The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 568,847 people in Malta in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 581,729 in Malta.
Population statistics:
- Ireland's population is 9.49 times bigger than Malta's.
- Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
- The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.007% for Malta.
- For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.69% in Malta.
- Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 582K (43.5% growth).
Ireland vs Malta: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Ireland
|
Malta
|
|
| 2100 | 5,468,791 | 383,244 |
| 2099 | 5,493,162 | 386,421 |
| 2098 | 5,516,999 | 389,613 |
| 2097 | 5,540,157 | 392,917 |
| 2096 | 5,562,811 | 396,295 |
| 2095 | 5,583,505 | 399,956 |
| 2094 | 5,603,538 | 403,710 |
| 2093 | 5,623,266 | 407,487 |
| 2092 | 5,642,437 | 411,340 |
| 2091 | 5,661,268 | 415,407 |
| 2090 | 5,680,076 | 419,592 |
| 2089 | 5,697,512 | 423,826 |
| 2088 | 5,714,108 | 428,052 |
| 2087 | 5,729,431 | 432,556 |
| 2086 | 5,743,405 | 437,240 |
| 2085 | 5,757,666 | 441,882 |
| 2084 | 5,771,610 | 446,649 |
| 2083 | 5,785,324 | 451,551 |
| 2082 | 5,798,037 | 456,344 |
| 2081 | 5,809,262 | 461,335 |
| 2080 | 5,821,598 | 466,229 |
| 2079 | 5,836,731 | 471,100 |
| 2078 | 5,851,937 | 475,924 |
| 2077 | 5,867,627 | 480,771 |
| 2076 | 5,883,876 | 485,655 |
| 2075 | 5,900,200 | 490,208 |
| 2074 | 5,917,659 | 494,656 |
| 2073 | 5,934,975 | 499,046 |
| 2072 | 5,952,211 | 503,370 |
| 2071 | 5,969,279 | 507,604 |
| 2070 | 5,986,770 | 511,683 |
| 2069 | 6,003,570 | 515,748 |
| 2068 | 6,019,937 | 519,737 |
| 2067 | 6,035,810 | 523,520 |
| 2066 | 6,051,604 | 527,140 |
| 2065 | 6,066,791 | 530,620 |
| 2064 | 6,081,606 | 533,923 |
| 2063 | 6,094,455 | 537,029 |
| 2062 | 6,106,325 | 540,145 |
| 2061 | 6,118,587 | 543,018 |
| 2060 | 6,131,482 | 545,828 |
| 2059 | 6,143,979 | 548,562 |
| 2058 | 6,153,447 | 551,048 |
| 2057 | 6,161,059 | 553,389 |
| 2056 | 6,164,047 | 555,804 |
| 2055 | 6,168,611 | 558,190 |
| 2054 | 6,169,455 | 560,309 |
| 2053 | 6,169,673 | 562,511 |
| 2052 | 6,167,591 | 564,772 |
| 2051 | 6,164,894 | 567,078 |
| 2050 | 6,159,756 | 569,189 |
| 2049 | 6,151,623 | 571,016 |
| 2048 | 6,140,272 | 572,923 |
| 2047 | 6,128,245 | 574,977 |
| 2046 | 6,115,454 | 576,728 |
| 2045 | 6,099,562 | 578,442 |
| 2044 | 6,081,384 | 580,046 |
| 2043 | 6,062,477 | 581,639 |
| 2042 | 6,041,683 | 583,042 |
| 2041 | 6,017,573 | 584,485 |
| 2040 | 5,992,311 | 585,747 |
| 2039 | 5,967,604 | 587,035 |
| 2038 | 5,940,474 | 588,223 |
| 2037 | 5,912,327 | 589,140 |
| 2036 | 5,884,159 | 589,886 |
