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Population in Ireland compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 3.28 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Ireland vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Netherlands
2100 5,500,499 17,329,352
2099 5,525,011 17,362,626
2098 5,548,986 17,395,665
2097 5,572,279 17,429,925
2096 5,595,064 17,465,162
2095 5,615,877 17,502,567
2094 5,636,027 17,540,959
2093 5,655,870 17,580,632
2092 5,675,151 17,619,384
2091 5,694,092 17,658,238
2090 5,713,009 17,700,204
2089 5,730,546 17,739,947
2088 5,747,238 17,779,324
2087 5,762,650 17,815,257
2086 5,776,705 17,854,371
2085 5,791,049 17,890,610
2084 5,805,074 17,926,885
2083 5,818,867 17,963,416
2082 5,831,653 17,998,527
2081 5,842,944 18,032,297
2080 5,855,351 18,062,716
2079 5,870,572 18,093,254
2078 5,885,866 18,121,649
2077 5,901,647 18,150,234
2076 5,917,991 18,175,683
2075 5,934,408 18,196,574
2074 5,951,970 18,214,405
2073 5,969,385 18,232,486
2072 5,986,721 18,249,136
2071 6,003,888 18,264,367
2070 6,021,481 18,279,781
2069 6,038,378 18,295,123
2068 6,054,840 18,310,300
2067 6,070,805 18,325,333
2066 6,086,691 18,343,435
2065 6,101,966 18,364,513
2064 6,116,867 18,386,352
2063 6,129,790 18,409,851
2062 6,141,729 18,433,299
2061 6,154,062 18,460,766
2060 6,167,032 18,488,598
2059 6,179,602 18,517,020
2058 6,189,124 18,545,884
2057 6,196,781 18,576,502
2056 6,199,786 18,606,997
2055 6,204,376 18,634,546
2054 6,205,225 18,660,585
2053 6,205,444 18,686,212
2052 6,203,350 18,709,643
2051 6,200,637 18,736,166
2050 6,195,469 18,757,302
2049 6,187,289 18,777,673
2048 6,175,872 18,795,411
2047 6,163,776 18,812,362
2046 6,150,911 18,823,628
2045 6,134,927 18,834,974
2044 6,116,643 18,844,772
2043 6,097,627 18,850,396
2042 6,076,713 18,853,495
2041 6,052,462 18,852,912
2040 6,027,054 18,847,238
2039 6,002,204 18,837,931
2038 5,974,917 18,823,220
2037 5,946,606 18,804,912
2036 5,918,275 18,779,656
2035 5,889,854 18,751,144
2034 5,858,952 18,718,013
2033 5,826,337 18,676,061
2032 5,791,225 18,630,094
2031 5,754,845 18,577,582
2030 5,717,377 18,517,866
2029 5,676,731 18,449,618
2028 5,632,552 18,372,676
2027 5,585,925 18,289,268
2026 5,537,167 18,196,186
2025 5,484,367 18,087,633
2024 5,395,790 17,993,485
2023 5,311,538 17,877,117
2022 5,212,836 17,700,982
2021 5,110,585 17,533,044
2020 5,039,747 17,441,500
2019 4,976,456 17,344,874
2018 4,898,022 17,231,624
2017 4,827,445 17,131,296
2016 4,762,722 17,030,314
2015 4,701,957 16,939,923
2014 4,657,740 16,865,008
2013 4,623,816 16,804,432
2012 4,599,533 16,754,962
2011 4,580,084 16,693,074
2010 4,560,155 16,615,394
2009 4,535,375 16,530,388
2008 4,489,544 16,445,593
2007 4,398,942 16,381,696
2006 4,273,591 16,346,101
2005 4,159,914 16,319,868
2004 4,070,262 16,281,779
2003 3,996,521 16,225,302
2002 3,931,947 16,148,929
2001 3,866,243 16,046,180
2000 3,805,174 15,925,513
1999 3,754,786 15,812,088
1998 3,712,696 15,707,209
1997 3,674,171 15,610,650
1996 3,637,510 15,530,498
1995 3,608,841 15,459,006
1994 3,590,386 15,382,838
1993 3,576,261 15,290,368
