All Fermi answers
Fermi #82 · Question 1

How many 18.6 oz (527 g) family-size boxes of Lucky Charms would it take to have one marshmallow for every person in the Republic of Ireland?

Explore the official answer and the simple reasoning behind this Fermi estimate.

1QUESTION 1 OF 3

Answer & explanation

The official answer, with Fermi’s reasoning step by step.

Official Fermi illustration

Illustration for: How many 18.6 oz (527 g) family-size boxes of Lucky Charms would it take to have one marshmallow for every person in the Republic of Ireland?

Illustration from Fermi.gg

Answer & explanation

Official answer

13,000

boxes

How to estimate it

Fermi’s official “Napkin math”

Start with Ireland, about 5 million people. How many marshmallows are in one box? Pour a bowl and you might get 30, and a family box makes about 12 bowls.

Ireland's population
≈ 5,000,000
Marshmallows per box: 30 a bowl × 12 bowls
≈ 360
5M ÷ 360
≈ 14,000 boxes

Rounded assumptions may give a slightly different estimate. The official answer above is the game’s reference value.

Source calculation & reference
Republic of Ireland population (CSO, April 2026)
5,525,600
Marshmallows in an 18.6 oz family box (six-box count, 2024)
≈ 430
5,525,600 ÷ 430
≈ 13,000 boxes

Reference cited by Fermi: CSO April 2026 estimate: 5.53M people · 2024 six-box count: about 430 marshmallows per box

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