Dubliners have highest average disposable income followed by Limerick and Cork

Manufacturing the key sector driving economy in South-West, CSO figures show

Dublin had the highest disposable income per person nationally at €33,889, followed by Limerick at €30,879 and Cork at €30,748, according to latest data published by the CSO. Picture: Pexels

Dublin had the highest disposable income per person nationally at €33,889, followed by Limerick at €30,879 and Cork at €30,748, according to latest data published by the CSO. 

The statistics from 2024 show the national average disposable income per person was €30,139. Longford recorded the lowest disposable income per person nationally in 2024 at €23,725. Disposable income is the amount of money left for an individual to spend after receiving social benefits and paying tax and social charges.

“Disposable income in Dublin City and County remained the largest nationally in 2024, accounting for €52bn of the State total, which was up 9.9% from 2023," said CSO statistician Aoife Crowe. 

"Dublin, Limerick, and Cork, as well as surrounding counties, benefit largely from the presence of key economic sectors, for example, the information and communication sector in Dublin and the manufacturing sector in Cork and Limerick."

The Midland region (Laois, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath) continued to have the lowest levels of disposable income in 2024. The income of this region accounted for €8.8bn overall and was 14.5% below the national average per person.

Over a third (35%) of all employed people worked in Dublin in 2024, while 12% worked in Cork and 6% in Galway, Limerick 5%, and Waterford 2%.

Dublin also recorded the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person in the State at €182,305, followed by the South-West region (Cork and Kerry) at €162,983, and Kildare at €81,859. "The information and communication sector was the largest contributor towards GDP in Dublin, while manufacturing contributed most towards GDP in the South-West and Kildare," said Ms Crowe.

The CSO noted a large gap emerged between the top three regions and the rest of the country. Aside from the South-West and Dublin, all other counties and regions fell below the national average with the lowest apparent productivity observed in Longford at €67,992.

GDP measuers total economic activity. The lowest GDP per person in the State was recorded in Longford at €28,689, followed by the Border region at €32,617 and Laois at €32,717 where the public sector remained the strongest contributor towards GDP.