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Population in Ireland compared to Italy: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 58,915,656 people in Italy in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 58,708,169 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 10.6 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.7M (0.53% growth).

Ireland vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Italy
2100 5,500,499 35,295,729
2099 5,525,011 35,533,045
2098 5,548,986 35,764,971
2097 5,572,279 36,003,567
2096 5,595,064 36,240,310
2095 5,615,877 36,477,183
2094 5,636,027 36,710,370
2093 5,655,870 36,941,728
2092 5,675,151 37,181,889
2091 5,694,092 37,416,123
2090 5,713,009 37,654,289
2089 5,730,546 37,896,069
2088 5,747,238 38,134,560
2087 5,762,650 38,375,540
2086 5,776,705 38,612,968
2085 5,791,049 38,857,421
2084 5,805,074 39,105,783
2083 5,818,867 39,352,795
2082 5,831,653 39,608,119
2081 5,842,944 39,866,527
2080 5,855,351 40,130,426
2079 5,870,572 40,403,049
2078 5,885,866 40,680,460
2077 5,901,647 40,962,463
2076 5,917,991 41,254,005
2075 5,934,408 41,558,635
2074 5,951,970 41,883,296
2073 5,969,385 42,216,283
2072 5,986,721 42,564,739
2071 6,003,888 42,921,274
2070 6,021,481 43,295,245
2069 6,038,378 43,679,714
2068 6,054,840 44,073,736
2067 6,070,805 44,471,480
2066 6,086,691 44,883,154
2065 6,101,966 45,309,461
2064 6,116,867 45,741,985
2063 6,129,790 46,180,658
2062 6,141,729 46,633,125
2061 6,154,062 47,088,290
2060 6,167,032 47,542,648
2059 6,179,602 47,998,659
2058 6,189,124 48,452,892
2057 6,196,781 48,899,246
2056 6,199,786 49,344,799
2055 6,204,376 49,776,680
2054 6,205,225 50,197,999
2053 6,205,444 50,613,632
2052 6,203,350 51,012,772
2051 6,200,637 51,404,003
2050 6,195,469 51,791,523
2049 6,187,289 52,164,254
2048 6,175,872 52,522,170
2047 6,163,776 52,876,346
2046 6,150,911 53,212,697
2045 6,134,927 53,541,344
2044 6,116,643 53,856,790
2043 6,097,627 54,176,580
2042 6,076,713 54,477,632
2041 6,052,462 54,765,213
2040 6,027,054 55,052,803
2039 6,002,204 55,342,225
2038 5,974,917 55,619,470
2037 5,946,606 55,895,913
2036 5,918,275 56,164,408
2035 5,889,854 56,435,468
2034 5,858,952 56,703,168
2033 5,826,337 56,963,528
2032 5,791,225 57,220,334
2031 5,754,845 57,487,786
2030 5,717,377 57,749,232
2029 5,676,731 57,994,812
2028 5,632,552 58,236,078
2027 5,585,925 58,477,957
2026 5,537,167 58,708,169
2025 5,484,367 58,915,656
2024 5,395,790 58,952,704
2023 5,311,538 58,984,216
2022 5,212,836 59,013,667
2021 5,110,585 59,133,173
2020 5,039,747 59,438,851
2019 4,976,456 59,729,081
2018 4,898,022 59,877,221
2017 4,827,445 60,002,252
2016 4,762,722 60,115,223
2015 4,701,957 60,229,605
2014 4,657,740 60,320,707
2013 4,623,816 60,311,613
2012 4,599,533 60,191,247
2011 4,580,084 60,026,841
2010 4,560,155 59,819,407
2009 4,535,375 59,555,454
2008 4,489,544 59,211,181
2007 4,398,942 58,756,247
2006 4,273,591 58,399,861
2005 4,159,914 58,166,682
2004 4,070,262 57,828,179
2003 3,996,521 57,399,184
2002 3,931,947 57,089,824
2001 3,866,243 56,976,981
2000 3,805,174 56,942,108
1999 3,754,786 56,916,317
1998 3,712,696 56,906,744
1997 3,674,171 56,890,372
1996 3,637,510 56,860,281
1995 3,608,841 56,844,303
1994 3,590,386 56,843,400
1993 3,576,261 56,831,821
1992 3,558,430 56,797,087
1991 3,534,235 56,758,521
1990 3,513,974 56,719,240
1989 3,511,009 56,671,781
1988 3,524,949 56,629,288
1987 3,540,057 56,601,931
1986 3,539,690 56,596,155
1985 3,538,082 56,593,071
1984 3,532,423 56,576,718
1983 3,510,600 56,564,074
1982 3,485,800 56,543,548
1981 3,453,000 56,501,675
1980 3,412,800 56,433,883
1979 3,373,750 56,317,749
1978 3,329,100 56,155,143
1977 3,282,200 55,955,411
1976 3,238,050 55,718,260
1975 3,189,550 55,441,001
1974 3,137,500 55,110,868
1973 3,085,950 54,751,406
1972 3,036,850 54,381,345
1971 2,992,050 54,073,490
1970 2,957,250 53,821,850
1969 2,932,650 53,537,950
1968 2,915,550 53,235,750
1967 2,902,450 52,900,500
1966 2,888,800 52,519,000
1965 2,877,300 52,112,350
1964 2,866,550 51,675,350
1963 2,852,650 51,252,000
1962 2,836,050 50,879,450
1961 2,824,400 50,536,350
1960 2,828,600 50,199,700

