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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 44.2 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.01% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Ireland vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Nigeria
2100 5,468,791 481,678,166
2099 5,493,162 481,494,914
2098 5,516,999 481,219,866
2097 5,540,157 480,876,108
2096 5,562,811 480,460,381
2095 5,583,505 479,976,454
2094 5,603,538 479,432,855
2093 5,623,266 478,807,152
2092 5,642,437 478,097,591
2091 5,661,268 477,274,569
2090 5,680,076 476,367,086
2089 5,697,512 475,363,859
2088 5,714,108 474,268,867
2087 5,729,431 473,072,894
2086 5,743,405 471,769,229
2085 5,757,666 470,365,292
2084 5,771,610 468,843,169
2083 5,785,324 467,224,322
2082 5,798,037 465,509,151
2081 5,809,262 463,679,779
2080 5,821,598 461,741,930
2079 5,836,731 459,680,797
2078 5,851,937 457,513,367
2077 5,867,627 455,254,796
2076 5,883,876 452,885,729
2075 5,900,200 450,402,898
2074 5,917,659 447,825,224
2073 5,934,975 445,152,156
2072 5,952,211 442,375,349
2071 5,969,279 439,499,004
2070 5,986,770 436,539,777
2069 6,003,570 433,472,204
2068 6,019,937 430,320,190
2067 6,035,810 427,066,199
2066 6,051,604 423,736,078
2065 6,066,791 420,318,527
2064 6,081,606 416,811,285
2063 6,094,455 413,231,409
2062 6,106,325 409,583,480
2061 6,118,587 405,859,509
2060 6,131,482 402,073,494
2059 6,143,979 398,228,736
2058 6,153,447 394,315,883
2057 6,161,059 390,341,867
2056 6,164,047 386,298,064
2055 6,168,611 382,193,151
2054 6,169,455 378,030,342
2053 6,169,673 373,799,276
2052 6,167,591 369,501,634
2051 6,164,894 365,149,555
2050 6,159,756 360,734,783
2049 6,151,623 356,271,401
2048 6,140,272 351,752,501
2047 6,128,245 347,169,674
2046 6,115,454 342,532,578
2045 6,099,562 337,834,528
2044 6,081,384 333,076,416
2043 6,062,477 328,256,555
2042 6,041,683 323,388,886
2041 6,017,573 318,469,120
2040 5,992,311 313,492,800
2039 5,967,604 308,474,350
2038 5,940,474 303,423,786
2037 5,912,327 298,351,344
2036 5,884,159 293,250,795
2035 5,855,902 288,138,368
2034 5,825,178 283,018,151
2033 5,792,751 277,897,810
2032 5,757,842 272,769,123
2031 5,721,671 267,666,779
2030 5,684,420 262,583,487
2029 5,644,008 257,504,936
2028 5,600,083 252,465,743
2027 5,553,725 247,457,208
2026 5,505,248 242,477,499
2025 5,452,752 237,546,527
2024 5,395,790 232,679,478
2023 5,311,538 227,882,945
2022 5,212,836 223,150,896
2021 5,110,585 218,529,286
2020 5,039,747 213,996,181
2019 4,976,456 209,485,641
2018 4,898,022 204,938,755
2017 4,827,445 200,254,579
2016 4,762,722 195,443,700
2015 4,701,957 190,671,878
2014 4,657,740 185,896,915
2013 4,623,816 181,049,443
2012 4,599,533 176,200,625
2011 4,580,084 171,379,598
2010 4,560,155 166,642,886
2009 4,535,375 162,049,464
2008 4,489,544 157,595,014
2007 4,398,942 153,267,261
2006 4,273,591 149,077,334
2005 4,159,914 145,017,253
2004 4,070,262 141,057,045
2003 3,996,521 137,202,644
2002 3,931,947 133,471,989
2001 3,866,243 129,862,595
2000 3,805,174 126,382,494
1999 3,754,786 123,047,320
1998 3,712,696 119,846,254
1997 3,674,171 116,754,792
1996 3,637,510 113,754,779
1995 3,608,841 110,819,428
1994 3,590,386 107,935,714
1993 3,576,261 105,122,069
1992 3,558,430 102,372,770
1991 3,534,235 99,720,162
1990 3,513,974 97,120,925
