Greece vs Ireland development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Greece has a total population of 10.4 million, while Ireland's population stands at 5.4 million. Greece's crude birth rate is lower at 6.8 per 1,000 people compared to Ireland's 10.3, placing Greece ranked 77th and Ireland 13th in this category. Conversely, Greece's crude death rate is significantly higher at 12.2 per 1,000 people, leading to its 29th ranking, as opposed to Ireland's lower rate of 6.6 and its 80th ranking. Life expectancy in Greece is 81.5 years, slightly less than Ireland’s 82.9 years. Regarding under-5 mortality rates, both countries have similar figures, with Greece at 3.7 per 1,000 live births and Ireland at 3.8. Notably, despite Greece's higher total population, it faces a net migration outflow of 122,772, contrasting sharply with Ireland's net inflow of 39,059.

Economy

In terms of economic performance, Greece's GDP per capita stands at $24,752 compared to Ireland's impressive $107,316, showcasing a stark disparity in individual wealth and economic prosperity. Greece ranks 76th in GDP per capita while Ireland ranks 5th. Furthermore, Greece's GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) is $44,074, compared to Ireland’s $131,175, illustrating a significant gap in income levels relative to living costs. Greece's economy heavily relies on imports, with imports constituting 47.3% of GDP as opposed to 105% in Ireland, demonstrating a more trade-dependent economy. Notably, Greece’s inflation rate is 2.7% compared to Ireland’s lower rate of 2.1%, indicating slightly greater price stability in Ireland.

Trade and Investment

Trade plays a pivotal role in both countries' economies, with Greece’s exports of goods and services amounting to 42% of GDP, in stark contrast to Ireland's 148%. This significant difference demonstrates Ireland's robust global trade connections and its status as a hub for multinational companies. Furthermore, the research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP highlights Greece at 1.5%, compared to Ireland’s 1%. However, Greece’s higher number of patent applications (394) suggests a comparatively active domestic innovation environment, ranking 16th versus Ireland’s lower number of 75, which ranks 24th. Overall, Greece’s economy appears more vulnerable to external shocks due to its lesser reliance on trade compared to Ireland.

Governance and Institutions

Governance and institutional stability show pronounced differences, with Greece scoring lower in multiple areas of governance. The score for control of corruption in Greece is 0.1, compared to Ireland’s 1.6, highlighting an apparent challenge in governance quality. Additionally, government effectiveness in Greece is similarly low at 0.1 while Ireland achieves a much higher score of 1.6. Greece ranks 75th in government effectiveness compared to Ireland's 14th, indicating broader institutional challenges within Greece. Political stability and absence of violence scores reflect dangers in governance as well, with Greece at 0.2, ranking it 79th, versus Ireland's 0.9, which secures its ranking at 12th. This disparity suggests that Ireland boasts significantly more effective government institutions and political stability than Greece.

Infrastructure and Technology

Infrastructure quality appears slightly more favorable in Greece, with a logistics performance index of 3.7, compared to Ireland’s 3.5. This suggests that while both nations maintain relatively similar standards in their infrastructure, Greece may have a slight edge in trade and transport-related aspects. In terms of digital connectivity, Ireland leads with 96.5% of its population using the internet, compared to Greece's 85%. This digital gap suggests that Ireland's population has greater access to digital resources, which is critical for modern economies heavily reliant on technology.

Environment and Sustainability

In terms of environmental impact, Greece emits 6.7 tons of CO2 per capita, placing it 55th globally versus Ireland’s 10.9 tons, which ranks 11th, indicating a more significant environmental challenge for Ireland. However, Greece excels in renewable energy consumption, utilizing 21.5% of its total energy from renewable sources compared to Ireland's 12.7%. This discrepancy highlights Greece's commitment to sustainability in renewable energy, despite its overall higher emissions. Water stress levels are also comparable, with Greece at 20.7% of available resources withdrawn, while Ireland is at 22.2%, indicating similar pressures on freshwater resources in both countries.