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,407,054 people (a 2.34% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ireland's population will grow by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,791,523 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.3M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Italy
2100 -0.44% -0.67%
2099 -0.43% -0.65%
2098 -0.42% -0.66%
2097 -0.41% -0.65%
2096 -0.37% -0.65%
2095 -0.36% -0.64%
2094 -0.35% -0.63%
2093 -0.34% -0.65%
2092 -0.33% -0.63%
2091 -0.33% -0.63%
2090 -0.31% -0.64%
2089 -0.29% -0.63%
2088 -0.27% -0.63%
2087 -0.24% -0.61%
2086 -0.25% -0.63%
2085 -0.24% -0.64%
2084 -0.24% -0.63%
2083 -0.22% -0.64%
2082 -0.19% -0.65%
2081 -0.21% -0.66%
2080 -0.26% -0.67%
2079 -0.26% -0.68%
2078 -0.27% -0.69%
2077 -0.28% -0.71%
2076 -0.28% -0.73%
2075 -0.3% -0.78%
2074 -0.29% -0.79%
2073 -0.29% -0.82%
2072 -0.29% -0.83%
2071 -0.29% -0.86%
2070 -0.28% -0.88%
2069 -0.27% -0.89%
2068 -0.26% -0.89%
2067 -0.26% -0.92%
2066 -0.25% -0.94%
2065 -0.24% -0.95%
2064 -0.21% -0.95%
2063 -0.19% -0.97%
2062 -0.2% -0.97%
2061 -0.21% -0.96%
2060 -0.2% -0.95%
2059 -0.15% -0.94%
2058 -0.12% -0.91%
2057 -0.05% -0.9%
2056 -0.07% -0.87%
2055 -0.01% -0.84%
2054 -0.004% -0.82%
2053 0.03% -0.78%
2052 0.04% -0.76%
2051 0.08% -0.75%
2050 0.13% -0.71%
2049 0.18% -0.68%
2048 0.2% -0.67%
2047 0.21% -0.63%
2046 0.26% -0.61%
2045 0.3% -0.59%
2044 0.31% -0.59%
2043 0.34% -0.55%
2042 0.4% -0.53%
2041 0.42% -0.52%
2040 0.41% -0.52%
2039 0.46% -0.5%
2038 0.48% -0.49%
2037 0.48% -0.48%
2036 0.48% -0.48%
2035 0.53% -0.47%
2034 0.56% -0.46%
2033 0.61% -0.45%
2032 0.63% -0.47%
2031 0.66% -0.45%
2030 0.72% -0.42%
2029 0.78% -0.41%
2028 0.83% -0.41%
2027 0.88% -0.39%
2026 0.96% -0.35%
2025 1.64% -0.06%
2024 1.59% -0.05%
2023 1.89% -0.05%
2022 2% -0.2%
2021 1.41% -0.51%
2020 1.27% -0.49%
2019 1.6% -0.25%
2018 1.46% -0.21%
2017 1.36% -0.19%
2016 1.29% -0.19%
2015 0.95% -0.15%
2014 0.73% 0.02%
2013 0.53% 0.2%
2012 0.42% 0.27%
2011 0.44% 0.35%
2010 0.55% 0.44%
2009 1.02% 0.58%
2008 2.06% 0.77%
2007 2.93% 0.61%
2006 2.73% 0.4%
2005 2.2% 0.59%
2004 1.85% 0.75%
2003 1.64% 0.54%
2002 1.7% 0.2%
2001 1.6% 0.06%
2000 1.34% 0.05%
1999 1.13% 0.02%
1998 1.05% 0.03%
1997 1.01% 0.05%
1996 0.79% 0.03%
1995 0.51% 0.002%
1994 0.39% 0.02%
1993 0.5% 0.06%
1992 0.68% 0.07%
1991 0.58% 0.07%
1990 0.08% 0.08%
1989 -0.4% 0.08%
1988 -0.43% 0.05%
1987 0.01% 0.01%
1986 0.05% 0.005%
1985 0.16% 0.03%
1984 0.62% 0.02%
1983 0.71% 0.04%
1982 0.95% 0.07%
1981 1.18% 0.12%
1980 1.16% 0.21%
1979 1.34% 0.29%
1978 1.43% 0.36%
1977 1.36% 0.43%
1976 1.52% 0.5%
1975 1.66% 0.6%
1974 1.67% 0.66%
1973 1.62% 0.68%
1972 1.5% 0.57%
1971 1.18% 0.47%
1970 0.84% 0.53%
1969 0.59% 0.57%
1968 0.45% 0.63%
1967 0.47% 0.73%
1966 0.4% 0.78%
1965 0.38% 0.85%
1964 0.49% 0.83%
1963 0.59% 0.73%
1962 0.41% 0.68%
1961 -0.15% 0.67%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/italy | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Italy's population declined by 0.06%.

