Ireland
Europe
Key facts
- Capital
- Dublin
- Population
- 5,484,367
- 2025
- Area
- 70,280 km²
- Official languages
- Irish (first official language), English (second official language)
- Currency
- Euro
- EUR
- GDP per capita
- US$131,592
- 2025
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Ireland allows dual citizenship in both directions.
Ireland (Europe) has data on 11/14 Prosperous Intelligence indices. Strongest relative position: Passport Index — #5/198 (95.2/100). Lowest relative position: Tax Freedom Index — #139/145 (40.5/100). The passport ranks #5/198 and reaches 200 destinations without a consular visa in advance. Global Citizenship Score 82.4/100 (#12/199). On the entry side, 75/197 passports can enter Ireland without a consular visa in advance. The dataset records 1 active citizenship and residence programmes in Ireland.
Scores on 11 indices
- Health & Longevity84.4
- Safety & Stability93.9
- Economy & Income87.1
- Education82.8
- Environment & Clean Water69.6
- Infrastructure90.3
- Digital Connectivity72.5
- Equality87.0
- Learning Quality93.0
- Educational Attainment89.4
- Expected Years of Schooling84.6
- Education Spending55.2
- Basic Access83.0
- Violent Crime99.1
- Stability & Absence of Terrorism81.5
- Law Enforcement & Order96.2
- Road Safety95.8
- Absence of Armed Conflict100.0
- Health Outcomes97.4
- Coverage & Access94.3
- Health Workforce & Facilities66.8
- Spending & Investment67.0
- Financial Protection88.8
- Personal Income Tax5.5
- Capital Gains & Dividends17.5
- System & Incentives45.0
- Net Wealth Tax100.0
- Inheritance & Gift Tax41.3
- Corporate & Social Security72.2
- Rule of Law & Property Rights92.7
- Political Stability81.5
- Institutions & Regulation96.9
- Financial Soundness72.4
- Monetary Stability73.5
- Freedom of Capital Movement100.0
- Education82.8
- Healthcare84.4
- Safety93.9
- Quality of Life83.6
- Cost of living31.9
- Passport95.2
- Passport95.2
- Quality of Life83.6
- Safety93.9
- Healthcare84.4
- Purchasing power & price stability70.0
- Education82.8
- Wealth Protection86.5
- Tax40.5
- Cost of living31.9
- Healthcare84.4
- Safety93.9
- Quality of Life83.6
- Tax40.5
- Wealth Protection86.5
- Affordable Prices14.0
- Price Stability73.5
- Purchasing power69.1
Monthly living costs
- Total incl. rentUS$2,825Rank 20 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Total excl. rentUS$669Rank 20 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Housing & utilitiesUS$2,306Rank 19 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Core food basketUS$109Rank 17 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- A fixed basket of 15 everyday items at online retail prices; not a household’s full food spending.
- Eating outUS$194Rank 21 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- TransportUS$107Rank 19 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Internet & mobileUS$110Rank 21 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- 2 adults, 2 primary-school children
- Total incl. rentUS$5,037Rank 19 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Total excl. rentUS$1,376Rank 20 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Housing & utilitiesUS$3,949Rank 20 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Core food basketUS$348Rank 17 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- A fixed basket of 15 everyday items at online retail prices; not a household’s full food spending.
- Eating outUS$387Rank 21 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- TransportUS$215Rank 16 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- Internet & mobileUS$138Rank 21 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- International school (reference)US$888Rank 2 of 24 countries researched; #1 is the cheapest
- 4 schools, US$596–US$1,142 a month; not included in the totals
At a glance
Entering Ireland
- Visa-free: 75 passports
- Visa on arrival: 0 passports
- eTA: 0 passports
- e-Visa: 0 passports
- Consular visa required: 122 passports
Regional position and data sources
- First in Europe on 0/11 indices
- Above the regional median on 8/11 indices
- Each index lists its source and data date on the Data sources page
Citizenship and residence programmes in the dataset
- Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Frequently asked questions about Ireland
What is the capital of Ireland?
The capital of Ireland is Dublin.
What is the population of Ireland?
According to the World Bank, Ireland had a population of 5,484,367 in 2025.
What are the official languages of Ireland?
The official languages of Ireland are Irish (first official language) and English (second official language).
What currency does Ireland use?
Ireland uses the Euro (EUR).
Does Ireland allow dual citizenship?
Ireland allows dual citizenship in both directions.
How strong is the Ireland passport?
The Ireland passport ranks #5 of 198 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Passport Index and reaches 200 destinations without applying for a consular visa in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA).
How many destinations require a visa for Ireland passport holders?
Holders of the Ireland passport must apply for a consular visa before travelling to 16 destinations and need an e-Visa for 31. Full list: Ireland passport page.
How many passports can enter Ireland without applying for a visa in advance?
75 of 197 passports can enter Ireland without applying for a consular visa in advance: 75 visa-free. 122 must apply for a consular visa.
What citizenship and residency programmes does Ireland offer?
The Prosperous Intelligence dataset records 1 active citizenship or residency programme in Ireland: Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP). Details: Opportunity Map.
How long does an application take in Ireland?
In Ireland, an application under Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) takes about 2–4 months (reference processing time).
How long does it take to become a citizen of Ireland through these programmes?
Through Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP), citizenship of Ireland is possible after about 5 years, after a period of permanent residence (reference time).
How many days a year do you need to spend in Ireland?
In Ireland, Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) requires 0 days of physical presence a year (reference figure).
Can family members join programmes in Ireland?
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) can include spouse and children under 18.
Where is Ireland strongest and weakest in Prosperous Intelligence’s indices?
Relative to other countries, Ireland is strongest on the Passport Index (#5 of 198) and weakest on the Tax Freedom Index (#139 of 145).
How does Ireland rank for quality of life?
Ireland scores 83.6/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Quality of Life Index, ranking #19 of 211.
Is Ireland expensive to live in?
Ireland scores 31.9/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Cost of Living Index, ranking #185 of 200. This is the affordability-of-living-costs score: a higher score means lower prices.
How safe is Ireland?
Ireland scores 93.9/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Global Safety Index, ranking #16 of 203.
How does Ireland rank for healthcare?
Ireland scores 84.4/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Healthcare Index, ranking #15 of 192.
How does Ireland rank for education?
Ireland scores 82.8/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Education Index, ranking #21 of 191.
How does Ireland rank on taxes?
Ireland scores 40.5/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Tax Freedom Index, ranking #139 of 145. Detailed tax rates: Tax Freedom Index.
What the profile contains
- Key facts from government and international sources
- Scores and global ranks on 11 Prosperous Intelligence indices
- Entry rules, passport strength and residency programmes
Why the profile matters
- Compare one country across many criteria on a single page
- Not a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice
Method
- How each index is scored and weighted
- The limits of the data and how to check official sources
