Economy, jobs and prices in Northern and Western, Ireland: official figures
GDP per person was 40,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 100% of the EU average; the lowest of 3 regions in Ireland. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Northern and Western?
The regional economy produced €44.9 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 8.0% of Ireland's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Northern and Western?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 4.8% in 2025, against 4.7% for Ireland and 6.0% across the EU; 2nd highest of 3 regions in Ireland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Northern and Western?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 13.4% in 2025, against 11.8% for Ireland; the highest of 3 regions in Ireland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Northern and Western spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 1.44% of GDP in 2023 (1.56% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the Northern and Western Region?
Census 2022 recorded an unemployment rate of 8.8% in the Northern and Western Region (people looking for work as a share of the labour force aged 15+), above the national 8.3% and the highest of 3 regions.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many people work from home in the Northern and Western Region?
28.8% of people aged 15+ who answered the question in the Northern and Western Region worked from home at least some of the time in Census 2022, against 36.1% nationally.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyWhat is the average income in the Northern and Western Region?
The CSO estimates that each resident of the Northern and Western Region had €27,166 of disposable income in 2024 (State = €30,139), the lowest of 3 regions.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many people in Northern and Western are long-term unemployed?
In 2023, 1.2% of the labour force in Northern and Western had been unemployed for 12 months or more, compared with 1.1% nationally and 2.1% in the EU. In 2013 it was 7.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Northern and Western?
Unemployment among women was 4.8% in 2025 (Ireland: 4.6%; EU: 6.2%). In 2015 it was 8.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Northern and Western are in work?
74.7% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025 (Ireland: 75.7%; EU: 71.3%). In 2015 it was 63.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Northern and Western growing?
In real terms the economy of Northern and Western grew by -3.6% in 2024 (gross value added), compared with 2.6% nationally. In 2014 it was 9.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Northern and Western?
Residents of Northern and Western owned 458 cars per 1,000 people in 2024, compared with 451 nationally. In 2014 it was 429.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Northern and Western?
Employers paid an average of €33,614 per employee in 2023, counting wages, salaries and employer social contributions, against €38,166 across Ireland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Northern and Western?
Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation recorded 11.8 million nights in 2025, 60% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Northern and Western?
The largest part of the economy of Northern and Western in 2024 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 35.1% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (20.2%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Northern and Western?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 35.1% of output in 2024, against 32.7% for Ireland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Northern and Western growing?
Gross value added rose from €21.0 billion in 2015 to €42.8 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 104% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Northern and Western?
Of the 439,430 jobs located in Northern and Western in 2024, 33% in public services, education, health and other services, 15% in industry and 7.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Northern and Western?
The number of people working in Northern and Western rose by 29.0% between 2015 and 2024, to 439,430.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 37.5% of people in the Northern and Western Region belonged to the professional, managerial or technical social classes in Census 2022, the lowest of 3 regions (Ireland: 39.9%). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Of the 390,538 residents of the Northern and Western Region at work in Census 2022, 5.8% worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing and 14.5% in manufacturing (Ireland: 3.5% and 11.8%). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- 7.9% of commuters living in the Northern and Western Region took an hour or more to reach work, school or college in Census 2022 (9.7% nationally). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Disposable income per person in the Northern and Western Region rose by 27.6% in the five years from 2019 (€21,295) to 2024, compared with 32.7% for Ireland as a whole. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Total household income in the Northern and Western Region, before income tax, came to €37,293 per person in 2024, of which wages, salaries and employer contributions made up 60.9%. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Income from self-employment accounted for 9.0% of total household income in the Northern and Western Region in 2024, the 2nd highest of 3 regions (Ireland: 8.0%). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
How Northern and Western compares with other statistical regions
Census 2022 unemployment rate (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Census 2022 unemployment rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 8.8% |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 8.3% |
| 3 | Southern | 8.1% |
Professional, managerial and technical social classes (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Professional, managerial and technical social classes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 41.8% |
| 2 | Southern | 38.4% |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 37.5% |
People who work from home at least some of the time (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who work from home at least some of the time (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 41.3% |
| 2 | Southern | 31.8% |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 28.8% |
Disposable income per person (€) (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable income per person (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | €31,629 |
| 2 | Southern | €29,511 |
| 3 | Northern and Western | €27,166 |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2023)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 1.2% |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 1.1% |
| 3 | Southern | 1.1% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 4.8% |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 4.7% |
| 3 | Southern | 4.3% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 76.3% |
| 2 | Southern | 75.4% |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 74.7% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 8.5% |
| 2 | Northern and Western | -3.6% |
| 3 | Southern | -5.5% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | 483 |
| 2 | Northern and Western | 458 |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 426 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | €40,382 |
| 2 | Southern | €36,376 |
| 3 | Northern and Western | €33,614 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | 17.3 million |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 12.8 million |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 11.8 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | 62.1% |
| 2 | Northern and Western | 35.1% |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 16.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 27.6% |
| 2 | Northern and Western | 17.6% |
| 3 | Southern | 14.1% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 19.7% |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 10.0% |
| 3 | Southern | 9.3% |
More on Northern and Western: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Ireland
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Estimates of Household Income by Region and County, 2000-2024 (PxStat table CIRGDP07, County Incomes and Regional GDP), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e9c131e91ab7…)
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- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS), all themes, by administrative county and city, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 32250e98c48a…)
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
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