourishment, which signals good food security, but the sustainability of resources will be critical as climate change intensifies.