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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 6.62 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Ireland vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Malaysia
2100 5,468,791 44,353,615
2099 5,493,162 44,467,475
2098 5,516,999 44,579,971
2097 5,540,157 44,695,979
2096 5,562,811 44,814,885
2095 5,583,505 44,932,404
2094 5,603,538 45,047,479
2093 5,623,266 45,165,126
2092 5,642,437 45,278,674
2091 5,661,268 45,390,002
2090 5,680,076 45,501,495
2089 5,697,512 45,610,046
2088 5,714,108 45,717,882
2087 5,729,431 45,823,085
2086 5,743,405 45,926,712
2085 5,757,666 46,020,742
2084 5,771,610 46,111,490
2083 5,785,324 46,202,286
2082 5,798,037 46,284,929
2081 5,809,262 46,359,700
2080 5,821,598 46,435,482
2079 5,836,731 46,496,102
2078 5,851,937 46,549,167
2077 5,867,627 46,594,188
2076 5,883,876 46,619,045
2075 5,900,200 46,643,115
2074 5,917,659 46,658,350
2073 5,934,975 46,670,848
2072 5,952,211 46,670,426
2071 5,969,279 46,660,436
2070 5,986,770 46,645,623
2069 6,003,570 46,623,238
2068 6,019,937 46,600,060
2067 6,035,810 46,569,264
2066 6,051,604 46,530,377
2065 6,066,791 46,481,890
2064 6,081,606 46,417,369
2063 6,094,455 46,350,674
2062 6,106,325 46,272,105
2061 6,118,587 46,178,092
2060 6,131,482 46,075,877
2059 6,143,979 45,958,718
2058 6,153,447 45,837,407
2057 6,161,059 45,707,213
2056 6,164,047 45,566,357
2055 6,168,611 45,418,953
2054 6,169,455 45,252,995
2053 6,169,673 45,069,089
2052 6,167,591 44,873,927
2051 6,164,894 44,668,767
2050 6,159,756 44,445,677
2049 6,151,623 44,217,593
2048 6,140,272 43,974,925
2047 6,128,245 43,712,325
2046 6,115,454 43,438,283
2045 6,099,562 43,157,909
2044 6,081,384 42,866,716
2043 6,062,477 42,557,941
2042 6,041,683 42,239,980
2041 6,017,573 41,922,379
2040 5,992,311 41,598,231
2039 5,967,604 41,270,953
2038 5,940,474 40,929,067
2037 5,912,327 40,584,773
2036 5,884,159 40,234,128
2035 5,855,902 39,876,375
2034 5,825,178 39,515,857
2033 5,792,751 39,152,086
2032 5,757,842 38,772,414
2031 5,721,671 38,386,293
2030 5,684,420 37,995,617
2029 5,644,008 37,606,753
2028 5,600,083 37,207,852
2027 5,553,725 36,806,585
2026 5,505,248 36,403,076
2025 5,452,752 35,987,113
2024 5,395,790 35,557,673
2023 5,311,538 35,126,298
2022 5,212,836 34,695,493
2021 5,110,585 34,282,399
2020 5,039,747 33,889,558
2019 4,976,456 33,440,596
2018 4,898,022 32,910,967
2017 4,827,445 32,355,644
2016 4,762,722 31,789,685
2015 4,701,957 31,232,798
2014 4,657,740 30,696,137
2013 4,623,816 30,174,265
2012 4,599,533 29,662,831
2011 4,580,084 29,162,039
2010 4,560,155 28,655,776
2009 4,535,375 28,124,778
2008 4,489,544 27,570,059
2007 4,398,942 26,998,389
2006 4,273,591 26,417,909
2005 4,159,914 25,836,071
2004 4,070,262 25,256,772
2003 3,996,521 24,679,602
2002 3,931,947 24,102,477
2001 3,866,243 23,526,538
2000 3,805,174 22,967,816
1999 3,754,786 22,435,531
1998 3,712,696 21,906,713
1997 3,674,171 21,375,218
1996 3,637,510 20,850,087
1995 3,608,841 20,330,599
1994 3,590,386 19,820,446
1993 3,576,261 19,322,664