Live population counters

Ireland Italy
Current population
5562212
58708169
Population rank 122/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.71%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
14.2 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
1.42 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
48.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +243 -102
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -37,048
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.06%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 162/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +75,448
Net migration rank 27/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 75,448
2024 18,885 39,059 -277,077 95,246
2023 19,652 43,873 -294,922 150,189
2022 19,287 93,535 -318,674 231,228
2021 26,064 27,419 -301,579 157,327
2020 23,687 15,746 -338,801 85,281
2019 28,365 29,663 -215,025 46,634
2018 29,878 33,387 -197,595 83,686
2017 31,379 28,883 -192,007 95,147
2016 33,339 18,967 -138,265 84,568
2015 35,265 13,376 -162,620 39,389
2014 37,728 448 -96,513 52,679
2013 39,302 -12,309 -90,468 158,090
2012 42,775 -22,411 -78,248 252,524
2011 45,801 -26,529 -48,021 198,544
2010 47,426 -26,974 -23,928 274,387
2009 47,168 -18,524 -17,866 283,676
2008 46,691 18,979 -11,842 422,534
2007 43,109 76,465 -5,876 495,092
2006 36,752 94,513 0 215,995
2005 33,279 63,983 -17,450 258,702
2004 33,376 49,102 11,566 417,970
2003 32,372 32,220 -40,179 478,578
2002 31,062 34,286 -22,836 223,861
2001 27,837 39,220 -11,396 48,903
2000 23,592 31,298 -17,082 56,065
1999 21,402 23,592 -22,766 54,405
1998 22,277 16,615 -39,835 67,985
1997 21,311 17,425 -22,756 50,539
1996 18,915 9,959 -22,744 53,450
1995 16,601 10,019 -34,107 -460,287
1994 17,234 -3,118 -17,053 502,750
1993 17,166 -3,762 0 24,321
1992 20,283 1,335 22,718 51,747
1991 21,206 4,944 11,352 19,721
1990 21,787 -8,203 22,688 35,317
1989 20,012 -28,752 28,336 19,540
1988 22,912 -44,020 33,977 18,553
1987 26,904 -38,426 16,980 7,825
1986 27,963 -21,139 11,319 -6,206
1985 29,013 -16,178 28,297 6,911
1984 31,791 -15,549 50,919 203
1983 34,053 -15,043 33,939 -3,733
1982 38,344 -14,464 79,161 -24,223
1981 39,364 -10,834 73,452 7,182
1980 40,612 -2,876 84,650 295,642
1979 38,798 1,486 129,531 42,637
1978 36,288 15,543 168,465 43,932
1977 35,448 14,505 190,248 42,246
1976 33,676 14,200 228,445 40,885
1975 34,128 13,828 271,660 43,051
1974 34,199 13,482 336,176 42,487
1973 34,562 13,164 328,508 41,631
1972 34,316 12,858 364,355 43,182
1971 35,606 5,851 383,922 -58,627
1970 30,756 -8,892 376,753 -62,216
1969 29,326 -10,250 390,827 -45,346
1968 27,697 -11,132 399,268 -50,149
1967 29,895 -11,708 439,074 -37,992
1966 26,866 -11,858 488,427 -35,352
1965 30,500 -14,016 474,222 -36,267
1964 31,532 -15,640 527,089 -27,368
1963 29,667 -16,615 440,767 -28,198
1962 28,077 -17,438 427,387 -25,840
1961 25,137 -22,237 459,880 -129,761
1960 28,286 -38,492 426,697 -140,765

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/italy | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people). In Italy 69.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,436,565 people) and 30.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,068,695 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

Biggest cities by population

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/italy | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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