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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 2.31 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Ireland vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Lesotho
2100 5,500,499 3,280,518
2099 5,525,011 3,286,430
2098 5,548,986 3,292,231
2097 5,572,279 3,297,835
2096 5,595,064 3,302,758
2095 5,615,877 3,307,678
2094 5,636,027 3,311,734
2093 5,655,870 3,315,488
2092 5,675,151 3,319,391
2091 5,694,092 3,322,303
2090 5,713,009 3,324,499
2089 5,730,546 3,326,577
2088 5,747,238 3,328,210
2087 5,762,650 3,329,694
2086 5,776,705 3,330,185
2085 5,791,049 3,330,989
2084 5,805,074 3,331,214
2083 5,818,867 3,331,221
2082 5,831,653 3,330,964
2081 5,842,944 3,330,141
2080 5,855,351 3,328,997
2079 5,870,572 3,326,895
2078 5,885,866 3,324,376
2077 5,901,647 3,321,152
2076 5,917,991 3,317,581
2075 5,934,408 3,313,968
2074 5,951,970 3,308,905
2073 5,969,385 3,303,592
2072 5,986,721 3,297,913
2071 6,003,888 3,291,224
2070 6,021,481 3,283,387
2069 6,038,378 3,274,978
2068 6,054,840 3,265,887
2067 6,070,805 3,256,362
2066 6,086,691 3,246,639
2065 6,101,966 3,236,890
2064 6,116,867 3,226,227
2063 6,129,790 3,214,843
2062 6,141,729 3,202,027
2061 6,154,062 3,188,674
2060 6,167,032 3,174,740
2059 6,179,602 3,159,947
2058 6,189,124 3,144,797
2057 6,196,781 3,129,007
2056 6,199,786 3,112,877
2055 6,204,376 3,095,653
2054 6,205,225 3,078,317
2053 6,205,444 3,059,904
2052 6,203,350 3,040,402
2051 6,200,637 3,019,864
2050 6,195,469 2,999,214
2049 6,187,289 2,977,795
2048 6,175,872 2,955,487
2047 6,163,776 2,932,450
2046 6,150,911 2,909,071
2045 6,134,927 2,885,303
2044 6,116,643 2,861,140
2043 6,097,627 2,836,547
2042 6,076,713 2,811,435
2041 6,052,462 2,785,921
2040 6,027,054 2,760,167
2039 6,002,204 2,734,178
2038 5,974,917 2,707,996
2037 5,946,606 2,681,646
2036 5,918,275 2,654,540
2035 5,889,854 2,627,488
2034 5,858,952 2,600,669
2033 5,826,337 2,573,856
2032 5,791,225 2,547,137
2031 5,754,845 2,520,626
2030 5,717,377 2,494,444
2029 5,676,731 2,468,067
2028 5,632,552 2,441,673
2027 5,585,925 2,415,634
2026 5,537,167 2,389,322
2025 5,484,367 2,363,325
2024 5,395,790 2,337,423
2023 5,311,538 2,311,472
2022 5,212,836 2,286,110
2021 5,110,585 2,261,542
2020 5,039,747 2,235,727
2019 4,976,456 2,209,405
2018 4,898,022 2,183,603
2017 4,827,445 2,157,110
2016 4,762,722 2,130,422
2015 4,701,957 2,104,611
2014 4,657,740 2,080,089
2013 4,623,816 2,056,504
2012 4,599,533 2,034,354
2011 4,580,084 2,014,009
2010 4,560,155 1,996,251
2009 4,535,375 1,980,883
2008 4,489,544 1,966,541
2007 4,398,942 1,953,268
2006 4,273,591 1,945,063
2005 4,159,914 1,953,076
2004 4,070,262 1,971,129
2003 3,996,521 1,985,059
2002 3,931,947 1,994,679
2001 3,866,243 2,000,853
2000 3,805,174 2,003,913
1999 3,754,786 2,003,234
1998 3,712,696 1,998,049
1997 3,674,171 1,988,130
1996 3,637,510 1,972,418
1995 3,608,841 1,951,437
1994 3,590,386 1,927,707
1993 3,576,261 1,901,793
1992 3,558,430 1,873,274
1991 3,534,235 1,842,379
1990 3,513,974 1,809,696
1989 3,511,009 1,775,436
1988 3,524,949 1,739,841
1987 3,540,057 1,703,390
1986 3,539,690 1,666,138
1985 3,538,082 1,624,379
1984 3,532,423 1,578,986
1983 3,510,600 1,534,413
1982 3,485,800 1,490,732
1981 3,453,000 1,448,069
1980 3,412,800 1,406,521
1979 3,373,750 1,366,169
1978 3,329,100 1,327,240
1977 3,282,200 1,289,967
1976 3,238,050 1,253,214
1975 3,189,550 1,213,643
1974 3,137,500 1,172,420
1973 3,085,950 1,132,697
1972 3,036,850 1,094,063
1971 2,992,050 1,056,246
1970 2,957,250 1,019,273
1969 2,932,650 983,202
1968 2,915,550 948,105
1967 2,902,450 913,982
1966 2,888,800 881,870
1965 2,877,300 854,090
1964 2,866,550 829,437
1963 2,852,650 805,373
1962 2,836,050 781,814
1961 2,824,400 758,824
1960 2,828,600 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Lesotho
2100 -0.44% -0.18%
2099 -0.43% -0.18%
2098 -0.42% -0.17%
2097 -0.41% -0.15%
2096 -0.37% -0.15%
2095 -0.36% -0.12%
2094 -0.35% -0.11%
2093 -0.34% -0.12%
2092 -0.33% -0.09%
2091 -0.33% -0.07%
2090 -0.31% -0.06%
2089 -0.29% -0.05%
2088 -0.27% -0.04%
2087 -0.24% -0.01%
2086 -0.25% -0.02%
2085 -0.24% -0.007%
2084 -0.24% -0%
2083 -0.22% 0.008%
2082 -0.19% 0.02%
2081 -0.21% 0.03%
2080 -0.26% 0.06%
2079 -0.26% 0.08%
2078 -0.27% 0.1%
2077 -0.28% 0.11%
2076 -0.28% 0.11%
2075 -0.3% 0.15%
2074 -0.29% 0.16%
2073 -0.29% 0.17%
2072 -0.29% 0.2%
2071 -0.29% 0.24%
2070 -0.28% 0.26%
2069 -0.27% 0.28%
2068 -0.26% 0.29%
2067 -0.26% 0.3%
2066 -0.25% 0.3%
2065 -0.24% 0.33%
2064 -0.21% 0.35%
2063 -0.19% 0.4%
2062 -0.2% 0.42%
2061 -0.21% 0.44%
2060 -0.2% 0.47%
2059 -0.15% 0.48%
2058 -0.12% 0.5%
2057 -0.05% 0.52%
2056 -0.07% 0.56%
2055 -0.01% 0.56%
2054 -0.004% 0.6%
2053 0.03% 0.64%
2052 0.04% 0.68%
2051 0.08% 0.69%
2050 0.13% 0.72%
2049 0.18% 0.75%
2048 0.2% 0.79%
2047 0.21% 0.8%
2046 0.26% 0.82%
2045 0.3% 0.84%
2044 0.31% 0.87%
2043 0.34% 0.89%
2042 0.4% 0.92%
2041 0.42% 0.93%
2040 0.41% 0.95%
2039 0.46% 0.97%
2038 0.48% 0.98%
2037 0.48% 1.02%
2036 0.48% 1.03%
2035 0.53% 1.03%
2034 0.56% 1.04%
2033 0.61% 1.05%
2032 0.63% 1.05%
2031 0.66% 1.05%
2030 0.72% 1.07%
2029 0.78% 1.08%
2028 0.83% 1.08%
2027 0.88% 1.1%
2026 0.96% 1.1%
2025 1.64% 1.11%
2024 1.59% 1.12%
2023 1.89% 1.11%
2022 2% 1.09%
2021 1.41% 1.15%
2020 1.27% 1.19%
2019 1.6% 1.18%
2018 1.46% 1.23%
2017 1.36% 1.25%
2016 1.29% 1.23%
2015 0.95% 1.18%
2014 0.73% 1.15%
2013 0.53% 1.09%
2012 0.42% 1.01%
2011 0.44% 0.89%
2010 0.55% 0.78%
2009 1.02% 0.73%
2008 2.06% 0.68%
2007 2.93% 0.42%
2006 2.73% -0.41%
2005 2.2% -0.92%
2004 1.85% -0.7%
2003 1.64% -0.48%
2002 1.7% -0.31%
2001 1.6% -0.15%
2000 1.34% 0.03%
1999 1.13% 0.26%
1998 1.05% 0.5%
1997 1.01% 0.8%
1996 0.79% 1.08%
1995 0.51% 1.23%
1994 0.39% 1.36%
1993 0.5% 1.52%
1992 0.68% 1.68%
1991 0.58% 1.81%
1990 0.08% 1.93%
1989 -0.4% 2.05%
1988 -0.43% 2.14%
1987 0.01% 2.24%
1986 0.05% 2.57%
1985 0.16% 2.87%
1984 0.62% 2.9%
1983 0.71% 2.93%
1982 0.95% 2.95%
1981 1.18% 2.95%
1980 1.16% 2.95%
1979 1.34% 2.93%
1978 1.43% 2.89%