1992 3,558,430 18,834,572
1991 3,534,235 18,342,464
1990 3,513,974 17,833,171
1989 3,511,009 17,314,997
1988 3,524,949 16,796,605
1987 3,540,057 16,276,737
1986 3,539,690 15,760,419
1985 3,538,082 15,252,258
1984 3,532,423 14,759,009
1983 3,510,600 14,285,907
1982 3,485,800 13,832,798
1981 3,453,000 13,399,203
1980 3,412,800 12,983,363
1979 3,373,750 12,627,862
1978 3,329,100 12,328,157
1977 3,282,200 12,035,713
1976 3,238,050 11,750,097
1975 3,189,550 11,471,914
1974 3,137,500 11,200,906
1973 3,085,950 10,935,621
1972 3,036,850 10,676,835
1971 2,992,050 10,423,453
1970 2,957,250 10,178,802
1969 2,932,650 9,947,597
1968 2,915,550 9,725,281
1967 2,902,450 9,507,099
1966 2,888,800 9,284,688
1965 2,877,300 9,056,408
1964 2,866,550 8,828,406
1963 2,852,650 8,602,160
1962 2,836,050 8,380,172
1961 2,824,400 8,164,443
1960 2,828,600 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Malaysia
2100 -0.44% -0.26%
2099 -0.43% -0.25%
2098 -0.42% -0.26%
2097 -0.41% -0.27%
2096 -0.37% -0.26%
2095 -0.36% -0.26%
2094 -0.35% -0.26%
2093 -0.34% -0.25%
2092 -0.33% -0.25%
2091 -0.33% -0.25%
2090 -0.31% -0.24%
2089 -0.29% -0.24%
2088 -0.27% -0.23%
2087 -0.24% -0.23%
2086 -0.25% -0.2%
2085 -0.24% -0.2%
2084 -0.24% -0.2%
2083 -0.22% -0.18%
2082 -0.19% -0.16%
2081 -0.21% -0.16%
2080 -0.26% -0.13%
2079 -0.26% -0.11%
2078 -0.27% -0.1%
2077 -0.28% -0.05%
2076 -0.28% -0.05%
2075 -0.3% -0.03%
2074 -0.29% -0.03%
2073 -0.29% 0.001%
2072 -0.29% 0.02%
2071 -0.29% 0.03%
2070 -0.28% 0.05%
2069 -0.27% 0.05%
2068 -0.26% 0.07%
2067 -0.26% 0.08%
2066 -0.25% 0.1%
2065 -0.24% 0.14%
2064 -0.21% 0.14%
2063 -0.19% 0.17%
2062 -0.2% 0.2%
2061 -0.21% 0.22%
2060 -0.2% 0.25%
2059 -0.15% 0.26%
2058 -0.12% 0.28%
2057 -0.05% 0.31%
2056 -0.07% 0.32%
2055 -0.01% 0.37%
2054 -0.004% 0.41%
2053 0.03% 0.43%
2052 0.04% 0.46%
2051 0.08% 0.5%
2050 0.13% 0.52%
2049 0.18% 0.55%
2048 0.2% 0.6%
2047 0.21% 0.63%
2046 0.26% 0.65%
2045 0.3% 0.68%
2044 0.31% 0.73%
2043 0.34% 0.75%
2042 0.4% 0.76%
2041 0.42% 0.78%
2040 0.41% 0.79%
2039 0.46% 0.84%
2038 0.48% 0.85%
2037 0.48% 0.87%
2036 0.48% 0.9%
2035 0.53% 0.91%
2034 0.56% 0.93%
2033 0.61% 0.98%
2032 0.63% 1.01%
2031 0.66% 1.03%
2030 0.72% 1.03%
2029 0.78% 1.07%
2028 0.83% 1.09%
2027 0.88% 1.11%
2026 0.96% 1.16%
2025 1.06% 1.21%
2024 1.59% 1.23%
2023 1.89% 1.24%
2022 2% 1.2%
2021 1.41% 1.16%
2020 1.27% 1.34%
2019 1.6% 1.61%
2018 1.46% 1.72%
2017 1.36% 1.78%
2016 1.29% 1.78%
2015 0.95% 1.75%
2014 0.73% 1.73%
2013 0.53% 1.72%
2012 0.42% 1.72%
2011 0.44% 1.77%
2010 0.55% 1.89%
2009 1.02% 2.01%
2008 2.06% 2.12%
2007 2.93% 2.2%
2006 2.73% 2.25%
2005 2.2% 2.29%
2004 1.85% 2.34%
2003 1.64% 2.39%
2002 1.7% 2.45%
2001 1.6% 2.43%
2000 1.34% 2.37%
1999 1.13% 2.41%
1998 1.05% 2.49%
1997 1.01% 2.52%
1996 0.79% 2.56%
1995 0.51% 2.57%
1994 0.39% 2.58%
1993 0.5% 2.59%
1992 0.68% 2.68%
1991 0.58% 2.86%
1990 0.08% 2.99%
1989 -0.4% 3.09%
1988 -0.43% 3.19%
1987 0.01% 3.28%
1986 0.05% 3.33%
1985 0.16% 3.34%
1984 0.62% 3.31%
1983 0.71% 3.28%
1982 0.95% 3.24%
1981 1.18% 3.2%
1980 1.16% 2.82%
1979 1.34% 2.43%
