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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.79 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 +1.5% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Ireland vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland North Korea
2100 5,500,499 19,601,003
2099 5,525,011 19,729,897
2098 5,548,986 19,859,274
2097 5,572,279 19,989,589
2096 5,595,064 20,120,795
2095 5,615,877 20,252,653
2094 5,636,027 20,384,384
2093 5,655,870 20,516,457
2092 5,675,151 20,649,140
2091 5,694,092 20,781,939
2090 5,713,009 20,914,434
2089 5,730,546 21,046,685
2088 5,747,238 21,178,406
2087 5,762,650 21,310,103
2086 5,776,705 21,441,361
2085 5,791,049 21,571,843
2084 5,805,074 21,701,761
2083 5,818,867 21,830,989
2082 5,831,653 21,960,135
2081 5,842,944 22,088,774
2080 5,855,351 22,216,836
2079 5,870,572 22,344,442
2078 5,885,866 22,471,597
2077 5,901,647 22,598,635
2076 5,917,991 22,725,293
2075 5,934,408 22,852,140
2074 5,951,970 22,979,532
2073 5,969,385 23,107,165
2072 5,986,721 23,234,961
2071 6,003,888 23,363,260
2070 6,021,481 23,491,789
2069 6,038,378 23,621,167
2068 6,054,840 23,750,741
2067 6,070,805 23,880,460
2066 6,086,691 24,010,584
2065 6,101,966 24,140,518
2064 6,116,867 24,269,765
2063 6,129,790 24,397,924
2062 6,141,729 24,525,403
2061 6,154,062 24,651,788
2060 6,167,032 24,776,326
2059 6,179,602 24,898,430
2058 6,189,124 25,018,630
2057 6,196,781 25,135,871
2056 6,199,786 25,250,670
2055 6,204,376 25,361,704
2054 6,205,225 25,469,578
2053 6,205,444 25,574,137
2052 6,203,350 25,675,211
2051 6,200,637 25,772,870
2050 6,195,469 25,866,886
2049 6,187,289 25,957,363
2048 6,175,872 26,043,774
2047 6,163,776 26,126,594
2046 6,150,911 26,205,638
2045 6,134,927 26,281,344
2044 6,116,643 26,353,455
2043 6,097,627 26,422,173
2042 6,076,713 26,486,580
2041 6,052,462 26,547,651
2040 6,027,054 26,604,634
2039 6,002,204 26,656,882
2038 5,974,917 26,703,458
2037 5,946,606 26,744,185
2036 5,918,275 26,778,348
2035 5,889,854 26,805,065
2034 5,858,952 26,823,948
2033 5,826,337 26,834,263
2032 5,791,225 26,835,978
2031 5,754,845 26,827,992
2030 5,717,377 26,809,850
2029 5,676,731 26,782,161
2028 5,632,552 26,744,278
2027 5,585,925 26,696,504
2026 5,537,167 26,638,530
2025 5,484,367 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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 1.64% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Ireland North Korea
Current population
5562212
26668308
Population rank 122/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +198
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 146/197
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 18,885 39,059 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 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 (1960–2025, 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/north-korea | CC BY

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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)

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