1989 3,511,009 94,531,014
1988 3,524,949 92,020,090
1987 3,540,057 89,591,716
1986 3,539,690 87,235,953
1985 3,538,082 84,897,973
1984 3,532,423 82,526,443
1983 3,510,600 80,438,260
1982 3,485,800 78,378,701
1981 3,453,000 76,068,103
1980 3,412,800 73,764,641
1979 3,373,750 71,498,242
1978 3,329,100 69,326,532
1977 3,282,200 67,234,590
1976 3,238,050 65,258,009
1975 3,189,550 63,410,815
1974 3,137,500 61,679,144
1973 3,085,950 60,082,139
1972 3,036,850 58,601,748
1971 2,992,050 57,214,684
1970 2,957,250 55,893,838
1969 2,932,650 54,631,914
1968 2,915,550 53,432,783
1967 2,902,450 52,293,065
1966 2,888,800 51,188,234
1965 2,877,300 50,086,764
1964 2,866,550 49,012,016
1963 2,852,650 47,973,575
1962 2,836,050 46,965,292
1961 2,824,400 45,989,310
1960 2,828,600 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Nigeria
2100 -0.44% 0.04%
2099 -0.43% 0.06%
2098 -0.42% 0.07%
2097 -0.41% 0.09%
2096 -0.37% 0.1%
2095 -0.36% 0.11%
2094 -0.35% 0.13%
2093 -0.34% 0.15%
2092 -0.33% 0.17%
2091 -0.33% 0.19%
2090 -0.31% 0.21%
2089 -0.29% 0.23%
2088 -0.27% 0.25%
2087 -0.24% 0.28%
2086 -0.25% 0.3%
2085 -0.24% 0.32%
2084 -0.24% 0.35%
2083 -0.22% 0.37%
2082 -0.19% 0.39%
2081 -0.21% 0.42%
2080 -0.26% 0.45%
2079 -0.26% 0.47%
2078 -0.27% 0.5%
2077 -0.28% 0.52%
2076 -0.28% 0.55%
2075 -0.3% 0.58%
2074 -0.29% 0.6%
2073 -0.29% 0.63%
2072 -0.29% 0.65%
2071 -0.29% 0.68%
2070 -0.28% 0.71%
2069 -0.27% 0.73%
2068 -0.26% 0.76%
2067 -0.26% 0.79%
2066 -0.25% 0.81%
2065 -0.24% 0.84%
2064 -0.21% 0.87%
2063 -0.19% 0.89%
2062 -0.2% 0.92%
2061 -0.21% 0.94%
2060 -0.2% 0.97%
2059 -0.15% 0.99%
2058 -0.12% 1.02%
2057 -0.05% 1.05%
2056 -0.07% 1.07%
2055 -0.01% 1.1%
2054 -0.004% 1.13%
2053 0.03% 1.16%
2052 0.04% 1.19%
2051 0.08% 1.22%
2050 0.13% 1.25%
2049 0.18% 1.28%
2048 0.2% 1.32%
2047 0.21% 1.35%
2046 0.26% 1.39%
2045 0.3% 1.43%
2044 0.31% 1.47%
2043 0.34% 1.51%
2042 0.4% 1.54%
2041 0.42% 1.59%
2040 0.41% 1.63%
2039 0.46% 1.66%
2038 0.48% 1.7%
2037 0.48% 1.74%
2036 0.48% 1.77%
2035 0.53% 1.81%
2034 0.56% 1.84%
2033 0.61% 1.88%
2032 0.63% 1.91%
2031 0.66% 1.94%
2030 0.72% 1.97%
2029 0.78% 2%
2028 0.83% 2.02%
2027 0.88% 2.05%
2026 0.96% 2.08%
2025 1.06% 2.09%
2024 1.59% 2.1%
2023 1.89% 2.12%
2022 2% 2.11%
2021 1.41% 2.12%
2020 1.27% 2.15%
2019 1.6% 2.22%
2018 1.46% 2.34%
2017 1.36% 2.46%
2016 1.29% 2.5%
2015 0.95% 2.57%
2014 0.73% 2.68%
2013 0.53% 2.75%
2012 0.42% 2.81%
2011 0.44% 2.84%
2010 0.55% 2.83%
2009 1.02% 2.83%
2008 2.06% 2.82%
2007 2.93% 2.81%
2006 2.73% 2.8%
2005 2.2% 2.81%
2004 1.85% 2.81%
2003 1.64% 2.8%
2002 1.7% 2.78%
2001 1.6% 2.75%
2000 1.34% 2.71%
1999 1.13% 2.67%
1998 1.05% 2.65%
1997 1.01% 2.64%
1996 0.79% 2.65%
1995 0.51% 2.67%
1994 0.39% 2.68%
1993 0.5% 2.69%
1992 0.68% 2.66%
1991 0.58% 2.68%
1990 0.08% 2.74%
1989 -0.4% 2.73%
1988 -0.43% 2.71%
1987 0.01% 2.7%
1986 0.05% 2.75%
1985 0.16% 2.87%
1984 0.62% 2.6%
1983 0.71% 2.63%
1982 0.95% 3.04%
1981 1.18% 3.12%
1980 1.16% 3.17%
1979 1.34% 3.13%
1978 1.43% 3.11%
1977 1.36% 3.03%
1976 1.52% 2.91%
1975 1.66% 2.81%
1974 1.67% 2.66%
1973 1.62% 2.53%
1972 1.5% 2.42%
1971 1.18% 2.36%
1970 0.84% 2.31%
1969 0.59% 2.24%
1968 0.45% 2.18%
1967 0.47% 2.16%
1966 0.4% 2.2%
1965 0.38% 2.19%
1964 0.49% 2.16%
1963 0.59% 2.15%
1962 0.41% 2.12%
1961 -0.15% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Ireland Nigeria
Current population
