The map above shows Ireland and Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Ireland vs Wales Geography
Land area: Ireland has a land area of 26,596 square miles (68,883 km²), while Wales has 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²). Ireland's land area is 3.3 times (232%) larger than Wales'.
Total area: Ireland: 27,133 square miles (70,273 km²) vs Wales: 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²), including inland and coastal water. Ireland's total area is 3.4 times (238%) larger than Wales'.
Length: Ireland is 287 miles (462 km) long from north to south; Wales is 149 miles (239 km). Ireland's north-south length is 1.9 times (93%) longer than Wales'.
Width: Ireland spans 191 miles (308 km) east to west; Wales spans 111 miles (179 km). Ireland's east-west width is 1.7 times (72%) wider than Wales'.
Highest point: Ireland's highest point is Carrauntoohil at 3,406 feet (1,038 m); Wales's is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 3,560 feet (1,085 m). Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is 154 feet higher than Carrauntoohil.
Lowest point: Ireland's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; Wales's is Irish Sea at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Ireland vs Wales Population and History
Population: Ireland has a population of 5,525,600 (2026), while Wales has 3,105,000 (2022). Ireland's population is 1.8 times (78%) larger than Wales'.
Population density: Ireland: 207.8 people per square mile vs Wales: 387.0. Wales' population density is 1.9 times (86%) higher than Ireland's.
Biggest city: Ireland's biggest city is Dublin with 592,713 people; Wales's is Cardiff with 372,089. Dublin's population is 1.6 times (59%) larger than Cardiff's.
History: Ireland: Independent since December 6, 1922, as the Irish Free State; a republic since 1949. Wales: A country within the United Kingdom; formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1536. In its current form, Wales is the older of the two by 386 years.
Ireland vs Wales Economy
GDP: Ireland's GDP is $721.7 billion (2025) vs Wales's $89.5 billion. Ireland's economic output is 8.1 times (706%) larger than Wales'.
GDP per capita: Ireland: $131,593 per person vs Wales: $28,606. Ireland's GDP per capita is 4.6 times (360%) higher than Wales'.
Official Websites
Ireland official website · Wales official website
More Size Comparisons
All Ireland size comparisons · All Wales size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.