Who is Better Off? Updated Cross-Border Differences in Living Standards, Opportunities and Quality of Life on the Island of Ireland

This paper provides an updated assessment of living standards, opportunities for life progression and well-being across the island of Ireland. Drawing on recent analysis, we examine household disposable income, private and public consumption, earnings, educational participation, early school leaving, patterns of government spending and taxation, and health indicators including infant mortality and life expectancy, revealing widening gaps in income, persistent disparities in educational outcomes and notable differences in health performance. Life expectancy is highlighted as a cumulative measure of welfare. Northern Ireland held a slight advantage until the mid-2000s but the Republic of Ireland has since overtaken it and widened the gap. Today, life expectancy at birth is approximately two years higher in the Republic, arguably reflecting structural differences in income, education and healthcare access. These results provide insights into the evolving economic and social landscape of both jurisdictions and carry important implications for policy design and North–South relations.