1978 1.43% 2.43%
1977 1.36% 2.43%
1976 1.52% 2.42%
1975 1.66% 2.42%
1974 1.67% 2.43%
1973 1.62% 2.42%
1972 1.5% 2.43%
1971 1.18% 2.4%
1970 0.84% 2.32%
1969 0.59% 2.29%
1968 0.45% 2.29%
1967 0.47% 2.4%
1966 0.4% 2.52%
1965 0.38% 2.58%
1964 0.49% 2.63%
1963 0.59% 2.65%
1962 0.41% 2.64%
1961 -0.15% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Ireland Malaysia
Current population
5518360
36512221
Population rank 121/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.44%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 89/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +166,615
Net migration rank 27/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 166,615
2024 - 39,059 - 174,770
2023 19,652 43,873 254,806 181,071
2022 19,287 93,535 237,560 188,154
2021 26,064 27,419 212,002 188,506
2020 23,687 15,746 283,282 101,907
2019 28,365 29,663 309,426 203,284
2018 29,878 33,387 324,568 221,965
2017 31,379 28,883 336,434 227,677
2016 33,339 18,967 345,681 222,141
2015 35,265 13,376 358,302 187,663
2014 37,728 448 367,587 159,791
2013 39,302 -12,309 366,738 149,637
2012 42,775 -22,411 371,497 134,975
2011 45,801 -26,529 372,836 122,269
2010 47,426 -26,974 360,260 157,164
2009 47,168 -18,524 366,157 178,410
2008 46,691 18,979 362,380 202,481
2007 43,109 76,465 348,711 229,784
2006 36,752 94,513 349,509 232,971
2005 33,279 63,983 355,324 225,864
2004 33,376 49,102 365,138 212,278
2003 32,372 32,220 377,425 199,510
2002 31,062 34,286 381,084 196,227
2001 27,837 39,220 400,939 173,613
2000 23,592 31,298 417,371 125,499
1999 21,402 23,592 432,355 89,335
1998 22,277 16,615 436,316 99,639
1997 21,311 17,425 447,768 79,266
1996 18,915 9,959 450,174 73,040
1995 16,601 10,019 443,349 72,393
1994 17,234 -3,118 437,873 66,685
1993 17,166 -3,762 429,910 61,079
1992 20,283 1,335 418,900 66,286
1991 21,206 4,944 401,938 97,111
1990 21,787 -8,203 384,518 135,020
1989 20,012 -28,752 373,277 143,544
1988 22,912 -44,020 386,507 133,478
1987 26,904 -38,426 381,999 137,759
1986 27,963 -21,139 385,799 127,081
1985 29,013 -16,178 383,243 120,215
1984 31,791 -15,549 376,797 106,248
1983 34,053 -15,043 365,290 97,862
1982 38,344 -14,464 353,138 89,942
1981 39,364 -10,834 339,991 84,142
1980 40,612 -2,876 326,947 80,617
1979 38,798 1,486 317,439 -13,980
1978 36,288 15,543 311,027 -15,059
1977 35,448 14,505 305,515 -16,601
1976 33,676 14,200 300,615 -18,316
1975 34,128 13,828 294,541 -20,480
1974 34,199 13,482 289,880 -21,919
1973 34,562 13,164 284,611 -21,995
1972 34,316 12,858 276,263 -21,305
1971 35,606 5,851 272,323 -20,535
1970 30,756 -8,892 269,341 -31,839
1969 29,326 -10,250 264,327 -39,420
1968 27,697 -11,132 260,705 -40,996
1967 29,895 -11,708 258,764 -42,108
1966 26,866 -11,858 262,162 -33,993
1965 30,500 -14,016 264,836 -36,456
1964 31,532 -15,640 266,406 -38,785
1963 29,667 -16,615 265,815 -40,952
1962 28,077 -17,438 262,140 -43,033
1961 25,137 -22,237 257,270 -44,916
1960 28,286 -38,492 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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