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Population in Ireland compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 1.03 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.13% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Ireland vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland New Zealand
2100 5,468,791 5,918,837
2099 5,493,162 5,923,132
2098 5,516,999 5,927,206
2097 5,540,157 5,930,263
2096 5,562,811 5,932,907
2095 5,583,505 5,934,847
2094 5,603,538 5,936,183
2093 5,623,266 5,938,804
2092 5,642,437 5,939,085
2091 5,661,268 5,940,665
2090 5,680,076 5,941,752
2089 5,697,512 5,944,871
2088 5,714,108 5,945,635
2087 5,729,431 5,948,586
2086 5,743,405 5,951,745
2085 5,757,666 5,955,275
2084 5,771,610 5,959,115
2083 5,785,324 5,963,613
2082 5,798,037 5,966,943
2081 5,809,262 5,968,511
2080 5,821,598 5,971,082
2079 5,836,731 5,972,331
2078 5,851,937 5,972,928
2077 5,867,627 5,971,804
2076 5,883,876 5,971,386
2075 5,900,200 5,970,985
2074 5,917,659 5,969,834
2073 5,934,975 5,968,506
2072 5,952,211 5,964,548
2071 5,969,279 5,964,493
2070 5,986,770 5,963,811
2069 6,003,570 5,962,551
2068 6,019,937 5,960,918
2067 6,035,810 5,958,438
2066 6,051,604 5,954,539
2065 6,066,791 5,950,378
2064 6,081,606 5,946,851
2063 6,094,455 5,944,910
2062 6,106,325 5,940,838
2061 6,118,587 5,939,601
2060 6,131,482 5,936,094
2059 6,143,979 5,931,426
2058 6,153,447 5,925,816
2057 6,161,059 5,919,823
2056 6,164,047 5,913,287
2055 6,168,611 5,904,352
2054 6,169,455 5,894,795
2053 6,169,673 5,884,875
2052 6,167,591 5,876,162
2051 6,164,894 5,864,176
2050 6,159,756 5,852,896
2049 6,151,623 5,844,165
2048 6,140,272 5,833,178
2047 6,128,245 5,822,035
2046 6,115,454 5,809,860
2045 6,099,562 5,795,785
2044 6,081,384 5,780,884
2043 6,062,477 5,764,579
2042 6,041,683 5,746,528
2041 6,017,573 5,727,253
2040 5,992,311 5,708,874
2039 5,967,604 5,690,018
2038 5,940,474 5,669,959
2037 5,912,327 5,650,253
2036 5,884,159 5,630,126
2035 5,855,902 5,609,155
2034 5,825,178 5,588,315
2033 5,792,751 5,565,507
2032 5,757,842 5,542,488
2031 5,721,671 5,517,391
2030 5,684,420 5,491,320
2029 5,644,008 5,462,926
2028 5,600,083 5,432,752
2027 5,553,725 5,399,898
2026 5,505,248 5,364,771
2025 5,452,752 5,327,462
2024 5,395,790 5,287,500
2023 5,311,538 5,200,000
2022 5,212,836 5,081,700
2021 5,110,585 5,084,600
2020 5,039,747 5,072,400
2019 4,976,456 4,970,300
2018 4,898,022 4,900,600
2017 4,827,445 4,813,600
2016 4,762,722 4,714,100
2015 4,701,957 4,609,400
2014 4,657,740 4,516,500
2013 4,623,816 4,442,100
2012 4,599,533 4,408,100
2011 4,580,084 4,384,000
2010 4,560,155 4,350,700
2009 4,535,375 4,302,600
2008 4,489,544 4,259,800
2007 4,398,942 4,223,800
2006 4,273,591 4,184,600
2005 4,159,914 4,133,900
2004 4,070,262 4,087,500
2003 3,996,521 4,027,200
2002 3,931,947 3,948,500
2001 3,866,243 3,880,500
2000 3,805,174 3,857,700
1999 3,754,786 3,835,100
1998 3,712,696 3,815,000
1997 3,674,171 3,781,300
1996 3,637,510 3,732,000
1995 3,608,841 3,673,400
1994 3,590,386 3,620,000
1993 3,576,261 3,572,200
