Disposable income in Dublin city and county was the highest in the State in 2019, new CSO figures show.

Average disposable income in the capital was €25,696 – almost 17% higher than the countrywide average of €22,032.

This represents a year-on-year increase of 5.3% for Dublin.

Dublin disposable incomes were 4.7% higher than those of the next highest county, Limerick.

Dublin, Limerick, Kildare, and Cork, in that order, were the only counties where per capita disposable income exceeded the average in 2019.

Westmeath, Donegal, Offaly, Longford, and Laois earned significantly less than the average.

Incomes in the Midlands decreased by €69 or 0.4% in 2019, making it the area with the lowest disposable income.

The CSO’s county incomes and regional GDP figures for 2019  show the gap between the highest and lowest value of per capita disposable income on a regional basis increased from €7,205 in 2018 to €8,571 in 2019.

State average

Statistician John Milne said: “Dublin incomes continued to rise above the average in 2019.

“People in Dublin earned an average of €25,696, which was 16.6% more than the average State income of €22,032.

“Incomes in Dublin rose by 5.3% from their 2018 level and were 4.7% higher than those in Limerick which had the second highest income level in 2019 of €24,540, at 11.4% above the State average.

“In 2019, of the remaining seven regions, only the Mid-East at €21,914, the Mid-West at €21,972 and the South-West at €21,835 had an average disposable income per person on a par with the State average of €22,032,” he said.

The Border region with €18,524 and the Midlands region with €17,125, had the lowest average disposable income per person at 15.9% and 22.3% respectively below the average.

Average Dublin incomes increased by €1,297, or 5.3%, while incomes in the Midlands decreased by €69 or 0.4%, making it the area with the lowest disposable income.

Incomes in all other regions rose between 2018 and 2019, the CSO statistician said.