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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 3.31 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st 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 +1.41% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Ireland vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Netherlands
2100 5,468,791 17,359,081
2099 5,493,162 17,392,412
2098 5,516,999 17,425,508
2097 5,540,157 17,459,827
2096 5,562,811 17,495,124
2095 5,583,505 17,532,593
2094 5,603,538 17,571,051
2093 5,623,266 17,610,792
2092 5,642,437 17,649,611
2091 5,661,268 17,688,532
2090 5,680,076 17,730,570
2089 5,697,512 17,770,380
2088 5,714,108 17,809,825
2087 5,729,431 17,845,820
2086 5,743,405 17,885,001
2085 5,757,666 17,921,302
2084 5,771,610 17,957,639
2083 5,785,324 17,994,232
2082 5,798,037 18,029,404
2081 5,809,262 18,063,233
2080 5,821,598 18,093,703
2079 5,836,731 18,124,294
2078 5,851,937 18,152,738
2077 5,867,627 18,181,372
2076 5,883,876 18,206,864
2075 5,900,200 18,227,791
2074 5,917,659 18,245,652
2073 5,934,975 18,263,765
2072 5,952,211 18,280,443
2071 5,969,279 18,295,700
2070 5,986,770 18,311,141
2069 6,003,570 18,326,509
2068 6,019,937 18,341,711
2067 6,035,810 18,356,770
2066 6,051,604 18,374,904
2065 6,066,791 18,396,018
2064 6,081,606 18,417,894
2063 6,094,455 18,441,434
2062 6,106,325 18,464,922
2061 6,118,587 18,492,436
2060 6,131,482 18,520,315
2059 6,143,979 18,548,786
2058 6,153,447 18,577,700
2057 6,161,059 18,608,370
2056 6,164,047 18,638,918
2055 6,168,611 18,666,514
2054 6,169,455 18,692,598
2053 6,169,673 18,718,268
2052 6,167,591 18,741,740
2051 6,164,894 18,768,309
2050 6,159,756 18,789,481
2049 6,151,623 18,809,886
2048 6,140,272 18,827,655
2047 6,128,245 18,844,635
2046 6,115,454 18,855,920
2045 6,099,562 18,867,286
2044 6,081,384 18,877,101
2043 6,062,477 18,882,735
2042 6,041,683 18,885,839
2041 6,017,573 18,885,255
2040 5,992,311 18,879,571
2039 5,967,604 18,870,248
2038 5,940,474 18,855,512
2037 5,912,327 18,837,172
2036 5,884,159 18,811,873
2035 5,855,902 18,783,312
2034 5,825,178 18,750,125
2033 5,792,751 18,708,101
2032 5,757,842 18,662,054
2031 5,721,671 18,609,452
2030 5,684,420 18,549,634
2029 5,644,008 18,481,269
2028 5,600,083 18,404,195
2027 5,553,725 18,320,644
2026 5,505,248 18,227,403
2025 5,452,752 18,118,662
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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 1.06% 0.7%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Ireland Netherlands
Current population
5518360
18252623
Population rank 121/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.22%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +319
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 121/197
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 - 39,059 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 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 (1960–2024, 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/netherlands | 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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