1992 3,558,430 3,531,700
1991 3,534,235 3,495,100
1990 3,513,974 3,329,800
1989 3,511,009 3,299,200
1988 3,524,949 3,283,400
1987 3,540,057 3,274,400
1986 3,539,690 3,246,300
1985 3,538,082 3,247,100
1984 3,532,423 3,227,100
1983 3,510,600 3,199,300
1982 3,485,800 3,156,100
1981 3,453,000 3,124,900
1980 3,412,800 3,112,900
1979 3,373,750 3,109,000
1978 3,329,100 3,121,200
1977 3,282,200 3,120,200
1976 3,238,050 3,110,500
1975 3,189,550 3,083,100
1974 3,137,500 3,023,700
1973 3,085,950 2,961,300
1972 3,036,850 2,903,900
1971 2,992,050 2,853,000
1970 2,957,250 2,810,700
1969 2,932,650 2,772,800
1968 2,915,550 2,748,100
1967 2,902,450 2,724,100
1966 2,888,800 2,675,900
1965 2,877,300 2,628,400
1964 2,866,550 2,585,400
1963 2,852,650 2,531,800
1962 2,836,050 2,482,000
1961 2,824,400 2,419,700
1960 2,828,600 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland New Zealand
2100 -0.44% -0.07%
2099 -0.43% -0.07%
2098 -0.42% -0.05%
2097 -0.41% -0.04%
2096 -0.37% -0.03%
2095 -0.36% -0.02%
2094 -0.35% -0.04%
2093 -0.34% -0.005%
2092 -0.33% -0.03%
2091 -0.33% -0.02%
2090 -0.31% -0.05%
2089 -0.29% -0.01%
2088 -0.27% -0.05%
2087 -0.24% -0.05%
2086 -0.25% -0.06%
2085 -0.24% -0.06%
2084 -0.24% -0.08%
2083 -0.22% -0.06%
2082 -0.19% -0.03%
2081 -0.21% -0.04%
2080 -0.26% -0.02%
2079 -0.26% -0.01%
2078 -0.27% 0.02%
2077 -0.28% 0.007%
2076 -0.28% 0.007%
2075 -0.3% 0.02%
2074 -0.29% 0.02%
2073 -0.29% 0.07%
2072 -0.29% 0.001%
2071 -0.29% 0.01%
2070 -0.28% 0.02%
2069 -0.27% 0.03%
2068 -0.26% 0.04%
2067 -0.26% 0.07%
2066 -0.25% 0.07%
2065 -0.24% 0.06%
2064 -0.21% 0.03%
2063 -0.19% 0.07%
2062 -0.2% 0.02%
2061 -0.21% 0.06%
2060 -0.2% 0.08%
2059 -0.15% 0.09%
2058 -0.12% 0.1%
2057 -0.05% 0.11%
2056 -0.07% 0.15%
2055 -0.01% 0.16%
2054 -0.004% 0.17%
2053 0.03% 0.15%
2052 0.04% 0.2%
2051 0.08% 0.19%
2050 0.13% 0.15%
2049 0.18% 0.19%
2048 0.2% 0.19%
2047 0.21% 0.21%
2046 0.26% 0.24%
2045 0.3% 0.26%
2044 0.31% 0.28%
2043 0.34% 0.31%
2042 0.4% 0.34%
2041 0.42% 0.32%
2040 0.41% 0.33%
2039 0.46% 0.35%
2038 0.48% 0.35%
2037 0.48% 0.36%
2036 0.48% 0.37%
2035 0.53% 0.37%
2034 0.56% 0.41%
2033 0.61% 0.42%
2032 0.63% 0.45%
2031 0.66% 0.47%
2030 0.72% 0.52%
2029 0.78% 0.56%
2028 0.83% 0.61%
2027 0.88% 0.65%
2026 0.96% 0.7%
2025 1.06% 0.76%
2024 1.59% 1.68%
2023 1.89% 2.33%
2022 2% -0.06%
2021 1.41% 0.24%
2020 1.27% 2.05%
2019 1.6% 1.42%
2018 1.46% 1.81%
2017 1.36% 2.11%
2016 1.29% 2.27%
2015 0.95% 2.06%
2014 0.73% 1.67%
2013 0.53% 0.77%
2012 0.42% 0.55%
2011 0.44% 0.77%
2010 0.55% 1.12%
2009 1.02% 1%
2008 2.06% 0.85%
2007 2.93% 0.94%
2006 2.73% 1.23%
2005 2.2% 1.14%
2004 1.85% 1.5%
2003 1.64% 1.99%
2002 1.7% 1.75%
2001 1.6% 0.59%
2000 1.34% 0.59%
1999 1.13% 0.53%
1998 1.05% 0.89%
1997 1.01% 1.32%
1996 0.79% 1.6%
1995 0.51% 1.48%
1994 0.39% 1.34%
1993 0.5% 1.15%
1992 0.68% 1.05%
1991 0.58% 4.96%
1990 0.08% 0.93%
1989 -0.4% 0.48%
1988 -0.43% 0.27%
1987 0.01% 0.87%
1986 0.05% -0.02%
1985 0.16% 0.62%
1984 0.62% 0.87%
1983 0.71% 1.37%
1982 0.95% 1%
1981 1.18% 0.39%
1980 1.16% 0.13%
1979 1.34% -0.39%
1978 1.43% 0.03%