| 2035 | 5,855,902 | 590,469 |
| 2034 | 5,825,178 | 590,868 |
| 2033 | 5,792,751 | 590,759 |
| 2032 | 5,757,842 | 590,166 |
| 2031 | 5,721,671 | 589,366 |
| 2030 | 5,684,420 | 588,281 |
| 2029 | 5,644,008 | 586,978 |
| 2028 | 5,600,083 | 585,310 |
| 2027 | 5,553,725 | 583,310 |
| 2026 | 5,505,248 | 581,144 |
| 2025 | 5,452,752 | 575,661 |
| 2024 | 5,395,790 | 568,847 |
| 2023 | 5,311,538 | 552,747 |
| 2022 | 5,212,836 | 531,113 |
| 2021 | 5,110,585 | 518,150 |
| 2020 | 5,039,747 | 515,490 |
| 2019 | 4,976,456 | 503,912 |
| 2018 | 4,898,022 | 483,903 |
| 2017 | 4,827,445 | 467,106 |
| 2016 | 4,762,722 | 454,505 |
| 2015 | 4,701,957 | 444,220 |
| 2014 | 4,657,740 | 433,481 |
| 2013 | 4,623,816 | 424,810 |
| 2012 | 4,599,533 | 420,028 |
| 2011 | 4,580,084 | 416,268 |
| 2010 | 4,560,155 | 414,508 |
| 2009 | 4,535,375 | 412,477 |
| 2008 | 4,489,544 | 409,379 |
| 2007 | 4,398,942 | 406,724 |
| 2006 | 4,273,591 | 405,308 |
| 2005 | 4,159,914 | 403,834 |
| 2004 | 4,070,262 | 401,268 |
| 2003 | 3,996,521 | 398,582 |
| 2002 | 3,931,947 | 395,969 |
| 2001 | 3,866,243 | 393,028 |
| 2000 | 3,805,174 | 390,087 |
| 1999 | 3,754,786 | 387,578 |
| 1998 | 3,712,696 | 385,287 |
| 1997 | 3,674,171 | 382,791 |
| 1996 | 3,637,510 | 379,905 |
| 1995 | 3,608,841 | 377,419 |
| 1994 | 3,590,386 | 374,797 |
| 1993 | 3,576,261 | 371,308 |
| 1992 | 3,558,430 | 367,618 |
| 1991 | 3,534,235 | 363,845 |
| 1990 | 3,513,974 | 354,170 |
| 1989 | 3,511,009 | 350,722 |
| 1988 | 3,524,949 | 347,325 |
| 1987 | 3,540,057 | 344,485 |
| 1986 | 3,539,690 | 342,121 |
| 1985 | 3,538,082 | 336,452 |
| 1984 | 3,532,423 | 330,593 |
| 1983 | 3,510,600 | 330,524 |
| 1982 | 3,485,800 | 325,898 |
| 1981 | 3,453,000 | 318,982 |
| 1980 | 3,412,800 | 316,645 |
| 1979 | 3,373,750 | 313,342 |
| 1978 | 3,329,100 | 310,182 |
| 1977 | 3,282,200 | 306,970 |
| 1976 | 3,238,050 | 305,774 |
| 1975 | 3,189,550 | 304,222 |
| 1974 | 3,137,500 | 301,996 |
| 1973 | 3,085,950 | 302,200 |
| 1972 | 3,036,850 | 302,450 |
| 1971 | 2,992,050 | 302,700 |
| 1970 | 2,957,250 | 302,650 |
| 1969 | 2,932,650 | 304,300 |
| 1968 | 2,915,550 | 307,900 |
| 1967 | 2,902,450 | 311,550 |
| 1966 | 2,888,800 | 315,200 |
| 1965 | 2,877,300 | 318,800 |
| 1964 | 2,866,550 | 321,250 |
| 1963 | 2,852,650 | 322,550 |
| 1962 | 2,836,050 | 323,900 |
| 1961 | 2,824,400 | 325,250 |
| 1960 | 2,828,600 | 326,550 |
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/malta | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malta's population increased by 127,224 people (a 28% growth).
Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.16% to 569,189 people and will still be ranked 167th.
Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 591K people in 2034 for Malta.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Malta
|
|
| 2100 | -0.44% | -0.82% |
| 2099 | -0.43% | -0.82% |
| 2098 | -0.42% | -0.84% |
| 2097 | -0.41% | -0.85% |
| 2096 | -0.37% | -0.92% |
| 2095 | -0.36% | -0.93% |
| 2094 | -0.35% | -0.93% |
| 2093 | -0.34% | -0.94% |
| 2092 | -0.33% | -0.98% |
| 2091 | -0.33% | -1% |
| 2090 | -0.31% | -1% |
| 2089 | -0.29% | -0.99% |
| 2088 | -0.27% | -1.04% |
| 2087 | -0.24% | -1.07% |
| 2086 | -0.25% | -1.05% |
| 2085 | -0.24% | -1.07% |
| 2084 | -0.24% | -1.09% |
| 2083 | -0.22% | -1.05% |
| 2082 | -0.19% | -1.08% |
| 2081 | -0.21% | -1.05% |
| 2080 | -0.26% | -1.03% |
| 2079 | -0.26% | -1.01% |
| 2078 | -0.27% | -1.01% |
| 2077 | -0.28% | -1.01% |
| 2076 | -0.28% | -0.93% |
| 2075 | -0.3% | -0.9% |
| 2074 | -0.29% | -0.88% |
| 2073 | -0.29% | -0.86% |
| 2072 | -0.29% | -0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.29% | -0.8% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | -0.79% |
| 2069 | -0.27% | -0.77% |
| 2068 | -0.26% | -0.72% |
| 2067 | -0.26% | -0.69% |
| 2066 | -0.25% | -0.66% |
| 2065 | -0.24% | -0.62% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | -0.58% |
| 2063 | -0.19% | -0.58% |
| 2062 | -0.2% | -0.53% |
| 2061 | -0.21% | -0.51% |
| 2060 | -0.2% | -0.5% |
| 2059 | -0.15% | -0.45% |
| 2058 | -0.12% | -0.42% |
| 2057 | -0.05% | -0.43% |
| 2056 | -0.07% | -0.43% |
| 2055 | -0.01% | -0.38% |
| 2054 | -0.004% | -0.39% |
| 2053 | 0.03% | -0.4% |
| 2052 | 0.04% | -0.41% |
| 2051 | 0.08% | -0.37% |
| 2050 | 0.13% | -0.32% |
| 2049 | 0.18% | -0.33% |
| 2048 | 0.2% | -0.36% |
| 2047 | 0.21% | -0.3% |
| 2046 | 0.26% | -0.3% |
| 2045 | 0.3% | -0.28% |
| 2044 | 0.31% | -0.27% |
| 2043 | 0.34% | -0.24% |
| 2042 | 0.4% | -0.25% |
| 2041 | 0.42% | -0.22% |
| 2040 | 0.41% | -0.22% |
| 2039 | 0.46% | -0.2% |
| 2038 | 0.48% | -0.16% |
| 2037 | 0.48% | -0.13% |
| 2036 | 0.48% | -0.1% |
| 2035 | 0.53% | -0.07% |
| 2034 | 0.56% | 0.02% |
| 2033 | 0.61% | 0.1% |
| 2032 | 0.63% | 0.14% |
| 2031 | 0.66% | 0.18% |
| 2030 | 0.72% | 0.22% |
| 2029 | 0.78% | 0.29% |
| 2028 | 0.83% | 0.34% |
| 2027 | 0.88% | 0.37% |
| 2026 | 0.96% | 0.95% |
| 2025 | 1.06% | 1.2% |
| 2024 | 1.59% | 2.91% |
| 2023 | 1.89% | 4.07% |
| 2022 | 2% | 2.5% |
| 2021 | 1.41% | 0.52% |
| 2020 | 1.27% | 2.3% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | 4.13% |
| 2018 | 1.46% | 3.6% |
| 2017 | 1.36% | 2.77% |
| 2016 | 1.29% | 2.32% |
| 2015 | 0.95% | 2.48% |
| 2014 | 0.73% | 2.04% |
| 2013 | 0.53% | 1.14% |
| 2012 | 0.42% | 0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.44% | 0.42% |
| 2010 | 0.55% | 0.49% |
| 2009 | 1.02% | 0.76% |
| 2008 | 2.06% | 0.65% |
| 2007 | 2.93% | 0.35% |
| 2006 | 2.73% | 0.37% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | 0.64% |
| 2004 | 1.85% | 0.67% |
| 2003 | 1.64% | 0.66% |
| 2002 | 1.7% | 0.75% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | 0.75% |
| 2000 | 1.34% | 0.65% |
| 1999 | 1.13% | 0.59% |
| 1998 | 1.05% | 0.65% |
| 1997 | 1.01% | 0.76% |
| 1996 | 0.79% | 0.66% |
| 1995 | 0.51% | 0.7% |