1992 3,558,430 15,184,166
1991 3,534,235 15,069,798
1990 3,513,974 14,951,510
1989 3,511,009 14,848,907
1988 3,524,949 14,760,094
1987 3,540,057 14,665,037
1986 3,539,690 14,572,278
1985 3,538,082 14,491,632
1984 3,532,423 14,424,211
1983 3,510,600 14,367,070
1982 3,485,800 14,312,690
1981 3,453,000 14,247,208
1980 3,412,800 14,149,800
1979 3,373,750 14,038,270
1978 3,329,100 13,941,700
1977 3,282,200 13,856,185
1976 3,238,050 13,774,037
1975 3,189,550 13,666,335
1974 3,137,500 13,545,056
1973 3,085,950 13,439,322
1972 3,036,850 13,328,593
1971 2,992,050 13,194,497
1970 2,957,250 13,038,526
1969 2,932,650 12,877,984
1968 2,915,550 12,729,721
1967 2,902,450 12,598,201
1966 2,888,800 12,456,251
1965 2,877,300 12,294,732
1964 2,866,550 12,127,120
1963 2,852,650 11,965,966
1962 2,836,050 11,805,689
1961 2,824,400 11,638,712
1960 2,828,600 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Netherlands
2100 -0.44% -0.19%
2099 -0.43% -0.19%
2098 -0.42% -0.2%
2097 -0.41% -0.2%
2096 -0.37% -0.21%
2095 -0.36% -0.22%
2094 -0.35% -0.23%
2093 -0.34% -0.22%
2092 -0.33% -0.22%
2091 -0.33% -0.24%
2090 -0.31% -0.22%
2089 -0.29% -0.22%
2088 -0.27% -0.2%
2087 -0.24% -0.22%
2086 -0.25% -0.2%
2085 -0.24% -0.2%
2084 -0.24% -0.2%
2083 -0.22% -0.2%
2082 -0.19% -0.19%
2081 -0.21% -0.17%
2080 -0.26% -0.17%
2079 -0.26% -0.16%
2078 -0.27% -0.16%
2077 -0.28% -0.14%
2076 -0.28% -0.11%
2075 -0.3% -0.1%
2074 -0.29% -0.1%
2073 -0.29% -0.09%
2072 -0.29% -0.08%
2071 -0.29% -0.08%
2070 -0.28% -0.08%
2069 -0.27% -0.08%
2068 -0.26% -0.08%
2067 -0.26% -0.1%
2066 -0.25% -0.11%
2065 -0.24% -0.12%
2064 -0.21% -0.13%
2063 -0.19% -0.13%
2062 -0.2% -0.15%
2061 -0.21% -0.15%
2060 -0.2% -0.15%
2059 -0.15% -0.16%
2058 -0.12% -0.16%
2057 -0.05% -0.16%
2056 -0.07% -0.15%
2055 -0.01% -0.14%
2054 -0.004% -0.14%
2053 0.03% -0.13%
2052 0.04% -0.14%
2051 0.08% -0.11%
2050 0.13% -0.11%
2049 0.18% -0.09%
2048 0.2% -0.09%
2047 0.21% -0.06%
2046 0.26% -0.06%
2045 0.3% -0.05%
2044 0.31% -0.03%
2043 0.34% -0.02%
2042 0.4% 0.003%
2041 0.42% 0.03%
2040 0.41% 0.05%
2039 0.46% 0.08%
2038 0.48% 0.1%
2037 0.48% 0.13%
2036 0.48% 0.15%
2035 0.53% 0.18%
2034 0.56% 0.22%
2033 0.61% 0.25%
2032 0.63% 0.28%
2031 0.66% 0.32%
2030 0.72% 0.37%
2029 0.78% 0.42%
2028 0.83% 0.46%
2027 0.88% 0.51%
2026 0.96% 0.6%
2025 1.64% 0.52%
2024 1.59% 0.65%
2023 1.89% 1%
2022 2% 0.96%
2021 1.41% 0.52%
2020 1.27% 0.56%
2019 1.6% 0.66%
2018 1.46% 0.59%
2017 1.36% 0.59%
2016 1.29% 0.53%
2015 0.95% 0.44%
2014 0.73% 0.36%
2013 0.53% 0.3%
2012 0.42% 0.37%
2011 0.44% 0.47%
2010 0.55% 0.51%
2009 1.02% 0.52%
2008 2.06% 0.39%
2007 2.93% 0.22%
2006 2.73% 0.16%
2005 2.2% 0.23%
2004 1.85% 0.35%
2003 1.64% 0.47%
2002 1.7% 0.64%
2001 1.6% 0.76%
2000 1.34% 0.72%
1999 1.13% 0.67%
1998 1.05% 0.62%
1997 1.01% 0.52%
1996 0.79% 0.46%
1995 0.51% 0.5%
1994 0.39% 0.6%
1993 0.5% 0.7%
1992 0.68% 0.76%
1991 0.58% 0.79%
1990 0.08% 0.69%
1989 -0.4% 0.6%
1988 -0.43% 0.65%
1987 0.01% 0.64%
1986 0.05% 0.56%
1985 0.16% 0.47%
1984 0.62% 0.4%
1983 0.71% 0.38%
1982 0.95% 0.46%
1981 1.18% 0.69%
1980 1.16% 0.79%
1979 1.34% 0.69%
