Dublin continues to dominate Ireland’s economic landscape, with new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing disposable income in the capital reached €52 billion in 2024, marking a 9.9% increase on the previous year.
The data confirms that Dublin City and County recorded the highest disposable income in the State, accounting for the largest share of national income. On a per-person basis, Dubliners had an average disposable income of €33,889, which is 12% higher than the national average of €30,139.
According to the CSO, “disposable income is the amount of money left for individuals to spend after receiving social benefits and paying tax and social charges.”
The strong performance is largely underpinned by Dublin’s thriving Information and Communication sector, which remains the capital’s largest contributor to economic output.
In addition to leading on disposable income, Dublin also recorded the highest GDP per capita in the country at €182,305, highlighting a widening economic divide between the capital and other regions. By comparison, the Midlands region — comprising Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath — remained the weakest performer.
The CSO said the Midland region’s disposable income totalled €8.8 billion in 2024, standing 14.5% below the national average per person. “The region continued to record the lowest levels of disposable income nationally,” the office noted.
Outside Dublin, Limerick recorded the next highest disposable income per person at €30,879, followed closely by Cork at €30,748. At the other end of the scale, Longford recorded the lowest disposable income per person in the State at €23,725, which is 21% below the national average. Roscommon (€24,685) and Donegal (€24,686) followed closely behind.
GDP figures also reflected regional disparities. After Dublin, the South-West region recorded GDP per capita of €162,983, followed by Kildare at €81,859. Manufacturing was the strongest contributor to GDP in the South-West and Kildare, while the public sector remained the dominant contributor in lower-performing regions.
The lowest GDP per capita in the country was recorded in Longford (€28,689), followed by the Border region (€32,617) and Laois (€32,717).
The latest CSO figures underline Dublin’s continued economic strength — and the growing challenge of addressing regional income and productivity gaps across the State.
