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This country will be the richest in Europe by 2030, and no one saw it coming!

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The Editor

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According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ireland could surpass Luxembourg, currently at the top, in terms of GDP per capita, and that could happen in just 4 years. In terms of purchasing power, both countries are expected to be neck and neck, but always far ahead of the rest of the European Union.

Yes, you read that right! Ireland ahead of Germany, France, the Netherlands, and so on! Anything can happen! But be careful, as always with this kind of announcement, these estimates should be taken with a grain of salt. The presence of many multinationals in Ireland could seriously inflate these figures. 


Let’s all congratulate the Irish!

Today, the GDP per capita in Ireland stands at $152,632, just below Luxembourg with $152,966. But in the coming years, these values, like those of all European countries, should (finally) increase. The study predicts it will reach $181,953 if there are no major changes in the global economy.

The GDP per capita is one of the most widely used indicators for comparing economies and making estimates, but it doesn't tell the whole story. It's very important to highlight it alongside other values like the r... Gross national product, to truly understand a country’s economy. We know it's complicated, which is why we've done the hard work for you. Here, per capita GDP is somewhat distorted by the presence of many multinational companies based in Ireland (Apple, Microsoft, Meta...). But why particularly Ireland? Because the corporate tax rate is very (very) competitive: it’s half as high as in France and 10% lower than the European average.

Another nuance to consider: let us remind you that an increase in per capita GDP doesn’t mean that the country is outpacing its neighbors. The economy is evolving everywhere, at the same time. If Ireland rises, so do its neighbors. The race is not lost!


And what about us in all of this?

Well, let's be honest, France is definitely not the star of this ranking... with $66,276 today and an estimated $76,234 by 2030, we're in the second half of the rankings. But this 15th position shouldn't make us blush. After all, we are still ahead of major powers like Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, who we know would absolutely love to be in our place.