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Research, published by the ESRI show that there are major inequalities between those of us on the northern side of the border and those on the southern side.
Perhaps the most noticeable figure is that us folk in the north live on average a full two years less (as of 2021 for children aged below one) with health, education and income inequalities contributing factors.
Healthcare wise, many more patients are waiting over 18 months for treatment in the north, 86 per thousand compared to 12 per thousand, south of the border while early school leaving rates are three times higher in the north.
The research was commissioned as part of the Institute’s research programme with the Shared Island Unit and it provides a high-level comparison of the economies of Ireland and Northern Ireland (NI) in recent years. The report covers a broad range of dimensions including demographics and labour market trends, living standards, economic structures, education, health, and overall well-being.
Adele Bergin, an author of the report and an Associate Research Professor at the ESRI, said: “Ireland has experienced stronger economic growth, higher wages, and higher living standards in recent years. The gap in economic performance and well-being indicators between Ireland and Northern Ireland is widening.”
The research recognises that the economies North and South on the island are distinct in important structural respects. Northern Ireland is part of the wider UK economy, with significant implications for trade and public policy. Ireland, on the other hand, is a national-level economy and an EU Member State. The report notes that because of this direct comparisons between the two will not always be on a like-for-like basis. Regardless of this there are some startling figures.
Life Expectancy
The report explains that life expectancy is an important indicator that tends to encapsulate the impacts of multiple well-being determinants across a range of areas including income levels, educational attainment and access to health services. In 2021, life expectancy for children aged below one in Ireland was 82.4 years compared to 80.4 years in NI, a gap of 2 years. As was the case with many other key metrics, the gap between Ireland and NI in life expectancy has also been widening over recent years.
Income
The hourly wage was 36% higher than in the north as of 2022.
Ireland’s GNI* per capita in 2022 was 57% higher than NI’s GDP per capita, reflecting stronger economic growth.
Household disposable income in Ireland is 18.3% higher than in NI (as of 2018), and the gap has widened over time.
Health and Education
Ireland allocates a much higher share of government expenditures to health: 26.3% in Ireland vs. 17.3% in NI in 2022/23
Education wise it's 10.7% in Ireland vs. 9.5% in NI in 2022/23.
Only 71% of 15–19 year olds in NI are in education vs. 94% in Ireland.
Early school leaving rates are 3 times higher in NI than in Ireland. As of 2022 its 10% in the north compared to 2.7% in south.
While Inpatient and outpatient waiting lists are similar for those waiting between up to six months for treatment in 2024 the rates for longer durations are much higher in NI. 86 per 1,000 people in NI on waiting lists for 18+ months, compared to 12 per 1,000 in Ireland.
Economics and Trade
While Great Britain remains NI’s largest trading partner, NI’s trade with GB has declined since 2015, while trade with Ireland has increased.
On a per capita basis, NI residents pay significantly lower personal income tax than those in Ireland (€2,980 in NI vs. €6,725 per capita in Ireland).
Corporate tax receipts per capita in Ireland (€5,760) are over five times those in NI (€1,018), reflecting the dominance of multinationals.
Employment
The public sector employs 29.2% in NI vs. 25.3% in Ireland
Manufacturing in Ireland accounts for 44% of gross value added, over 2.5 times NI’s share.
Employment south of the border is almost twice as concentrated in high-value added sectors like ICT and financial services, 9.8% of jobs in Ireland compared to 5.4% in NI.
Labour productivity in NI lagged that of Ireland in most sectors with the south more than 2.5 times as productive, although the north is more productive in ‘construction’ and ‘agriculture and ‘forestry and fishing’.
Check out the full ERSI report at: Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland
