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Population in Ireland compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.83 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Ireland vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland North Korea
2100 5,468,791 19,604,631
2099 5,493,162 19,733,548
2098 5,516,999 19,862,949
2097 5,540,157 19,993,288
2096 5,562,811 20,124,518
2095 5,583,505 20,256,401
2094 5,603,538 20,388,156
2093 5,623,266 20,520,253
2092 5,642,437 20,652,961
2091 5,661,268 20,785,785
2090 5,680,076 20,918,305
2089 5,697,512 21,050,580
2088 5,714,108 21,182,325
2087 5,729,431 21,314,047
2086 5,743,405 21,445,329
2085 5,757,666 21,575,835
2084 5,771,610 21,705,777
2083 5,785,324 21,835,029
2082 5,798,037 21,964,199
2081 5,809,262 22,092,862
2080 5,821,598 22,220,948
2079 5,836,731 22,348,577
2078 5,851,937 22,475,755
2077 5,867,627 22,602,817
2076 5,883,876 22,729,499
2075 5,900,200 22,856,369
2074 5,917,659 22,983,784
2073 5,934,975 23,111,441
2072 5,952,211 23,239,261
2071 5,969,279 23,367,583
2070 5,986,770 23,496,136
2069 6,003,570 23,625,538
2068 6,019,937 23,755,136
2067 6,035,810 23,884,879
2066 6,051,604 24,015,027
2065 6,066,791 24,144,985
2064 6,081,606 24,274,257
2063 6,094,455 24,402,439
2062 6,106,325 24,529,941
2061 6,118,587 24,656,350
2060 6,131,482 24,780,911
2059 6,143,979 24,903,037
2058 6,153,447 25,023,260
2057 6,161,059 25,140,523
2056 6,164,047 25,255,342
2055 6,168,611 25,366,397
2054 6,169,455 25,474,292
2053 6,169,673 25,578,870
2052 6,167,591 25,679,963
2051 6,164,894 25,777,639
2050 6,159,756 25,871,673
2049 6,151,623 25,962,167
2048 6,140,272 26,048,593
2047 6,128,245 26,131,429
2046 6,115,454 26,210,487
2045 6,099,562 26,286,208
2044 6,081,384 26,358,331
2043 6,062,477 26,427,062
2042 6,041,683 26,491,482
2041 6,017,573 26,552,564
2040 5,992,311 26,609,557
2039 5,967,604 26,661,815
2038 5,940,474 26,708,400
2037 5,912,327 26,749,134
2036 5,884,159 26,783,304
2035 5,855,902 26,810,026
2034 5,825,178 26,828,912
2033 5,792,751 26,839,229
2032 5,757,842 26,840,944
2031 5,721,671 26,832,957
2030 5,684,420 26,814,812
2029 5,644,008 26,787,117
2028 5,600,083 26,749,227
2027 5,553,725 26,701,444
2026 5,505,248 26,643,460
2025 5,452,752 26,575,953
2024 5,395,790 26,498,823
2023 5,311,538 26,418,204
2022 5,212,836 26,328,845
2021 5,110,585 26,232,534
2020 5,039,747 26,136,312
2019 4,976,456 26,037,632
2018 4,898,022 25,931,147
2017 4,827,445 25,817,709
2016 4,762,722 25,698,326
2015 4,701,957 25,575,350
2014 4,657,740 25,451,262
2013 4,623,816 25,329,451
2012 4,599,533 25,211,728
2011 4,580,084 25,097,874
2010 4,560,155 24,987,258
2009 4,535,375 24,878,332
2008 4,489,544 24,764,618
2007 4,398,942 24,646,383
2006 4,273,591 24,524,507
2005 4,159,914 24,396,433
2004 4,070,262 24,254,943
2003 3,996,521 24,090,380
2002 3,931,947 23,943,973
2001 3,866,243 23,815,358
2000 3,805,174 23,665,910
1999 3,754,786 23,497,599
1998 3,712,696 23,311,564
1997 3,674,171 23,110,830
1996 3,637,510 22,895,746