1977 1.36% 2.93%
1976 1.52% 3.26%
1975 1.66% 3.52%
1974 1.67% 3.51%
1973 1.62% 3.53%
1972 1.5% 3.58%
1971 1.18% 3.63%
1970 0.84% 3.67%
1969 0.59% 3.7%
1968 0.45% 3.73%
1967 0.47% 3.64%
1966 0.4% 3.25%
1965 0.38% 2.97%
1964 0.49% 2.99%
1963 0.59% 3.01%
1962 0.41% 3.03%
1961 -0.15% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Ireland Lesotho
Current population
5562212
2402837
Population rank 122/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.03%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +71
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 94/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 -5,192
Net migration rank 27/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -5,192
2024 18,885 39,059 31,050 -5,107
2023 19,652 43,873 31,115 -5,168
2022 19,287 93,535 30,803 -6,023
2021 26,064 27,419 27,806 -3,449
2020 23,687 15,746 30,721 -3,449
2019 28,365 29,663 32,279 -6,896
2018 29,878 33,387 33,112 -6,892
2017 31,379 28,883 33,601 -6,850
2016 33,339 18,967 33,390 -6,766
2015 35,265 13,376 32,087 -7,087
2014 37,728 448 30,922 -6,877
2013 39,302 -12,309 29,789 -6,659
2012 42,775 -22,411 27,592 -6,425
2011 45,801 -26,529 25,647 -6,118
2010 47,426 -26,974 21,877 -5,886
2009 47,168 -18,524 20,335 -5,599
2008 46,691 18,979 19,349 -5,392
2007 43,109 76,465 17,763 -5,179
2006 36,752 94,513 15,234 -11,416
2005 33,279 63,983 15,831 -35,679
2004 33,376 49,102 17,271 -33,530
2003 32,372 32,220 20,133 -31,723
2002 31,062 34,286 22,274 -29,924
2001 27,837 39,220 23,190 -27,874
2000 23,592 31,298 24,786 -26,220
1999 21,402 23,592 27,393 -24,610
1998 22,277 16,615 30,889 -23,299
1997 21,311 17,425 34,637 -22,396
1996 18,915 9,959 36,228 -17,042
1995 16,601 10,019 37,370 -14,588
1994 17,234 -3,118 38,629 -13,953
1993 17,166 -3,762 40,505 -13,347
1992 20,283 1,335 42,579 -12,707
1991 21,206 4,944 44,026 -12,114
1990 21,787 -8,203 45,060 -11,598
1989 20,012 -28,752 46,264 -11,207
1988 22,912 -44,020 47,158 -11,028
1987 26,904 -38,426 47,718 -10,946
1986 27,963 -21,139 45,232 -7,501
1985 29,013 -16,178 44,575 1,222
1984 31,791 -15,549 43,785 1,199
1983 34,053 -15,043 42,899 1,253
1982 38,344 -14,464 41,941 1,281
1981 39,364 -10,834 40,808 1,307
1980 40,612 -2,876 39,617 1,361
1979 38,798 1,486 38,440 1,285
1978 36,288 15,543 37,084 1,047
1977 35,448 14,505 35,654 746
1976 33,676 14,200 34,117 2,986
1975 34,128 13,828 32,311 9,723
1974 34,199 13,482 30,444 9,972
1973 34,562 13,164 28,859 10,183
1972 34,316 12,858 27,841 10,386
1971 35,606 5,851 26,838 10,563
1970 30,756 -8,892 25,935 10,605
1969 29,326 -10,250 25,137 10,465
1968 27,697 -11,132 24,490 10,108
1967 29,895 -11,708 23,911 9,734
1966 26,866 -11,858 23,326 7,248
1965 30,500 -14,016 22,755 2,239
1964 31,532 -15,640 22,116 2,198
1963 29,667 -16,615 21,585 2,220
1962 28,077 -17,438 21,132 2,172
1961 25,137 -22,237 20,581 2,100
1960 28,286 -38,492 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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