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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 10.6 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st 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 +1.41% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

Ireland vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Italy
2100 5,468,791 35,208,261
2099 5,493,162 35,444,989
2098 5,516,999 35,676,340
2097 5,540,157 35,914,345
2096 5,562,811 36,150,501
2095 5,583,505 36,386,787
2094 5,603,538 36,619,396
2093 5,623,266 36,850,181
2092 5,642,437 37,089,746
2091 5,661,268 37,323,400
2090 5,680,076 37,560,976
2089 5,697,512 37,802,157
2088 5,714,108 38,040,056
2087 5,729,431 38,280,439
2086 5,743,405 38,517,279
2085 5,757,666 38,761,126
2084 5,771,610 39,008,873
2083 5,785,324 39,255,273
2082 5,798,037 39,509,964
2081 5,809,262 39,767,732
2080 5,821,598 40,030,977
2079 5,836,731 40,302,924
2078 5,851,937 40,579,648
2077 5,867,627 40,860,952
2076 5,883,876 41,151,772
2075 5,900,200 41,455,646
2074 5,917,659 41,779,503
2073 5,934,975 42,111,664
2072 5,952,211 42,459,257
2071 5,969,279 42,814,908
2070 5,986,770 43,187,953
2069 6,003,570 43,571,469
2068 6,019,937 43,964,515
2067 6,035,810 44,361,273
2066 6,051,604 44,771,926
2065 6,066,791 45,197,177
2064 6,081,606 45,628,630
2063 6,094,455 46,066,216
2062 6,106,325 46,517,561
2061 6,118,587 46,971,598
2060 6,131,482 47,424,830
2059 6,143,979 47,879,711
2058 6,153,447 48,332,818
2057 6,161,059 48,778,066
2056 6,164,047 49,222,515
2055 6,168,611 49,653,326
2054 6,169,455 50,073,600
2053 6,169,673 50,488,203
2052 6,167,591 50,886,354
2051 6,164,894 51,276,616
2050 6,159,756 51,663,176
2049 6,151,623 52,034,983
2048 6,140,272 52,392,012
2047 6,128,245 52,745,310
2046 6,115,454 53,080,828
2045 6,099,562 53,408,660
2044 6,081,384 53,723,325
2043 6,062,477 54,042,322
2042 6,041,683 54,342,628
2041 6,017,573 54,629,496
2040 5,992,311 54,916,374
2039 5,967,604 55,205,078
2038 5,940,474 55,481,637
2037 5,912,327 55,757,394
2036 5,884,159 56,025,224
2035 5,855,902 56,295,613
2034 5,825,178 56,562,648
2033 5,792,751 56,822,364
2032 5,757,842 57,078,534
2031 5,721,671 57,345,322
2030 5,684,420 57,606,120
2029 5,644,008 57,851,091
2028 5,600,083 58,091,760
2027 5,553,725 58,333,039
2026 5,505,248 58,562,681
2025 5,452,752 58,769,653
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 60,148,658
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Italy's population already peaked in 2014 at 60.3M people and is projected to decrease to 35.2M 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 1.06% -0.31%
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% -0.7%
2018 1.46% 0.24%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Ireland Italy
Current population
5518360
58562681
Population rank 121/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.71%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
16.7 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.39 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 -86
Annual growth/decline +84,252 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 170/197
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 - 39,059 - 95,246
2023 19,652 43,873 -283,125 150,189
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 -192,475 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 48.2% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 people). In Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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