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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 527,799 people in Maldives in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 532,057 in Maldives.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 10.4 times bigger than Maldives'.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Maldives is the 168th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.006% for Maldives.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.56% in Maldives.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Maldives has grown from 314K to 532K (69.5% growth).

Ireland vs Maldives: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Maldives
2100 5,468,791 476,505
2099 5,493,162 477,920
2098 5,516,999 479,417
2097 5,540,157 481,109
2096 5,562,811 482,965
2095 5,583,505 484,925
2094 5,603,538 487,060
2093 5,623,266 489,462
2092 5,642,437 492,137
2091 5,661,268 494,900
2090 5,680,076 498,054
2089 5,697,512 501,304
2088 5,714,108 504,978
2087 5,729,431 508,740
2086 5,743,405 512,752
2085 5,757,666 516,863
2084 5,771,610 521,065
2083 5,785,324 525,345
2082 5,798,037 529,631
2081 5,809,262 534,118
2080 5,821,598 538,568
2079 5,836,731 543,030
2078 5,851,937 547,552
2077 5,867,627 551,886
2076 5,883,876 556,016
2075 5,900,200 560,031
2074 5,917,659 563,862
2073 5,934,975 567,654
2072 5,952,211 571,178
2071 5,969,279 574,604
2070 5,986,770 577,819
2069 6,003,570 580,792
2068 6,019,937 583,580
2067 6,035,810 586,194
2066 6,051,604 588,512
2065 6,066,791 590,500
2064 6,081,606 592,344
2063 6,094,455 594,011
2062 6,106,325 595,405
2061 6,118,587 596,482
2060 6,131,482 597,051
2059 6,143,979 597,623
2058 6,153,447 597,874
2057 6,161,059 597,811
2056 6,164,047 597,360
2055 6,168,611 596,636
2054 6,169,455 595,832
2053 6,169,673 594,829
2052 6,167,591 593,458
2051 6,164,894 591,942
2050 6,159,756 590,121
2049 6,151,623 587,970
2048 6,140,272 585,592
2047 6,128,245 583,306
2046 6,115,454 580,842
2045 6,099,562 578,160
2044 6,081,384 575,546
2043 6,062,477 572,802
2042 6,041,683 570,020
2041 6,017,573 567,246
2040 5,992,311 564,398
2039 5,967,604 561,546
2038 5,940,474 558,940
2037 5,912,327 556,343
2036 5,884,159 553,839
2035 5,855,902 551,348
2034 5,825,178 548,952
2033 5,792,751 546,465
2032 5,757,842 544,072
2031 5,721,671 541,734
2030 5,684,420 539,556
2029 5,644,008 537,533
2028 5,600,083 535,394
2027 5,553,725 533,401
2026 5,505,248 531,559
2025 5,452,752 529,712
2024 5,395,790 527,799
2023 5,311,538 525,994
2022 5,212,836 524,106
2021 5,110,585 516,154
2020 5,039,747 502,118
2019 4,976,456 487,731
2018 4,898,022 473,099
2017 4,827,445 458,287
2016 4,762,722 443,308
2015 4,701,957 428,154
2014 4,657,740 413,617
2013 4,623,816 400,070
2012 4,599,533 386,818
2011 4,580,084 373,674
2010 4,560,155 360,792
2009 4,535,375 348,275
2008 4,489,544 336,170
2007 4,398,942 324,479
2006 4,273,591 313,851
2005 4,159,914 306,429
2004 4,070,262 301,413
2003 3,996,521 296,491
2002 3,931,947 291,616
2001 3,866,243 286,767
2000 3,805,174 282,019
1999 3,754,786 277,412
1998 3,712,696 272,723
1997 3,674,171 267,707
1996 3,637,510 262,347
1995 3,608,841 256,649
1994 3,590,386 250,822
1993 3,576,261 244,884
1992 3,558,430 238,543
1991 3,534,235 231,802
1990 3,513,974 224,762
1989 3,511,009 217,738
1988 3,524,949 210,885
1987 3,540,057 203,944
1986 3,539,690 196,935
1985 3,538,082 190,169
1984 3,532,423 184,198
1983 3,510,600 179,128
1982 3,485,800 174,333
1981 3,453,000 169,532
1980 3,412,800 164,835
1979 3,373,750 160,360
1978 3,329,100 156,159
1977 3,282,200 151,930
1976 3,238,050 147,525
1975 3,189,550 143,158
1974 3,137,500 138,978
1973 3,085,950 134,952
1972 3,036,850 130,968
1971 2,992,050 127,035
1970 2,957,250 123,219
1969 2,932,650 119,564
1968 2,915,550 116,075
1967 2,902,450 112,528
1966 2,888,800 108,507
1965 2,877,300 104,102
1964 2,866,550 100,662
1963 2,852,650 98,222
1962 2,836,050 95,802
1961 2,824,400 93,450
1960 2,828,600 91,189