5518360
243824469
Population rank 121/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 2.94%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
6.58 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 48/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -15,258
Net migration rank 27/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -15,258
2024 - 39,059 - -35,202
2023 19,652 43,873 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 19,287 93,535 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 26,064 27,419 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 23,687 15,746 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 28,365 29,663 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 29,878 33,387 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 31,379 28,883 4,706,183 78,685
2016 33,339 18,967 4,761,594 75,265
2015 35,265 13,376 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 37,728 448 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 39,302 -12,309 4,811,751 40,201
2012 42,775 -22,411 4,774,508 71,138
2011 45,801 -26,529 4,728,363 67,808
2010 47,426 -26,974 4,629,173 47,966
2009 47,168 -18,524 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 46,691 18,979 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 43,109 76,465 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 36,752 94,513 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 33,279 63,983 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 33,376 49,102 3,877,376 46,370
2003 32,372 32,220 3,751,120 33,857
2002 31,062 34,286 3,606,814 69,594
2001 27,837 39,220 3,478,370 64,163
2000 23,592 31,298 3,343,196 74,535
1999 21,402 23,592 3,155,425 97,195
1998 22,277 16,615 3,003,946 145,575
1997 21,311 17,425 2,936,500 96,885
1996 18,915 9,959 2,882,205 84,448
1995 16,601 10,019 2,830,771 73,243
1994 17,234 -3,118 2,735,198 128,134
1993 17,166 -3,762 2,673,675 90,200
1992 20,283 1,335 2,596,173 138,412
1991 21,206 4,944 2,527,807 42,760
1990 21,787 -8,203 2,491,928 135,959
1989 20,012 -28,752 2,452,324 99,588
1988 22,912 -44,020 2,376,419 93,510
1987 26,904 -38,426 2,322,397 64,418
1986 27,963 -21,139 2,295,003 29,682
1985 29,013 -16,178 2,289,784 61,514
1984 31,791 -15,549 2,278,060 113,758
1983 34,053 -15,043 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 38,344 -14,464 2,233,401 101,116
1981 39,364 -10,834 2,179,884 106,723
1980 40,612 -2,876 2,121,618 198,672
1979 38,798 1,486 2,074,807 137,721
1978 36,288 15,543 2,019,621 111,258
1977 35,448 14,505 1,923,917 129,075
1976 33,676 14,200 1,827,289 72,889
1975 34,128 13,828 1,718,623 75,603
1974 34,199 13,482 1,624,813 44,281
1973 34,562 13,164 1,525,485 -618
1972 34,316 12,858 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 35,606 5,851 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 30,756 -8,892 1,295,507 7,953
1969 29,326 -10,250 1,213,484 6,912
1968 27,697 -11,132 1,168,254 9,615
1967 29,895 -11,708 1,082,884 18,683
1966 26,866 -11,858 1,095,582 12,513
1965 30,500 -14,016 1,061,840 32,988
1964 31,532 -15,640 1,028,272 26,411
1963 29,667 -16,615 995,116 27,115
1962 28,077 -17,438 966,452 27,906
1961 25,137 -22,237 932,111 25,515
1960 28,286 -38,492 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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