County Incomes and GDP 2024

The disposable income per person as a percentage deviation from the state average is shown in Figure 1.1. Viewing disposable income on a per capita basis as displayed in Figure 1.1 and Map 1.1 allow us to make more direct comparisons between regions of different sizes and populations than comparing total figures, like those shown in Figure 1.2. It is also worth noting, county calculations for disposable income are estimates and involve a certain degree of uncertainty, however, despite the uncertainty disposable income per capita allow us to visualise disparities in income between regions and counties.

Dublin City and County was the only region where disposable income per person was significantly above the state average in 2023 and 2024, as seen in Figure 1.1. Dublin had the largest disposable income nationally amounting to €33,889 per person. Income per person in the capital was 12% above the state average for 2024. Disposable income in Limerick amounted to €30,879 per person, next highest after Dublin. Income per person in Cork is 2% above the state average, it fell marginally by 0.9% from 2023. Kildare, Louth and Wicklow saw their disposable income per person rise from below the state average in 2023 to marginally above the state average in 2024. Galway and Waterford experienced a small drop in income to 1.1% and 2.3% below the state average respectively. Disposable income per person in Carlow dropped marginally by 0.3% to 1.9%. As seen in Figure 1.5, the social benefits per person for Carlow are significantly above the state average and contribute to an overall rise in the county's disposable income per capita.

Longford was poorest in terms of disposable income per capita; it was 21.3% below the state average, having fell a further 3.3% from 2023. Disposable income per person in Roscommon was also 18.1% below the State average, it fell by 2.9% from the previous year. Donegal was 18.1% below the State average and stayed largely consistent from 2023.

The index of disposable income per person by county is shown in Map 1.1, the monetary value are given in Table 1.1. The county with the lowest disposable income per capita was Longford with an index of 78.7 (€23,725 per person), followed by Roscommon with an index of 81.9 (€24,685 per person) and Donegal with an index of 81.9 (€24,686 per person). After Dublin, Limerick was the second wealthiest county with an index of 102.5 (€30,879 per person); ahead of Cork (index: 102, income: €30,748 per person). Income in Wicklow is closest to the state average with an index of 100.3 (€30,235 per person). While the figures involve a degree of uncertainty, the gap between the lowest and highest county income per capita has widened and stood at €10,164 in 2024, a jump of €1,648 from 2023. 

As seen in Figure 1.2, total disposable income in the Dublin NUTS 3 region (Dublin City and County) was the highest in the state and rose to €52 billion in 2024. Dublin was followed by the South-West NUTS 3 region (Cork and Kerry), which accounted for €23 billion in disposable income. Disposable income generated in Cork represented 81% of the South-West’s total or 36% of the Southern region’s total at NUTS 2 level in 2024. The Mid-East region was marginally behind the South-West, it accounted for €23 billion of disposable income in 2024 due in large part to counties Kildare (€7.8 billion) and Meath (€6.2 billion). Incomes in the Mid-East region steadily increased year-on-year and rose by 12% from 2023. The Midlands had the lowest total disposable income in 2024 and has consistently remained the poorest region nationally, followed by the Border region. As observed in Figures 3.1 and 3.2, both regions had a lower concentration of industry and manufacturing and were more reliant on the public sector to generate value and employment in the region.

Social benefits and other transfers are the social transfers to households made by the State, either in cash or in kind, intended to relieve households of certain financial risks or burdens. Disposable income is defined as primary income plus social benefits and other transfers; less taxes on income and social insurance contributions. Further details are given in the Background Notes. After wages and salaries, social benefits are the largest contributor towards disposable income and have a significant bearing how counties rank on a per person basis with respect to disposable income. 

Figure 1.3 shows the three components that make up disposable income as a percentage by county in 2024. As seen above, larger urban areas had lower contributions from social transfers. For example, social transfers in Dublin made up 18% of its disposable income. Whereas, counties with lower incomes saw a more significant share of their income come from social transfers, for example, Longford (35%) and Donegal (36%).

Figure 1.4 shows the Social Benefits including Other Transfers on a per person basis by county for 2024. As seen, the largest per capita recipient of social benefits was Louth with €9,288 per person, followed by Carlow at €9,032 and Donegal at €8,827 per person. Social benefits were significant for Carlow whose disposable income climbed above the State average in 2024. Likewise for Tipperary, whose disposable income after the addition of social benefits rose to just over the State average, as observed in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.5 shows the percentage of compensation of employees (COE) attributed to foreign-owned multinational enterprises. As expected, the counties with the largest share of COE coming from foreign enterprises are cities and the surrounding counties. Foreign COE was at its highest in Dublin at 40%, followed by Cork at 35.5% and Limerick also at 35%. In rural counties, COE from foreign enterprises accounted for 19% in Monaghan and 21% in Kerry.