Country profile
Ireland
A base for global pharmaceutical, medical device and chemical makers; over 40% of exports go to the United States.
Updated 11 November 2026. Sources at the bottom of the page.
- Capital
- Dublin
- Population
- 5.55 million (2026)
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- GDP, 2026
- US$710 billion
- Exports, 2025
- US$291.3 billion
- Exchange rate
- 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (10 Nov 2026)
Economy
IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026. 2026 and 2027 are IMF projections.
-1%Real GDP growth, 2026
3.7%Real GDP growth, 2027
3.4%Inflation, 2026
5%Unemployment, 2026
33.5% of GDPGovernment debt, 2026
7.4% of GDPCurrent account, 2026
Compare Ireland with other countries →
Trade
Top export markets
Share of the country’s exports, 2025
- United States (42.5%)
- Netherlands (9.9%)
- United Kingdom (8%)
- Belgium (6.1%)
- Germany (5.9%)
Main exports
Product groups, share of exports
- Pharmaceuticals (32.6%)
- Organic chemicals, including drug ingredients (28%)
- Optical, technical and medical apparatus (8%)
- Electrical machinery and equipment (5.8%)
- Machinery, including computers (5.2%)
Main trade agreements
- EU single market
- EU agreements including CETA (Canada), EU–Japan, EU–Korea, EU–Mexico and EU–Vietnam
- EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
- Windsor Framework arrangements for trade with Northern Ireland
Trade policy to watch
- EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): in its definitive phase since 1 January 2026 for imports into the EU of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
- EU trade policy: no tariffs inside the EU; trade with non-EU countries is set at EU level.
- US exposure: with over 40% of exports going to the US, US trade measures on pharmaceuticals and medical devices matter most for Irish production.
Energy
Natural gas and wind produce most of Ireland's electricity. Ireland imports most of its gas through the UK, and data-centre demand is straining the grid.
What it means for your supply chain
- Ireland is a key source of active pharmaceutical ingredients, finished drugs and medical devices.
- Many Irish plants are owned by US multinationals; supply decisions are often made at group level.
- Grid constraints can limit new capacity for power-intensive sites.
Ireland in the Supplier Hub
1 company in the Supplier Hub is listed under Ireland.
Sources
- IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026: GDP, growth, inflation, unemployment, government debt, current account (2026 and 2027 are projections; updated automatically).
- IMF, World Economic Outlook database: population (2026 estimate).
- Trading Economics, based on UN Comtrade data: export markets and main exports; shares calculated from the listed values.
- Bank of Canada, daily exchange rates (cross rates calculated from CAD rates; updated daily).
- Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy 2026: energy profile.
- European Commission, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Figures are the latest published at the time of the update and may since have been revised. This page is for general information, not investment or legal advice.