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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 22.1 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.54% 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 +1.5% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Ireland vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Japan
2100 5,500,499 76,995,942
2099 5,525,011 77,380,486
2098 5,548,986 77,759,557
2097 5,572,279 78,135,569
2096 5,595,064 78,515,892
2095 5,615,877 78,892,606
2094 5,636,027 79,267,768
2093 5,655,870 79,645,584
2092 5,675,151 80,025,578
2091 5,694,092 80,401,222
2090 5,713,009 80,778,500
2089 5,730,546 81,158,413
2088 5,747,238 81,539,639
2087 5,762,650 81,926,401
2086 5,776,705 82,322,612
2085 5,791,049 82,727,738
2084 5,805,074 83,141,354
2083 5,818,867 83,562,394
2082 5,831,653 83,998,809
2081 5,842,944 84,447,888
2080 5,855,351 84,918,455
2079 5,870,572 85,406,042
2078 5,885,866 85,916,840
2077 5,901,647 86,453,316
2076 5,917,991 87,012,155
2075 5,934,408 87,597,053
2074 5,951,970 88,209,803
2073 5,969,385 88,854,316
2072 5,986,721 89,519,055
2071 6,003,888 90,204,314
2070 6,021,481 90,919,143
2069 6,038,378 91,645,589
2068 6,054,840 92,388,299
2067 6,070,805 93,133,993
2066 6,086,691 93,889,902
2065 6,101,966 94,654,259
2064 6,116,867 95,412,429
2063 6,129,790 96,169,244
2062 6,141,729 96,924,236
2061 6,154,062 97,675,525
2060 6,167,032 98,422,553
2059 6,179,602 99,166,038
2058 6,189,124 99,890,950
2057 6,196,781 100,607,740
2056 6,199,786 101,318,164
2055 6,204,376 102,012,184
2054 6,205,225 102,706,063
2053 6,205,444 103,381,833
2052 6,203,350 104,059,800
2051 6,200,637 104,729,745
2050 6,195,469 105,400,477
2049 6,187,289 106,076,354
2048 6,175,872 106,754,699
2047 6,163,776 107,442,881
2046 6,150,911 108,139,155
2045 6,134,927 108,844,934
2044 6,116,643 109,553,441
2043 6,097,627 110,269,851
2042 6,076,713 110,992,599
2041 6,052,462 111,729,216
2040 6,027,054 112,463,507
2039 6,002,204 113,200,859
2038 5,974,917 113,940,856
2037 5,946,606 114,687,611
2036 5,918,275 115,436,359
2035 5,889,854 116,187,949
2034 5,858,952 116,936,734
2033 5,826,337 117,678,572
2032 5,791,225 118,419,247
2031 5,754,845 119,153,646
2030 5,717,377 119,882,512
2029 5,676,731 120,600,781
2028 5,632,552 121,314,239
2027 5,585,925 122,015,984
2026 5,537,167 122,704,252
2025 5,484,367 123,366,734
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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 1.64% -0.49%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Ireland Japan
Current population
5562212
122704252
Population rank 122/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 1.48%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
9.74 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +243 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 183/197
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 18,885 39,059 -942,213 153,357
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/japan | 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 Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 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 (1960–2025, 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/japan | 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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