Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 44.1 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.02% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Ireland vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Nigeria
2100 5,500,499 481,640,156
2099 5,525,011 481,456,918
2098 5,548,986 481,181,892
2097 5,572,279 480,838,161
2096 5,595,064 480,422,467
2095 5,615,877 479,938,579
2094 5,636,027 479,395,022
2093 5,655,870 478,769,369
2092 5,675,151 478,059,864
2091 5,694,092 477,236,907
2090 5,713,009 476,329,495
2089 5,730,546 475,326,347
2088 5,747,238 474,231,442
2087 5,762,650 473,035,563
2086 5,776,705 471,732,001
2085 5,791,049 470,328,175
2084 5,805,074 468,806,172
2083 5,818,867 467,187,453
2082 5,831,653 465,472,417
2081 5,842,944 463,643,190
2080 5,855,351 461,705,493
2079 5,870,572 459,644,523
2078 5,885,866 457,477,264
2077 5,901,647 455,218,871
2076 5,917,991 452,849,991
2075 5,934,408 450,367,356
2074 5,951,970 447,789,885
2073 5,969,385 445,117,028
2072 5,986,721 442,340,440
2071 6,003,888 439,464,323
2070 6,021,481 436,505,329
2069 6,038,378 433,437,998
2068 6,054,840 430,286,232
2067 6,070,805 427,032,499
2066 6,086,691 423,702,640
2065 6,101,966 420,285,359
2064 6,116,867 416,778,394
2063 6,129,790 413,198,800
2062 6,141,729 409,551,159
2061 6,154,062 405,827,482
2060 6,167,032 402,041,765
2059 6,179,602 398,197,311
2058 6,189,124 394,284,767
2057 6,196,781 390,311,065
2056 6,199,786 386,267,580
2055 6,204,376 382,162,992
2054 6,205,225 378,000,511
2053 6,205,444 373,769,779
2052 6,203,350 369,472,476
2051 6,200,637 365,120,741
2050 6,195,469 360,706,317
2049 6,187,289 356,243,287
2048 6,175,872 351,724,743
2047 6,163,776 347,142,279
2046 6,150,911 342,505,549
2045 6,134,927 337,807,869
2044 6,116,643 333,050,132
2043 6,097,627 328,230,652
2042 6,076,713 323,363,366
2041 6,052,462 318,443,989
2040 6,027,054 313,468,061
2039 6,002,204 308,450,008
2038 5,974,917 303,399,842
2037 5,946,606 298,327,800
2036 5,918,275 293,227,654
2035 5,889,854 288,115,630
2034 5,858,952 282,995,818
2033 5,826,337 277,875,880
2032 5,791,225 272,747,599
2031 5,754,845 267,645,657
2030 5,717,377 262,562,767
2029 5,676,731 257,484,616
2028 5,632,552 252,445,821
2027 5,585,925 247,437,680
2026 5,537,167 242,458,365
2025 5,484,367 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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 1.64% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Ireland Nigeria
Current population
5562212
245016045
Population rank 122/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 2.95%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
6.52 seconds
One birth every
9.74 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +243 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 45/197
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 18,885 39,059 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.