1995 3,608,841 22,669,304
1994 3,590,386 22,393,975
1993 3,576,261 22,073,352
1992 3,558,430 21,750,911
1991 3,534,235 21,428,638
1990 3,513,974 21,112,137
1989 3,511,009 20,804,367
1988 3,524,949 20,503,161
1987 3,540,057 20,205,483
1986 3,539,690 19,910,855
1985 3,538,082 19,620,388
1984 3,532,423 19,335,043
1983 3,510,600 19,054,034
1982 3,485,800 18,776,357
1981 3,453,000 18,501,295
1980 3,412,800 18,236,786
1979 3,373,750 17,983,470
1978 3,329,100 17,735,995
1977 3,282,200 17,492,798
1976 3,238,050 17,243,450
1975 3,189,550 16,971,055
1974 3,137,500 16,673,121
1973 3,085,950 16,350,367
1972 3,036,850 15,975,069
1971 2,992,050 15,572,457
1970 2,957,250 15,172,775
1969 2,932,650 14,767,615
1968 2,915,550 14,365,596
1967 2,902,450 13,958,350
1966 2,888,800 13,569,094
1965 2,877,300 13,219,369
1964 2,866,550 12,889,770
1963 2,852,650 12,567,057
1962 2,836,050 12,262,882
1961 2,824,400 11,990,713
1960 2,828,600 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland North Korea
2100 -0.44% -0.65%
2099 -0.43% -0.65%
2098 -0.42% -0.65%
2097 -0.41% -0.65%
2096 -0.37% -0.65%
2095 -0.36% -0.65%
2094 -0.35% -0.64%
2093 -0.34% -0.64%
2092 -0.33% -0.64%
2091 -0.33% -0.63%
2090 -0.31% -0.63%
2089 -0.29% -0.62%
2088 -0.27% -0.62%
2087 -0.24% -0.61%
2086 -0.25% -0.6%
2085 -0.24% -0.6%
2084 -0.24% -0.59%
2083 -0.22% -0.59%
2082 -0.19% -0.58%
2081 -0.21% -0.58%
2080 -0.26% -0.57%
2079 -0.26% -0.57%
2078 -0.27% -0.56%
2077 -0.28% -0.56%
2076 -0.28% -0.56%
2075 -0.3% -0.55%
2074 -0.29% -0.55%
2073 -0.29% -0.55%
2072 -0.29% -0.55%
2071 -0.29% -0.55%
2070 -0.28% -0.55%
2069 -0.27% -0.55%
2068 -0.26% -0.54%
2067 -0.26% -0.54%
2066 -0.25% -0.54%
2065 -0.24% -0.53%
2064 -0.21% -0.53%
2063 -0.19% -0.52%
2062 -0.2% -0.51%
2061 -0.21% -0.5%
2060 -0.2% -0.49%
2059 -0.15% -0.48%
2058 -0.12% -0.47%
2057 -0.05% -0.45%
2056 -0.07% -0.44%
2055 -0.01% -0.42%
2054 -0.004% -0.41%
2053 0.03% -0.39%
2052 0.04% -0.38%
2051 0.08% -0.36%
2050 0.13% -0.35%
2049 0.18% -0.33%
2048 0.2% -0.32%
2047 0.21% -0.3%
2046 0.26% -0.29%
2045 0.3% -0.27%
2044 0.31% -0.26%
2043 0.34% -0.24%
2042 0.4% -0.23%
2041 0.42% -0.21%
2040 0.41% -0.2%
2039 0.46% -0.17%
2038 0.48% -0.15%
2037 0.48% -0.13%
2036 0.48% -0.1%
2035 0.53% -0.07%
2034 0.56% -0.04%
2033 0.61% -0.006%
2032 0.63% 0.03%
2031 0.66% 0.07%
2030 0.72% 0.1%
2029 0.78% 0.14%
2028 0.83% 0.18%
2027 0.88% 0.22%
2026 0.96% 0.25%
2025 1.06% 0.29%
2024 1.59% 0.31%
2023 1.89% 0.34%
2022 2% 0.37%
2021 1.41% 0.37%
2020 1.27% 0.38%
2019 1.6% 0.41%
2018 1.46% 0.44%
2017 1.36% 0.46%
2016 1.29% 0.48%
2015 0.95% 0.49%
2014 0.73% 0.48%
2013 0.53% 0.47%
2012 0.42% 0.45%
2011 0.44% 0.44%
2010 0.55% 0.44%
2009 1.02% 0.46%
2008 2.06% 0.48%
2007 2.93% 0.5%
2006 2.73% 0.52%
2005 2.2% 0.58%
2004 1.85% 0.68%
2003 1.64% 0.61%
2002 1.7% 0.54%
2001 1.6% 0.63%
2000 1.34% 0.72%
1999 1.13% 0.8%
1998 1.05% 0.87%
1997 1.01% 0.94%
1996 0.79% 1%
1995 0.51% 1.23%
1994 0.39% 1.45%
1993 0.5% 1.48%
1992 0.68% 1.5%
1991 0.58% 1.5%
1990 0.08% 1.48%
1989 -0.4% 1.47%