| 1994 | 0.39% | 0.94% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | 1% |
| 1992 | 0.68% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 0.58% | 2.73% |
| 1990 | 0.08% | 0.98% |
| 1989 | -0.4% | 0.98% |
| 1988 | -0.43% | 0.82% |
| 1987 | 0.01% | 0.69% |
| 1986 | 0.05% | 1.68% |
| 1985 | 0.16% | 1.77% |
| 1984 | 0.62% | 0.02% |
| 1983 | 0.71% | 1.42% |
| 1982 | 0.95% | 2.17% |
| 1981 | 1.18% | 0.74% |
| 1980 | 1.16% | 1.05% |
| 1979 | 1.34% | 1.02% |
| 1978 | 1.43% | 1.05% |
| 1977 | 1.36% | 0.39% |
| 1976 | 1.52% | 0.51% |
| 1975 | 1.66% | 0.74% |
| 1974 | 1.67% | -0.07% |
| 1973 | 1.62% | -0.08% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | -0.08% |
| 1971 | 1.18% | 0.02% |
| 1970 | 0.84% | -0.54% |
| 1969 | 0.59% | -1.17% |
| 1968 | 0.45% | -1.17% |
| 1967 | 0.47% | -1.16% |
| 1966 | 0.4% | -1.13% |
| 1965 | 0.38% | -0.76% |
| 1964 | 0.49% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 0.59% | -0.42% |
| 1962 | 0.41% | -0.42% |
| 1961 | -0.15% | -0.4% |
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/malta | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Malta's population grew by 2.91%.
Live population counters
|
Ireland
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
5518360
|
581729
|
| Population rank | 121/197 | 167/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.07% | 0.007% |
| One net population change |
6.24 minutes
|
32.6 minutes
|
| One birth every |
9.61 minutes
|
1.96 hours
|
| One death every |
15 minutes
|
2.17 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | +231 | +44 |
| Annual growth/decline | +84,252 | +16,100 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +1.59% | +2.91% |
| Population growth rate rank | 68/197 | 19/197 |
| One migration net change every |
14.9 minutes
|
1.7 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +35,417 | +5,161 |
| Net migration rank | 27/196 | 52/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 1,216,237 | 199,466 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 52/195 | 112/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 23.1% | 37% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 25/195 | 15/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ireland
|
Malta
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 35,417 | - | 5,161 |
| 2024 | - | 39,059 | - | 6,323 |
| 2023 | 19,652 | 43,873 | 442 | 6,591 |
| 2022 | 19,287 | 93,535 | 54 | 2,480 |
| 2021 | 26,064 | 27,419 | 259 | 4,638 |
| 2020 | 23,687 | 15,746 | 361 | 6,904 |
| 2019 | 28,365 | 29,663 | 655 | 20,302 |
| 2018 | 29,878 | 33,387 | 774 | 16,961 |
| 2017 | 31,379 | 28,883 | 747 | 14,372 |
| 2016 | 33,339 | 18,967 | 1,091 | 8,624 |
| 2015 | 35,265 | 13,376 | 888 | 9,588 |
| 2014 | 37,728 | 448 | 910 | 9,192 |
| 2013 | 39,302 | -12,309 | 807 | 861 |
| 2012 | 42,775 | -22,411 | 714 | 911 |
| 2011 | 45,801 | -26,529 | 916 | 999 |
| 2010 | 47,426 | -26,974 | 871 | 741 |
| 2009 | 47,168 | -18,524 | 825 | 836 |
| 2008 | 46,691 | 18,979 | 777 | 869 |
| 2007 | 43,109 | 76,465 | 691 | 926 |
| 2006 | 36,752 | 94,513 | 568 | 997 |
| 2005 | 33,279 | 63,983 | 727 | 1,626 |
| 2004 | 33,376 | 49,102 | 883 | 1,662 |
