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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 7,381,023 people in Libya in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 7,559,873 in Libya.

Population statistics:

  • Libya's population is 1.37 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Libya is the 105th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.09% for Libya.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.44% in Libya.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Libya has grown from 5.98M to 7.56M (26.4% growth).

Ireland vs Libya: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Libya
2100 5,468,791 9,844,478
2099 5,493,162 9,862,293
2098 5,516,999 9,883,409
2097 5,540,157 9,903,494
2096 5,562,811 9,920,212
2095 5,583,505 9,931,781
2094 5,603,538 9,943,275
2093 5,623,266 9,958,570
2092 5,642,437 9,973,255
2091 5,661,268 9,982,193
2090 5,680,076 9,998,398
2089 5,697,512 10,008,842
2088 5,714,108 10,019,533
2087 5,729,431 10,023,170
2086 5,743,405 10,022,785
2085 5,757,666 10,016,359
2084 5,771,610 10,009,703
2083 5,785,324 10,006,073
2082 5,798,037 9,997,594
2081 5,809,262 9,985,386
2080 5,821,598 9,975,419
2079 5,836,731 9,962,691
2078 5,851,937 9,958,515
2077 5,867,627 9,952,827
2076 5,883,876 9,940,029
2075 5,900,200 9,927,944
2074 5,917,659 9,916,834
2073 5,934,975 9,901,120
2072 5,952,211 9,879,602
2071 5,969,279 9,867,880
2070 5,986,770 9,850,724
2069 6,003,570 9,832,072
2068 6,019,937 9,812,363
2067 6,035,810 9,799,957
2066 6,051,604 9,782,414
2065 6,066,791 9,762,806
2064 6,081,606 9,740,665
2063 6,094,455 9,729,567
2062 6,106,325 9,707,539
2061 6,118,587 9,686,619
2060 6,131,482 9,667,297
2059 6,143,979 9,638,062
2058 6,153,447 9,610,703
2057 6,161,059 9,579,595
2056 6,164,047 9,554,689
2055 6,168,611 9,522,205
2054 6,169,455 9,478,010
2053 6,169,673 9,432,683
2052 6,167,591 9,383,411
2051 6,164,894 9,335,341
2050 6,159,756 9,282,941
2049 6,151,623 9,230,811
2048 6,140,272 9,173,272
2047 6,128,245 9,118,915
2046 6,115,454 9,063,226
2045 6,099,562 8,998,841
2044 6,081,384 8,934,714
2043 6,062,477 8,866,878
2042 6,041,683 8,798,463
2041 6,017,573 8,732,168
2040 5,992,311 8,661,351
2039 5,967,604 8,588,292
2038 5,940,474 8,514,071
2037 5,912,327 8,437,766
2036 5,884,159 8,364,809
2035 5,855,902 8,289,931
2034 5,825,178 8,209,318
2033 5,792,751 8,129,142
2032 5,757,842 8,052,203
2031 5,721,671 7,969,547
2030 5,684,420 7,884,726
2029 5,644,008 7,801,482
2028 5,600,083 7,713,090
2027 5,553,725 7,621,838
2026 5,505,248 7,536,898
2025 5,452,752 7,458,392
2024 5,395,790 7,381,023
2023 5,311,538 7,305,659
2022 5,212,836 7,223,805
2021 5,110,585 7,135,175
2020 5,039,747 7,045,399
2019 4,976,456 6,951,033
2018 4,898,022 6,849,055
2017 4,827,445 6,738,770
2016 4,762,722 6,632,126
2015 4,701,957 6,531,819
2014 4,657,740 6,427,252
2013 4,623,816 6,304,628
2012 4,599,533 6,179,328
2011 4,580,084 6,343,203
2010 4,560,155 6,497,839
2009 4,535,375 6,366,686
2008 4,489,544 6,235,430
2007 4,398,942 6,104,380
2006 4,273,591 5,980,211
2005 4,159,914 5,858,798
2004 4,070,262 5,736,693
2003 3,996,521 5,619,398
2002 3,931,947 5,508,410
2001 3,866,243 5,403,639
2000 3,805,174 5,305,021
1999 3,754,786 5,218,038
1998 3,712,696 5,140,704
1997 3,674,171 5,064,639
1996 3,637,510 4,987,393
1995 3,608,841 4,906,843
1994 3,590,386 4,822,037
1993 3,576,261 4,733,045
1992 3,558,430 4,640,352
1991 3,534,235 4,544,400
1990 3,513,974 4,445,239
1989 3,511,009 4,342,920
1988 3,524,949 4,237,755
1987 3,540,057 4,129,739
1986 3,539,690 4,017,403
1985 3,538,082 3,898,745
1984 3,532,423 3,773,633
1983 3,510,600 3,718,961
1982 3,485,800 3,724,765
1981 3,453,000 3,621,486
1980 3,412,800 3,424,378
1979 3,373,750 3,233,846
1978 3,329,100 3,052,526
1977 3,282,200 2,881,533
1976 3,238,050 2,721,237
1975 3,189,550 2,571,556
1974 3,137,500 2,432,211
1973 3,085,950 2,314,193
1972 3,036,850 2,226,091
1971 2,992,050 2,153,534
1970 2,957,250 2,082,589
1969 2,932,650 2,014,293
1968 2,915,550 1,952,781
1967 2,902,450 1,898,199
1966 2,888,800 1,849,063
1965 2,877,300 1,804,015
1964 2,866,550 1,753,691
1963 2,852,650 1,690,457
1962 2,836,050 1,621,960
1961 2,824,400 1,555,699
1960 2,828,600 1,492,890