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/maldives | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Maldives gained 129,457 people (a 41.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Maldives' population increased by 88,749 people (a 20% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Maldives was ranked 171st in 2006 and ranked 168th 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 Maldives will increase by 10.9% to 590,121 people and rank change from 168th to 166th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 598K people in 2058 for Maldives.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Maldives
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Maldives
2100 -0.44% -0.3%
2099 -0.43% -0.31%
2098 -0.42% -0.35%
2097 -0.41% -0.38%
2096 -0.37% -0.4%
2095 -0.36% -0.44%
2094 -0.35% -0.49%
2093 -0.34% -0.54%
2092 -0.33% -0.56%
2091 -0.33% -0.63%
2090 -0.31% -0.65%
2089 -0.29% -0.73%
2088 -0.27% -0.74%
2087 -0.24% -0.78%
2086 -0.25% -0.8%
2085 -0.24% -0.81%
2084 -0.24% -0.81%
2083 -0.22% -0.81%
2082 -0.19% -0.84%
2081 -0.21% -0.83%
2080 -0.26% -0.82%
2079 -0.26% -0.83%
2078 -0.27% -0.79%
2077 -0.28% -0.74%
2076 -0.28% -0.72%
2075 -0.3% -0.68%
2074 -0.29% -0.67%
2073 -0.29% -0.62%
2072 -0.29% -0.6%
2071 -0.29% -0.56%
2070 -0.28% -0.51%
2069 -0.27% -0.48%
2068 -0.26% -0.45%
2067 -0.26% -0.39%
2066 -0.25% -0.34%
2065 -0.24% -0.31%
2064 -0.21% -0.28%
2063 -0.19% -0.23%
2062 -0.2% -0.18%
2061 -0.21% -0.1%
2060 -0.2% -0.1%
2059 -0.15% -0.04%
2058 -0.12% 0.01%
2057 -0.05% 0.08%
2056 -0.07% 0.12%
2055 -0.01% 0.14%
2054 -0.004% 0.17%
2053 0.03% 0.23%
2052 0.04% 0.26%
2051 0.08% 0.31%
2050 0.13% 0.37%
2049 0.18% 0.41%
2048 0.2% 0.39%
2047 0.21% 0.42%
2046 0.26% 0.46%
2045 0.3% 0.45%
2044 0.31% 0.48%
2043 0.34% 0.49%
2042 0.4% 0.49%
2041 0.42% 0.5%
2040 0.41% 0.51%
2039 0.46% 0.47%
2038 0.48% 0.47%
2037 0.48% 0.45%
2036 0.48% 0.45%
2035 0.53% 0.44%
2034 0.56% 0.46%
2033 0.61% 0.44%
2032 0.63% 0.43%
2031 0.66% 0.4%
2030 0.72% 0.38%
2029 0.78% 0.4%
2028 0.83% 0.37%
2027 0.88% 0.35%
2026 0.96% 0.35%
2025 1.06% 0.36%
2024 1.59% 0.34%
2023 1.89% 0.36%
2022 2% 1.54%
2021 1.41% 2.8%
2020 1.27% 2.95%
2019 1.6% 3.09%
2018 1.46% 3.23%
2017 1.36% 3.38%
2016 1.29% 3.54%
2015 0.95% 3.51%
2014 0.73% 3.39%
2013 0.53% 3.43%
2012 0.42% 3.52%
2011 0.44% 3.57%
2010 0.55% 3.59%
2009 1.02% 3.6%
2008 2.06% 3.6%
2007 2.93% 3.39%
2006 2.73% 2.42%
2005 2.2% 1.66%
2004 1.85% 1.66%
2003 1.64% 1.67%
2002 1.7% 1.69%
2001 1.6% 1.68%
2000 1.34% 1.66%
1999 1.13% 1.72%
1998 1.05% 1.87%
1997 1.01% 2.04%
1996 0.79% 2.22%
1995 0.51% 2.32%
1994 0.39% 2.42%
1993 0.5% 2.66%
1992 0.68% 2.91%
1991 0.58% 3.13%
1990 0.08% 3.23%
1989 -0.4% 3.25%
1988 -0.43% 3.4%
1987 0.01% 3.56%
1986 0.05% 3.56%
1985 0.16% 3.24%
1984 0.62% 2.83%
1983 0.71% 2.75%
1982 0.95% 2.83%
1981 1.18% 2.85%
1980 1.16% 2.79%
1979 1.34% 2.69%
1978 1.43% 2.78%
1977 1.36% 2.99%
1976 1.52% 3.05%
1975 1.66% 3.01%
1974 1.67% 2.98%
1973 1.62% 3.04%
1972 1.5% 3.1%
1971 1.18% 3.1%
1970 0.84% 3.06%
1969 0.59% 3.01%
1968 0.45% 3.15%
1967 0.47% 3.71%
1966 0.4% 4.23%
1965 0.38% 3.42%
1964 0.49% 2.48%
1963 0.59% 2.53%
1962 0.41% 2.52%
1961 -0.15% 2.48%

