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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 22.2 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.55% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Ireland vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Japan
2100 5,468,791 76,978,998
2099 5,493,162 77,363,458
2098 5,516,999 77,742,445
2097 5,540,157 78,118,375
2096 5,562,811 78,498,614
2095 5,583,505 78,875,245
2094 5,603,538 79,250,325
2093 5,623,266 79,628,057
2092 5,642,437 80,007,967
2091 5,661,268 80,383,529
2090 5,680,076 80,760,724
2089 5,697,512 81,140,553
2088 5,714,108 81,521,696
2087 5,729,431 81,908,373
2086 5,743,405 82,304,497
2085 5,757,666 82,709,534
2084 5,771,610 83,123,058
2083 5,785,324 83,544,006
2082 5,798,037 83,980,325
2081 5,809,262 84,429,305
2080 5,821,598 84,899,768
2079 5,836,731 85,387,247
2078 5,851,937 85,897,934
2077 5,867,627 86,434,291
2076 5,883,876 86,993,007
2075 5,900,200 87,577,777
2074 5,917,659 88,190,392
2073 5,934,975 88,834,763
2072 5,952,211 89,499,356
2071 5,969,279 90,184,464
2070 5,986,770 90,899,136
2069 6,003,570 91,625,421
2068 6,019,937 92,367,969
2067 6,035,810 93,113,499
2066 6,051,604 93,869,240
2065 6,066,791 94,633,430
2064 6,081,606 95,391,433
2063 6,094,455 96,148,081
2062 6,106,325 96,902,907
2061 6,118,587 97,654,031
2060 6,131,482 98,400,894
2059 6,143,979 99,144,216
2058 6,153,447 99,868,968
2057 6,161,059 100,585,601
2056 6,164,047 101,295,868
2055 6,168,611 101,989,736
2054 6,169,455 102,683,462
2053 6,169,673 103,359,083
2052 6,167,591 104,036,901
2051 6,164,894 104,706,698
2050 6,159,756 105,377,283
2049 6,151,623 106,053,011
2048 6,140,272 106,731,207
2047 6,128,245 107,419,237
2046 6,115,454 108,115,358
2045 6,099,562 108,820,982
2044 6,081,384 109,529,333
2043 6,062,477 110,245,586
2042 6,041,683 110,968,174
2041 6,017,573 111,704,629
2040 5,992,311 112,438,759
2039 5,967,604 113,175,948
2038 5,940,474 113,915,783
2037 5,912,327 114,662,374
2036 5,884,159 115,410,956
2035 5,855,902 116,162,381
2034 5,825,178 116,911,001
2033 5,792,751 117,652,676
2032 5,757,842 118,393,188
2031 5,721,671 119,127,425
2030 5,684,420 119,856,131
2029 5,644,008 120,574,242
2028 5,600,083 121,287,543
2027 5,553,725 121,989,133
2026 5,505,248 122,677,250
2025 5,452,752 123,339,586
2024 5,395,790 123,975,371
2023 5,311,538 124,516,650
2022 5,212,836 125,124,989
2021 5,110,585 125,681,593
2020 5,039,747 126,261,000
2019 4,976,456 126,633,000
2018 4,898,022 126,811,000
2017 4,827,445 126,972,000
2016 4,762,722 127,076,000
2015 4,701,957 127,141,000
2014 4,657,740 127,276,000
2013 4,623,816 127,445,000
2012 4,599,533 127,629,000
2011 4,580,084 127,833,000
2010 4,560,155 128,070,000
2009 4,535,375 128,047,000
2008 4,489,544 128,063,000
2007 4,398,942 128,001,000
2006 4,273,591 127,854,000
2005 4,159,914 127,773,000
2004 4,070,262 127,761,000
2003 3,996,521 127,718,000
2002 3,931,947 127,445,000
2001 3,866,243 127,149,000
2000 3,805,174 126,843,000
1999 3,754,786 126,631,000
1998 3,712,696 126,400,000
1997 3,674,171 126,057,000
1996 3,637,510 125,757,000
1995 3,608,841 125,472,000
1994 3,590,386 125,178,000
1993 3,576,261 124,829,000
1992 3,558,430 124,425,000
1991 3,534,235 123,964,000
1990 3,513,974 123,478,000