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/libya | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Libya gained 651,915 people (a 10.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Libya's population increased by 927,747 people (a 14% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Libya was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 105th 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 Libya will increase by 22.8% to 9,282,941 people and will still be ranked 105th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 10M people in 2087 for Libya.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Libya
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Libya
2100 -0.44% -0.18%
2099 -0.43% -0.21%
2098 -0.42% -0.2%
2097 -0.41% -0.17%
2096 -0.37% -0.12%
2095 -0.36% -0.12%
2094 -0.35% -0.15%
2093 -0.34% -0.15%
2092 -0.33% -0.09%
2091 -0.33% -0.16%
2090 -0.31% -0.1%
2089 -0.29% -0.11%
2088 -0.27% -0.04%
2087 -0.24% 0.004%
2086 -0.25% 0.06%
2085 -0.24% 0.07%
2084 -0.24% 0.04%
2083 -0.22% 0.08%
2082 -0.19% 0.12%
2081 -0.21% 0.1%
2080 -0.26% 0.13%
2079 -0.26% 0.04%
2078 -0.27% 0.06%
2077 -0.28% 0.13%
2076 -0.28% 0.12%
2075 -0.3% 0.11%
2074 -0.29% 0.16%
2073 -0.29% 0.22%
2072 -0.29% 0.12%
2071 -0.29% 0.17%
2070 -0.28% 0.19%
2069 -0.27% 0.2%
2068 -0.26% 0.13%
2067 -0.26% 0.18%
2066 -0.25% 0.2%
2065 -0.24% 0.23%
2064 -0.21% 0.11%
2063 -0.19% 0.23%
2062 -0.2% 0.22%
2061 -0.21% 0.2%
2060 -0.2% 0.3%
2059 -0.15% 0.28%
2058 -0.12% 0.32%
2057 -0.05% 0.26%
2056 -0.07% 0.34%
2055 -0.01% 0.47%
2054 -0.004% 0.48%
2053 0.03% 0.53%
2052 0.04% 0.51%
2051 0.08% 0.56%
2050 0.13% 0.56%
2049 0.18% 0.63%
2048 0.2% 0.6%
2047 0.21% 0.61%
2046 0.26% 0.72%
2045 0.3% 0.72%
2044 0.31% 0.77%
2043 0.34% 0.78%
2042 0.4% 0.76%
2041 0.42% 0.82%
2040 0.41% 0.85%
2039 0.46% 0.87%
2038 0.48% 0.9%
2037 0.48% 0.87%
2036 0.48% 0.9%
2035 0.53% 0.98%
2034 0.56% 0.99%
2033 0.61% 0.96%
2032 0.63% 1.04%
2031 0.66% 1.08%
2030 0.72% 1.07%
2029 0.78% 1.15%
2028 0.83% 1.2%
2027 0.88% 1.13%
2026 0.96% 1.05%
2025 1.06% 1.05%
2024 1.59% 1.03%
2023 1.89% 1.13%
2022 2% 1.24%
2021 1.41% 1.27%
2020 1.27% 1.36%
2019 1.6% 1.49%
2018 1.46% 1.64%
2017 1.36% 1.61%
2016 1.29% 1.54%
2015 0.95% 1.63%
2014 0.73% 1.94%
2013 0.53% 2.03%
2012 0.42% -2.58%
2011 0.44% -2.38%
2010 0.55% 2.06%
2009 1.02% 2.11%
2008 2.06% 2.15%
2007 2.93% 2.08%
2006 2.73% 2.07%
2005 2.2% 2.13%
2004 1.85% 2.09%
2003 1.64% 2.01%
2002 1.7% 1.94%
2001 1.6% 1.86%
2000 1.34% 1.67%
1999 1.13% 1.5%
1998 1.05% 1.5%
1997 1.01% 1.55%
1996 0.79% 1.64%
1995 0.51% 1.76%
1994 0.39% 1.88%
1993 0.5% 2%
1992 0.68% 2.11%
1991 0.58% 2.23%
1990 0.08% 2.36%
1989 -0.4% 2.48%
1988 -0.43% 2.62%
1987 0.01% 2.8%
1986 0.05% 3.04%
1985 0.16% 3.32%
1984 0.62% 1.47%
1983 0.71% -0.16%
1982 0.95% 2.85%
1981 1.18% 5.76%
1980 1.16% 5.89%
1979 1.34% 5.94%
1978 1.43% 5.93%
1977 1.36% 5.89%
1976 1.52% 5.82%
1975 1.66% 5.73%
1974 1.67% 5.1%
1973 1.62% 3.96%
1972 1.5% 3.37%
1971 1.18% 3.41%
1970 0.84% 3.39%
1969 0.59% 3.15%
1968 0.45% 2.88%
1967 0.47% 2.66%
1966 0.4% 2.5%
1965 0.38% 2.87%
1964 0.49% 3.74%
1963 0.59% 4.22%
1962 0.41% 4.26%
1961 -0.15% 4.21%