| 2003 | 32,372 | 32,220 | 917 | 1,626 |
| 2002 | 31,062 | 34,286 | 911 | 1,821 |
| 2001 | 27,837 | 39,220 | 1,061 | 1,678 |
| 2000 | 23,592 | 31,298 | 1,482 | 1,591 |
| 1999 | 21,402 | 23,592 | 1,357 | 1,463 |
| 1998 | 22,277 | 16,615 | 1,656 | 1,260 |
| 1997 | 21,311 | 17,425 | 1,991 | 1,003 |
| 1996 | 18,915 | 9,959 | 2,279 | 1,142 |
| 1995 | 16,601 | 10,019 | 1,887 | 1,306 |
| 1994 | 17,234 | -3,118 | 2,136 | 1,136 |
| 1993 | 17,166 | -3,762 | 2,451 | 1,006 |
| 1992 | 20,283 | 1,335 | 2,573 | 737 |
| 1991 | 21,206 | 4,944 | 2,438 | 763 |
| 1990 | 21,787 | -8,203 | 2,621 | 568 |
| 1989 | 20,012 | -28,752 | 2,981 | 248 |
| 1988 | 22,912 | -44,020 | 2,813 | 164 |
| 1987 | 26,904 | -38,426 | 2,412 | 295 |
| 1986 | 27,963 | -21,139 | 2,395 | 464 |
| 1985 | 29,013 | -16,178 | 2,590 | -428 |
| 1984 | 31,791 | -15,549 | 2,678 | -558 |
| 1983 | 34,053 | -15,043 | 2,512 | -740 |
| 1982 | 38,344 | -14,464 | 2,835 | -1,059 |
| 1981 | 39,364 | -10,834 | 2,233 | -548 |
| 1980 | 40,612 | -2,876 | 2,375 | -886 |
| 1979 | 38,798 | 1,486 | 2,852 | -1,311 |
| 1978 | 36,288 | 15,543 | 2,389 | -1,302 |
| 1977 | 35,448 | 14,505 | 2,916 | -1,598 |
| 1976 | 33,676 | 14,200 | 2,721 | -1,641 |
| 1975 | 34,128 | 13,828 | 2,829 | -1,742 |
| 1974 | 34,199 | 13,482 | 2,687 | -1,597 |
| 1973 | 34,562 | 13,164 | 2,327 | -1,549 |
| 1972 | 34,316 | 12,858 | 2,480 | -1,316 |
| 1971 | 35,606 | 5,851 | 2,482 | -1,327 |
| 1970 | 30,756 | -8,892 | 2,270 | -1,123 |
| 1969 | 29,326 | -10,250 | 2,069 | -827 |
| 1968 | 27,697 | -11,132 | 2,247 | -753 |
| 1967 | 29,895 | -11,708 | 2,306 | -4,073 |
| 1966 | 26,866 | -11,858 | 2,458 | -4,318 |
| 1965 | 30,500 | -14,016 | 2,646 | -4,329 |
| 1964 | 31,532 | -15,640 | 3,630 | -4,768 |
| 1963 | 29,667 | -16,615 | 3,709 | -4,773 |
| 1962 | 28,077 | -17,438 | 4,664 | -5,360 |
| 1961 | 25,137 | -22,237 | 4,748 | -5,099 |
| 1960 | 28,286 | -38,492 | 5,747 | -5,540 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/ireland/malta | 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 Malta 5.84% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,181 people) and 94.2% is from migration (a gain of 99,652 people).
As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.
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 |
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| St. Paul's Bay | 40.2K |
| Mosta | 25.5K |
| Birkirkara | 24.4K |
| Naxxar | 18.1K |
| Zabbar | 18K |
| Sliema | 16.9K |
| San Gwann | 16.1K |
| Marsaskala | 15.6K |
| Gzira | 8.03K |
| Valletta | 6.44K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Ireland and Malta
|
Ireland
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 82.9 years | 83.8 years |
| Average age | 39.4 years | 43 years |
| Median age | 39.7 years | 41.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 49.5:50.5 | 51.9:48.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.5 births per woman | 1.06 births per woman |
| Population density | 207 ppl/mi² | 4,704 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/malta | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
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