1988 -0.43% 1.47%
1987 0.01% 1.48%
1986 0.05% 1.48%
1985 0.16% 1.48%
1984 0.62% 1.47%
1983 0.71% 1.48%
1982 0.95% 1.49%
1981 1.18% 1.45%
1980 1.16% 1.41%
1979 1.34% 1.4%
1978 1.43% 1.39%
1977 1.36% 1.45%
1976 1.52% 1.61%
1975 1.66% 1.79%
1974 1.67% 1.97%
1973 1.62% 2.35%
1972 1.5% 2.59%
1971 1.18% 2.63%
1970 0.84% 2.74%
1969 0.59% 2.8%
1968 0.45% 2.92%
1967 0.47% 2.87%
1966 0.4% 2.65%
1965 0.38% 2.56%
1964 0.49% 2.57%
1963 0.59% 2.48%
1962 0.41% 2.27%
1961 -0.15% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Ireland North Korea
Current population
5518360
26659144
Population rank 121/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +221
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 150/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 -2,787
Net migration rank 27/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -2,787
2024 - 39,059 - -2,473
2023 19,652 43,873 86,203 -1,997
2022 19,287 93,535 96,495 -1,997
2021 26,064 27,419 99,710 -1,585
2020 23,687 15,746 95,920 -1,585
2019 28,365 29,663 106,208 -3,142
2018 29,878 33,387 113,164 -3,225
2017 31,379 28,883 120,181 -3,224
2016 33,339 18,967 125,048 -3,222
2015 35,265 13,376 127,365 -3,208
2014 37,728 448 127,078 -3,042
2013 39,302 -12,309 122,519 -2,933
2012 42,775 -22,411 118,773 -2,919
2011 45,801 -26,529 114,798 -2,957
2010 47,426 -26,974 112,443 -3,053
2009 47,168 -18,524 111,530 -3,058
2008 46,691 18,979 122,015 -3,051
2007 43,109 76,465 120,521 -3,021
2006 36,752 94,513 129,171 -2,948
2005 33,279 63,983 132,765 -2,861
2004 33,376 49,102 155,838 -2,758
2003 32,372 32,220 178,775 -2,717
2002 31,062 34,286 119,504 -2,763
2001 27,837 39,220 143,321 -2,884
2000 23,592 31,298 161,591 -3,142
1999 21,402 23,592 181,613 -3,443
1998 22,277 16,615 197,589 -3,706
1997 21,311 17,425 211,325 -3,745
1996 18,915 9,959 226,095 -3,512
1995 16,601 10,019 233,381 -3,094
1994 17,234 -3,118 320,861 -517
1993 17,166 -3,762 320,880 0
1992 20,283 1,335 324,002 0
1991 21,206 4,944 320,551 0
1990 21,787 -8,203 312,460 0
1989 20,012 -28,752 303,078 0
1988 22,912 -44,020 299,305 0
1987 26,904 -38,426 296,030 0
1986 27,963 -21,139 293,227 0
1985 29,013 -16,178 287,714 0
1984 31,791 -15,549 282,987 0
1983 34,053 -15,043 279,046 0
1982 38,344 -14,464 276,332 0
1981 39,364 -10,834 273,800 0
1980 40,612 -2,876 255,206 0
1979 38,798 1,486 251,409 0
1978 36,288 15,543 243,533 0
1977 35,448 14,505 242,870 0
1976 33,676 14,200 255,841 0
1975 34,128 13,828 288,966 0
1974 34,199 13,482 306,902 0
1973 34,562 13,164 338,600 0
1972 34,316 12,858 411,997 0
1971 35,606 5,851 393,220 0
1970 30,756 -8,892 406,129 0
1969 29,326 -10,250 404,189 0
1968 27,697 -11,132 399,837 0
1967 29,895 -11,708 414,632 0
1966 26,866 -11,858 363,882 0
1965 30,500 -14,016 335,587 0
1964 31,532 -15,640 323,623 0
1963 29,667 -16,615 321,805 0
1962 28,077 -17,438 286,534 0
1961 25,137 -22,237 257,788 0
1960 28,286 -38,492 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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