1978 1.43% 0.62%
1977 1.36% 0.6%
1976 1.52% 0.79%
1975 1.66% 0.9%
1974 1.67% 0.79%
1973 1.62% 0.83%
1972 1.5% 1.02%
1971 1.18% 1.2%
1970 0.84% 1.25%
1969 0.59% 1.16%
1968 0.45% 1.04%
1967 0.47% 1.14%
1966 0.4% 1.31%
1965 0.38% 1.38%
1964 0.49% 1.35%
1963 0.59% 1.36%
1962 0.41% 1.43%
1961 -0.15% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Ireland Netherlands
Current population
5562212
18243998
Population rank 122/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.22%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +258
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 127/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +104,681
Net migration rank 27/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 104,681
2024 18,885 39,059 -7,197 121,628
2023 19,652 43,873 -5,363 144,558
2022 19,287 93,535 -1,770 224,472
2021 26,064 27,419 7,014 106,416
2020 23,687 15,746 0 67,598
2019 28,365 29,663 17,345 109,003
2018 29,878 33,387 15,508 87,197
2017 31,379 28,883 18,844 86,332
2016 33,339 18,967 23,843 88,743
2015 35,265 13,376 23,716 55,585
2014 37,728 448 35,417 36,591
2013 39,302 -12,309 30,248 19,973
2012 42,775 -22,411 35,186 14,861
2011 45,801 -26,529 45,072 31,224
2010 47,426 -26,974 48,184 33,703
2009 47,168 -18,524 51,244 39,832
2008 46,691 18,979 49,337 32,406
2007 43,109 76,465 49,145 -304
2006 36,752 94,513 49,038 -25,401
2005 33,279 63,983 50,592 -22,496
2004 33,376 49,102 56,987 -9,230
2003 32,372 32,220 58,411 7,937
2002 31,062 34,286 59,751 28,824
2001 27,837 39,220 62,580 56,096
2000 23,592 31,298 66,887 59,308
1999 21,402 23,592 60,086 47,179
1998 22,277 16,615 61,258 52,058
1997 21,311 17,425 56,198 31,302
1996 18,915 9,959 51,251 21,792
1995 16,601 10,019 54,106 15,056
1994 17,234 -3,118 61,532 20,193
1993 17,166 -3,762 58,103 44,514
1992 20,283 1,335 66,811 50,148
1991 21,206 4,944 69,321 51,670
1990 21,787 -8,203 68,777 53,564
1989 20,012 -28,752 59,396 31,165
1988 22,912 -44,020 61,993 31,026
1987 26,904 -38,426 64,526 39,559
1986 27,963 -21,139 59,746 30,380
1985 29,013 -16,178 55,069 27,356
1984 31,791 -15,549 54,812 12,902
1983 34,053 -15,043 51,722 11,007
1982 38,344 -14,464 54,388 7,644
1981 39,364 -10,834 62,688 17,643
1980 40,612 -2,876 66,504 54,010
1979 38,798 1,486 63,172 42,772
1978 36,288 15,543 61,344 26,639
1977 35,448 14,505 63,739 19,809
1976 33,676 14,200 63,361 18,774
1975 34,128 13,828 64,232 68,569
1974 34,199 13,482 75,853 31,645
1973 34,562 13,164 84,668 18,705
1972 34,316 12,858 101,297 17,470
1971 35,606 5,851 116,112 32,756
1970 30,756 -8,892 129,082 32,438
1969 29,326 -10,250 139,082 21,850
1968 27,697 -11,132 132,389 7,243
1967 29,895 -11,708 138,580 -10,673
1966 26,866 -11,858 138,265 20,740
1965 30,500 -14,016 146,308 19,444
1964 31,532 -15,640 157,653 15,014
1963 29,667 -16,615 154,361 -21
1962 28,077 -17,438 153,474 18,024
1961 25,137 -22,237 159,450 8,258
1960 28,286 -38,492 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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

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