County Incomes and Regional GDP 2022 - 2023

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 discrepancies in income between regions and counties.

Dublin City and County is the only region where disposable income per person is significantly above the state average as seen in Figure 1.1. Dublin has the largest disposable income amounting to €32,393 per person. Income per person in the capital has risen to 14.2% above the state average for 2023 and has been increasing year-on-year since 2012. Disposable income in Cork is estimated at €29,876 per person, next highest after Dublin. Income per person in Limerick is 3.9% above the state average, rising marginally by 1.4% from 2022. While disposable income per person in Tipperary has risen by 1% from 2022 to 2023, and remains 3% above the state average. Galway also has experienced a rise in income by 1.9%. Smaller counties such as Carlow has seen their income drop by 1.9% and sits around the state average. 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 is the poorest in terms of disposable income per capita; it is 22% below the state average, falling a further 5.2% from 2022. Disposable income per person in Laois is also 22% below the State average, falling 1.5% from the previous year. Donegal is 18% below the State average and has stayed largely consistent from 2022.

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 78.4 (€22,251 per person), followed closely by Laois with an index of 78.5 (€22,257 per person) and Donegal with an index of 82 (€23,271 per person). After Dublin, Cork is the second wealthiest county with an index of 105.3 (€29,876 per person); ahead of Limerick (index: 104, income: €29,491 per person). Income in Carlow is closest to the state average with an index of 101.4 (€28,776 per person). While the figures involve a degree of uncertainty, the gap between the lowest and highest county income per capita has widened considerably and is now at €10,136, a jump of €1,597 from 2022. 

As seen in Figure 1.2, total disposable income in the Dublin NUTS 3 region (Dublin City and County) is the highest in the state and has risen to €48.6 billion. Dublin is followed by the South-West NUTS 3 region – comprising of counties Cork and Kerry – accounting for €22 billion in disposable income. Disposable income generated in Cork represents 81% of the South-West’s total or 36% of the Southern region’s total at NUTS 2 level. The Mid-East region ranks third largest in terms of disposable income and has recorded a figure of €20.4 billion in 2023 due in large part to counties Kildare (€6.8 billion) and Meath (€5.6 billion). Incomes in the Mid-East region have been steadily increasing since 2013 and have risen by 10% again this year from 2022. The Midlands has the lowest total income in 2023 and has consistently remained the poorest region in the state, followed by the Border region. As observed in Figures 3.1 and 3.2, both regions have a lower concentration of industry and manufacturing and are 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 percetage by county. As seen above, larger urban areas have lower contributions from social transfers. For example, social transfers in Dublin make up 18% of its disposable income. Whereas, counties with lower incomes see a more significant share of their income come from social transfers, for example, Longford (36%) and Donegal (35%).

Figure 1.4 shows disposable income per person in 2023 by county and region, the bubble size of each data point represents the social transfers per person. Dubin, Galway and Cork all have the highest disposable income in each of their respective regions. Dublin, in particular, is an outlier in the Eastern & Midland region. Galway has the lowest social transfers per person (€6,455) in the Northern & Western region, Cork is the second lowest (€6,588) in the Southern region and Dublin the third lowest recipient of social transfers per person (€5,897) in the Eastern & Midland region.

Figure 1.5 shows the Social Benefits including Other Transfers on a per person basis by county for 2023. As seen, the largest per capita recipient of social benefits is Carlow with €8,267 per person, followed by Donegal at €8,184 and Tipperary at €8,086 per person. Social benefits prove to be significant for Carlow whose disposable income climbs above the State average. Likewise for Tipperary, whose disposable income after social benefits rises to just over the State average, as observed in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.6 shows the percentage of compensation of employees (COE) attributed to foreign and domestic enterprises. As expected, the counties with the largest share of COE coming from foreign enterprises are cities and the surrounding counties. Foreign COE is at its highest in Dublin at 40%, followed by Cork 35%. In rural counties, foreign COE falls to 20% in Monaghan and 21% in Kerry.