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/libya | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Libya's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Ireland Libya
Current population
5518360
7559873
Population rank 121/197 105/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.09%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
6.97 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
4.23 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +206
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +75,364
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 99/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
2.13 days
Annual migration change +35,417 -172
Net migration rank 27/196 83/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 897,751
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 63/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 12.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 56/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Libya
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Libya
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -172
2024 - 39,059 - 3,448
2023 19,652 43,873 75,760 -2,001
2022 19,287 93,535 91,951 -2,001
2021 26,064 27,419 88,005 -694
2020 23,687 15,746 92,950 -694
2019 28,365 29,663 97,842 -1,352
2018 29,878 33,387 101,619 5,841
2017 31,379 28,883 103,891 9,208
2016 33,339 18,967 105,265 -5,081
2015 35,265 13,376 108,096 -7,660
2014 37,728 448 110,420 -1,716
2013 39,302 -12,309 110,772 25,755
2012 42,775 -22,411 108,855 5,211
2011 45,801 -26,529 121,016 -562,827
2010 47,426 -26,974 122,926 9,611
2009 47,168 -18,524 118,102 11,670
2008 46,691 18,979 117,481 15,260
2007 43,109 76,465 116,704 12,640
2006 36,752 94,513 115,645 3,351
2005 33,279 63,983 112,823 11,024
2004 33,376 49,102 107,144 13,222
2003 32,372 32,220 102,144 12,073
2002 31,062 34,286 97,598 10,152
2001 27,837 39,220 93,370 8,420
2000 23,592 31,298 89,814 5,634
1999 21,402 23,592 88,743 -10,206
1998 22,277 16,615 87,613 -11,479
1997 21,311 17,425 86,899 -10,907
1996 18,915 9,959 86,945 -8,446
1995 16,601 10,019 87,661 -5,068
1994 17,234 -3,118 88,765 -1,755
1993 17,166 -3,762 90,553 426
1992 20,283 1,335 93,568 843
1991 21,206 4,944 96,582 902
1990 21,787 -8,203 99,898 946
1989 20,012 -28,752 102,823 981
1988 22,912 -44,020 105,469 1,053
1987 26,904 -38,426 107,761 1,740
1986 27,963 -21,139 109,325 5,844
1985 29,013 -16,178 110,194 11,962
1984 31,791 -15,549 110,028 18,039
1983 34,053 -15,043 122,183 -140,904
1982 38,344 -14,464 133,511 -126,400
1981 39,364 -10,834 130,233 69,211
1980 40,612 -2,876 128,034 66,739
1979 38,798 1,486 121,469 64,821
1978 36,288 15,543 114,669 61,684
1977 35,448 14,505 107,769 57,867
1976 33,676 14,200 101,146 53,813
1975 34,128 13,828 94,862 49,544
1974 34,199 13,482 89,337 44,946
1973 34,562 13,164 81,256 20,498
1972 34,316 12,858 77,864 -3,418
1971 35,606 5,851 74,934 -4,265
1970 30,756 -8,892 70,488 745
1969 29,326 -10,250 66,782 -1,418
1968 27,697 -11,132 63,971 -6,323
1967 29,895 -11,708 61,889 -10,384
1966 26,866 -11,858 60,394 -13,619
1965 30,500 -14,016 59,134 -15,810
1964 31,532 -15,640 55,227 2,084
1963 29,667 -16,615 50,421 18,740
1962 28,077 -17,438 46,252 21,589
1961 25,137 -22,237 42,167 22,504
1960 28,286 -38,492 38,391 22,559

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/libya | 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 Libya 99.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 975,799 people) and 0.63% is from migration (a loss of 6,150 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 897,751 people or 12.2% in Libya.

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
Libya
City Population
Tripoli 1.29M
Misrata 881K
Benghazi 632K
Ajdabiya 416K
Al-Khums 202K
Zawiya 199K
Tobruk 136K
Gharyan 123K
Sabratha 102K
Sabha 99K

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/libya | 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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