1989 3,511,009 123,069,000
1988 3,524,949 122,578,000
1987 3,540,057 122,069,000
1986 3,539,690 121,482,000
1985 3,538,082 120,837,000
1984 3,532,423 120,083,000
1983 3,510,600 119,307,000
1982 3,485,800 118,480,000
1981 3,453,000 117,661,000
1980 3,412,800 116,807,000
1979 3,373,750 115,890,000
1978 3,329,100 114,913,000
1977 3,282,200 113,872,000
1976 3,238,050 112,775,000
1975 3,189,550 111,573,000
1974 3,137,500 110,162,000
1973 3,085,950 108,707,000
1972 3,036,850 107,188,000
1971 2,992,050 105,697,000
1970 2,957,250 103,403,000
1969 2,932,650 102,219,000
1968 2,915,550 101,011,000
1967 2,902,450 99,879,000
1966 2,888,800 98,851,000
1965 2,877,300 97,952,000
1964 2,866,550 96,903,000
1963 2,852,650 95,900,000
1962 2,836,050 94,933,000
1961 2,824,400 94,055,000
1960 2,828,600 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Japan
2100 -0.44% -0.5%
2099 -0.43% -0.49%
2098 -0.42% -0.48%
2097 -0.41% -0.48%
2096 -0.37% -0.48%
2095 -0.36% -0.47%
2094 -0.35% -0.47%
2093 -0.34% -0.47%
2092 -0.33% -0.47%
2091 -0.33% -0.47%
2090 -0.31% -0.47%
2089 -0.29% -0.47%
2088 -0.27% -0.47%
2087 -0.24% -0.48%
2086 -0.25% -0.49%
2085 -0.24% -0.5%
2084 -0.24% -0.5%
2083 -0.22% -0.52%
2082 -0.19% -0.53%
2081 -0.21% -0.55%
2080 -0.26% -0.57%
2079 -0.26% -0.59%
2078 -0.27% -0.62%
2077 -0.28% -0.64%
2076 -0.28% -0.67%
2075 -0.3% -0.69%
2074 -0.29% -0.73%
2073 -0.29% -0.74%
2072 -0.29% -0.76%
2071 -0.29% -0.79%
2070 -0.28% -0.79%
2069 -0.27% -0.8%
2068 -0.26% -0.8%
2067 -0.26% -0.81%
2066 -0.25% -0.81%
2065 -0.24% -0.79%
2064 -0.21% -0.79%
2063 -0.19% -0.78%
2062 -0.2% -0.77%
2061 -0.21% -0.76%
2060 -0.2% -0.75%
2059 -0.15% -0.73%
2058 -0.12% -0.71%
2057 -0.05% -0.7%
2056 -0.07% -0.68%
2055 -0.01% -0.68%
2054 -0.004% -0.65%
2053 0.03% -0.65%
2052 0.04% -0.64%
2051 0.08% -0.64%
2050 0.13% -0.64%
2049 0.18% -0.64%
2048 0.2% -0.64%
2047 0.21% -0.64%
2046 0.26% -0.65%
2045 0.3% -0.65%
2044 0.31% -0.65%
2043 0.34% -0.65%
2042 0.4% -0.66%
2041 0.42% -0.65%
2040 0.41% -0.65%
2039 0.46% -0.65%
2038 0.48% -0.65%
2037 0.48% -0.65%
2036 0.48% -0.65%
2035 0.53% -0.64%
2034 0.56% -0.63%
2033 0.61% -0.63%
2032 0.63% -0.62%
2031 0.66% -0.61%
2030 0.72% -0.6%
2029 0.78% -0.59%
2028 0.83% -0.58%
2027 0.88% -0.56%
2026 0.96% -0.54%
2025 1.06% -0.51%
2024 1.59% -0.43%
2023 1.89% -0.49%
2022 2% -0.44%
2021 1.41% -0.46%
2020 1.27% -0.29%
2019 1.6% -0.14%
2018 1.46% -0.13%
2017 1.36% -0.08%
2016 1.29% -0.05%
2015 0.95% -0.11%
2014 0.73% -0.13%
2013 0.53% -0.14%
2012 0.42% -0.16%
2011 0.44% -0.19%
2010 0.55% 0.02%
2009 1.02% -0.01%
2008 2.06% 0.05%
2007 2.93% 0.11%
2006 2.73% 0.06%
2005 2.2% 0.009%
2004 1.85% 0.03%
2003 1.64% 0.21%
2002 1.7% 0.23%
2001 1.6% 0.24%
2000 1.34% 0.17%
1999 1.13% 0.18%
1998 1.05% 0.27%
1997 1.01% 0.24%
1996 0.79% 0.23%
1995 0.51% 0.23%
1994 0.39% 0.28%
1993 0.5% 0.32%
1992 0.68% 0.37%
1991 0.58% 0.39%
1990 0.08% 0.33%
1989 -0.4% 0.4%
1988 -0.43% 0.42%
1987 0.01% 0.48%
1986 0.05% 0.53%
1985 0.16% 0.63%
1984 0.62% 0.65%
1983 0.71% 0.7%
1982 0.95% 0.7%
1981 1.18% 0.73%
1980 1.16% 0.79%
1979 1.34% 0.85%
1978 1.43% 0.91%
1977 1.36% 0.97%
1976 1.52% 1.08%
1975 1.66% 1.28%
1974 1.67% 1.34%
1973 1.62% 1.42%
1972 1.5% 1.41%
1971 1.18% 2.22%
1970 0.84% 1.16%
1969 0.59% 1.2%
1968 0.45% 1.13%