1977 1.36% 0.31%
1976 1.52% 0.89%
1975 1.66% 1.96%
1974 1.67% 2.11%
1973 1.62% 1.98%
1972 1.5% 1.78%
1971 1.18% 1.5%
1970 0.84% 1.37%
1969 0.59% 0.9%
1968 0.45% 0.88%
1967 0.47% 1.8%
1966 0.4% 1.81%
1965 0.38% 1.66%
1964 0.49% 2.12%
1963 0.59% 2.01%
1962 0.41% 2.57%
1961 -0.15% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Ireland New Zealand
Current population
5518360
5374272
Population rank 121/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.06%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
6.01 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +240
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 65/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +17,403
Net migration rank 27/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 17,403
2024 - 39,059 - 18,766
2023 19,652 43,873 18,876 21,404
2022 19,287 93,535 20,123 21,404
2021 26,064 27,419 23,644 -14,944
2020 23,687 15,746 24,905 42,124
2019 28,365 29,663 25,299 69,770
2018 29,878 33,387 24,797 59,139
2017 31,379 28,883 26,282 68,349
2016 33,339 18,967 28,237 75,512
2015 35,265 13,376 29,408 70,870
2014 37,728 448 26,196 57,974
2013 39,302 -12,309 29,096 26,385
2012 42,775 -22,411 31,077 -1,015
2011 45,801 -26,529 31,302 -2,196
2010 47,426 -26,974 35,458 6,722
2009 47,168 -18,524 33,560 12,700
2008 46,691 18,979 35,143 4,804
2007 43,109 76,465 35,480 3,053
2006 36,752 94,513 30,924 14,542
2005 33,279 63,983 30,674 19,212
2004 33,376 49,102 29,634 24,521
2003 32,372 32,220 28,150 42,456
2002 31,062 34,286 25,941 48,195
2001 27,837 39,220 27,939 17,793
2000 23,592 31,298 29,897 -6,604
1999 21,402 23,592 28,916 -7,634
1998 22,277 16,615 29,146 -1,387
1997 21,311 17,425 30,137 12,040
1996 18,915 9,959 28,997 25,169
1995 16,601 10,019 29,828 26,743
1994 17,234 -3,118 30,372 20,420
1993 17,166 -3,762 31,685 12,638
1992 20,283 1,335 32,067 6,460
1991 21,206 4,944 33,518 31,156
1990 21,787 -8,203 33,298 70,432
1989 20,012 -28,752 30,749 -8,818
1988 22,912 -44,020 29,846 -17,005
1987 26,904 -38,426 27,603 -7,631
1986 27,963 -21,139 25,549 -10,234
1985 29,013 -16,178 24,126 -13,462
1984 31,791 -15,549 26,043 -901
1983 34,053 -15,043 24,315 11,464
1982 38,344 -14,464 24,207 7,982
1981 39,364 -10,834 25,374 -7,606
1980 40,612 -2,876 23,658 -15,423
1979 38,798 1,486 26,675 -26,694
1978 36,288 15,543 26,156 -28,783
1977 35,448 14,505 28,020 -22,697
1976 33,676 14,200 29,456 -9,138
1975 34,128 13,828 31,355 13,196
1974 34,199 13,482 33,896 27,580
1973 34,562 13,164 35,239 28,261
1972 34,316 12,858 38,244 17,779
1971 35,606 5,851 40,000 7,547
1970 30,756 -8,892 37,101 4,511
1969 29,326 -10,250 38,098 -5,212
1968 27,697 -11,132 37,594 -11,853
1967 29,895 -11,708 37,974 -2,289
1966 26,866 -11,858 36,151 9,161
1965 30,500 -14,016 36,982 9,245
1964 31,532 -15,640 39,375 9,806
1963 29,667 -16,615 42,027 10,226
1962 28,077 -17,438 42,865 12,697
1961 25,137 -22,237 43,482 10,689
1960 28,286 -38,492 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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