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/maldives | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Maldives' population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Ireland Maldives
Current population
5518360
532057
Population rank 121/197 168/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.006%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
4.85 hours
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.51 hours
One death every
15 minutes
7.13 hours
Daily growth/decline +231 +5
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +1,805
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 146/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.85 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 -2,283
Net migration rank 27/196 101/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 75,099
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 141/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 48/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Maldives
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Maldives
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -2,283
2024 - 39,059 - -2,421
2023 19,652 43,873 4,566 -2,877
2022 19,287 93,535 4,752 -2,674
2021 26,064 27,419 4,426 9,412
2020 23,687 15,746 4,594 9,642
2019 28,365 29,663 4,886 9,648
2018 29,878 33,387 5,088 9,637
2017 31,379 28,883 5,342 9,555
2016 33,339 18,967 5,652 9,421
2015 35,265 13,376 5,914 9,324
2014 37,728 448 6,122 7,700
2013 39,302 -12,309 6,307 6,963
2012 42,775 -22,411 6,445 6,800
2011 45,801 -26,529 6,429 6,611
2010 47,426 -26,974 6,350 6,369
2009 47,168 -18,524 6,227 6,093
2008 46,691 18,979 5,856 6,035
2007 43,109 76,465 5,324 6,160
2006 36,752 94,513 4,766 5,006
2005 33,279 63,983 4,493 578
2004 33,376 49,102 4,287 668
2003 32,372 32,220 4,316 578
2002 31,062 34,286 4,257 607
2001 27,837 39,220 4,271 560
2000 23,592 31,298 4,372 300
1999 21,402 23,592 4,601 -62
1998 22,277 16,615 4,919 -94
1997 21,311 17,425 5,267 -60
1996 18,915 9,959 5,705 -183
1995 16,601 10,019 6,177 -302
1994 17,234 -3,118 6,550 -768
1993 17,166 -3,762 6,842 -749
1992 20,283 1,335 7,096 -522
1991 21,206 4,944 7,295 -378
1990 21,787 -8,203 7,444 -271
1989 20,012 -28,752 7,472 -610
1988 22,912 -44,020 7,414 -564
1987 26,904 -38,426 7,300 -265
1986 27,963 -21,139 7,153 -175
1985 29,013 -16,178 6,944 -382
1984 31,791 -15,549 6,680 -1,300
1983 34,053 -15,043 6,361 -1,608
1982 38,344 -14,464 6,058 -1,220
1981 39,364 -10,834 5,778 -1,014
1980 40,612 -2,876 5,526 -903
1979 38,798 1,486 5,275 -958
1978 36,288 15,543 4,812 -716
1977 35,448 14,505 4,779 -413
1976 33,676 14,200 4,538 -101
1975 34,128 13,828 4,325 -14
1974 34,199 13,482 4,136 -78
1973 34,562 13,164 3,924 60
1972 34,316 12,858 3,707 269
1971 35,606 5,851 3,549 341
1970 30,756 -8,892 3,415 330
1969 29,326 -10,250 3,260 313
1968 27,697 -11,132 3,150 255
1967 29,895 -11,708 3,010 672
1966 26,866 -11,858 2,845 1,511
1965 30,500 -14,016 2,747 1,709
1964 31,532 -15,640 2,660 -227
1963 29,667 -16,615 2,567 -125
1962 28,077 -17,438 2,475 -80
1961 25,137 -22,237 2,354 -44
1960 28,286 -38,492 2,241 -32

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/maldives | 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 Maldives 42.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 51,342 people) and 57.3% is from migration (a gain of 68,788 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 75,099 people or 14.2% in Maldives.

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
Maldives
City Population
Male 133K
Hulhumale 50K

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/maldives | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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