1967 0.47% 1.04%
1966 0.4% 0.92%
1965 0.38% 1.08%
1964 0.49% 1.05%
1963 0.59% 1.02%
1962 0.41% 0.93%
1961 -0.15% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Ireland Japan
Current population
5518360
122677250
Population rank 121/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.48%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +84,252 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 185/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +140,579
Net migration rank 27/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 140,579
2024 - 39,059 - 153,357
2023 19,652 43,873 -871,617 175,003
2022 19,287 93,535 -825,825 175,003
2021 26,064 27,419 -640,976 -34,996
2020 23,687 15,746 -542,923 42,001
2019 28,365 29,663 -531,858 318,190
2018 29,878 33,387 -456,520 320,601
2017 31,379 28,883 -406,310 322,564
2016 33,339 18,967 -343,106 314,732
2015 35,265 13,376 -292,424 168,896
2014 37,728 448 -267,279 58,109
2013 39,302 -12,309 -242,146 66,449
2012 42,775 -22,411 -229,733 67,904
2011 45,801 -26,529 -204,533 97,720
2010 47,426 -26,974 -128,070 131,860
2009 47,168 -18,524 -76,828 125,450
2008 46,691 18,979 -51,225 142,605
2007 43,109 76,465 -25,600 138,024
2006 36,752 94,513 12,785 130,065
2005 33,279 63,983 -25,554 113,017
2004 33,376 49,102 76,656 69,014
2003 32,372 32,220 114,946 74,875
2002 31,062 34,286 178,423 60,864
2001 27,837 39,220 203,438 59,563
2000 23,592 31,298 228,317 23,468
1999 21,402 23,592 202,610 56,901
1998 22,277 16,615 265,440 45,912
1997 21,311 17,425 277,325 43,366
1996 18,915 9,959 314,392 25,030
1995 16,601 10,019 276,039 87,714
1994 17,234 -3,118 363,017 154,214
1993 17,166 -3,762 312,073 168,836
1992 20,283 1,335 360,833 170,878
1991 21,206 4,944 396,685 161,331
1990 21,787 -8,203 407,478 124,582
1989 20,012 -28,752 467,662 31,202
1988 22,912 -44,020 527,085 51,154
1987 26,904 -38,426 598,138 28,001
1986 27,963 -21,139 631,706 27,987
1985 29,013 -16,178 676,687 -141,323
1984 31,791 -15,549 756,523 -273,686
1983 34,053 -15,043 775,495 -269,755
1982 38,344 -14,464 805,664 -288,550
1981 39,364 -10,834 811,861 -278,525
1980 40,612 -2,876 864,372 -92,314
1979 38,798 1,486 950,298 -57,692
1978 36,288 15,543 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 35,448 14,505 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 33,676 14,200 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 34,128 13,828 1,204,989 107
1974 34,199 13,482 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 34,562 13,164 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 34,316 12,858 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 35,606 5,851 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 30,756 -8,892 1,230,496 33,731
1969 29,326 -10,250 1,195,962 49,447
1968 27,697 -11,132 1,191,930 43,593
1967 29,895 -11,708 1,258,475 29,632
1966 26,866 -11,858 682,072 68,934
1965 30,500 -14,016 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 31,532 -15,640 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 29,667 -16,615 987,770 -100,742
1962 28,077 -17,438 901,864 -57,075
1961 25,137 -22,237 893,522 -58,882
1960 28,286 -38,492 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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