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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 1,820,909 people in North Macedonia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 1,811,466 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 3.07 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.47% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.17% decline).

Ireland vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland North Macedonia
2100 5,500,499 869,530
2099 5,525,011 880,467
2098 5,548,986 891,427
2097 5,572,279 902,461
2096 5,595,064 913,488
2095 5,615,877 924,371
2094 5,636,027 935,479
2093 5,655,870 946,865
2092 5,675,151 958,251
2091 5,694,092 969,723
2090 5,713,009 981,115
2089 5,730,546 992,687
2088 5,747,238 1,004,280
2087 5,762,650 1,015,922
2086 5,776,705 1,027,915
2085 5,791,049 1,039,832
2084 5,805,074 1,052,077
2083 5,818,867 1,064,269
2082 5,831,653 1,076,684
2081 5,842,944 1,089,137
2080 5,855,351 1,101,478
2079 5,870,572 1,114,004
2078 5,885,866 1,126,827
2077 5,901,647 1,139,917
2076 5,917,991 1,153,296
2075 5,934,408 1,166,630
2074 5,951,970 1,180,262
2073 5,969,385 1,193,984
2072 5,986,721 1,207,689
2071 6,003,888 1,221,407
2070 6,021,481 1,235,738
2069 6,038,378 1,250,212
2068 6,054,840 1,264,718
2067 6,070,805 1,279,182
2066 6,086,691 1,293,374
2065 6,101,966 1,307,896
2064 6,116,867 1,322,184
2063 6,129,790 1,336,875
2062 6,141,729 1,351,652
2061 6,154,062 1,366,457
2060 6,167,032 1,381,009
2059 6,179,602 1,395,166
2058 6,189,124 1,409,270
2057 6,196,781 1,423,516
2056 6,199,786 1,437,970
2055 6,204,376 1,452,276
2054 6,205,225 1,466,673
2053 6,205,444 1,480,857
2052 6,203,350 1,494,452
2051 6,200,637 1,508,115
2050 6,195,469 1,521,258
2049 6,187,289 1,534,276
2048 6,175,872 1,547,097
2047 6,163,776 1,559,831
2046 6,150,911 1,572,937
2045 6,134,927 1,585,940
2044 6,116,643 1,598,742
2043 6,097,627 1,611,835
2042 6,076,713 1,624,885
2041 6,052,462 1,637,687
2040 6,027,054 1,650,468
2039 6,002,204 1,663,094
2038 5,974,917 1,675,445
2037 5,946,606 1,687,986
2036 5,918,275 1,700,377
2035 5,889,854 1,712,512
2034 5,858,952 1,724,440
2033 5,826,337 1,736,005
2032 5,791,225 1,747,606
2031 5,754,845 1,759,081
2030 5,717,377 1,770,549
2029 5,676,731 1,781,235
2028 5,632,552 1,791,502
2027 5,585,925 1,801,426
2026 5,537,167 1,811,466
2025 5,484,367 1,820,909
2024 5,395,790 1,824,359
2023 5,311,538 1,827,816
2022 5,212,836 1,831,712
2021 5,110,585 1,837,114
2020 5,039,747 1,856,124
2019 4,976,456 1,876,262
2018 4,898,022 1,889,051
2017 4,827,445 1,898,657
2016 4,762,722 1,906,313
2015 4,701,957 1,912,430
2014 4,657,740 1,917,557
2013 4,623,816 1,922,716
2012 4,599,533 1,929,821
2011 4,580,084 1,937,398
2010 4,560,155 1,946,298
2009 4,535,375 1,958,782
2008 4,489,544 1,971,493
2007 4,398,942 1,982,933
2006 4,273,591 1,994,287
2005 4,159,914 2,005,330
2004 4,070,262 2,016,186
2003 3,996,521 2,022,725
2002 3,931,947 2,020,157
2001 3,866,243 2,034,882
2000 3,805,174 2,026,350
1999 3,754,786 2,017,142
1998 3,712,696 2,007,523
1997 3,674,171 1,996,869
1996 3,637,510 2,012,553
1995 3,608,841 1,998,534
1994 3,590,386 1,992,666
1993 3,576,261 2,006,854
1992 3,558,430 2,032,523
1991 3,534,235 2,055,994
1990 3,513,974 2,063,689
1989 3,511,009 2,055,649
1988 3,524,949 2,045,737
1987 3,540,057 2,035,157
1986 3,539,690 2,024,732
1985 3,538,082 2,014,331
1984 3,532,423 2,003,399
1983 3,510,600 1,991,901
1982 3,485,800 1,978,956
1981 3,453,000 1,959,065
1980 3,412,800 1,933,038
1979 3,373,750 1,906,523
1978 3,329,100 1,879,847
1977 3,282,200 1,853,138
1976 3,238,050 1,825,830
1975 3,189,550 1,797,972
1974 3,137,500 1,770,545
1973 3,085,950 1,743,816
1972 3,036,850 1,717,395
1971 2,992,050 1,691,216
1970 2,957,250 1,664,208
1969 2,932,650 1,636,345
1968 2,915,550 1,608,930
1967 2,902,450 1,582,492
1966 2,888,800 1,557,349
1965 2,877,300 1,533,466
1964 2,866,550 1,510,900
1963 2,852,650 1,488,737
1962 2,836,050 1,471,745
1961 2,824,400 1,455,171
1960 2,828,600 1,435,059

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-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 94,847 people (a 4.98% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,521,258 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while North Macedonia's population already peaked in 1990 at 2.06M people and is projected to decrease to 870K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland North Macedonia
2100 -0.44% -1.24%
2099 -0.43% -1.23%
2098 -0.42% -1.22%
2097 -0.41% -1.21%
2096 -0.37% -1.18%
2095 -0.36% -1.19%
2094 -0.35% -1.2%
2093 -0.34% -1.19%
2092 -0.33% -1.18%
2091 -0.33% -1.16%
2090 -0.31% -1.17%
2089 -0.29% -1.15%
2088 -0.27% -1.15%
2087 -0.24% -1.17%
2086 -0.25% -1.15%
2085 -0.24% -1.16%
2084 -0.24% -1.15%
2083 -0.22% -1.15%
2082 -0.19% -1.14%
2081 -0.21% -1.12%
2080 -0.26% -1.12%
2079 -0.26% -1.14%
2078 -0.27% -1.15%
2077 -0.28% -1.16%
2076 -0.28% -1.14%
2075 -0.3% -1.15%
2074 -0.29% -1.15%
2073 -0.29% -1.13%
2072 -0.29% -1.12%
2071 -0.29% -1.16%
2070 -0.28% -1.16%
2069 -0.27% -1.15%
2068 -0.26% -1.13%
2067 -0.26% -1.1%
2066 -0.25% -1.11%
2065 -0.24% -1.08%
2064 -0.21% -1.1%
2063 -0.19% -1.09%
2062 -0.2% -1.08%
2061 -0.21% -1.05%
2060 -0.2% -1.01%
2059 -0.15% -1%
2058 -0.12% -1%
2057 -0.05% -1.01%
2056 -0.07% -0.99%
2055 -0.01% -0.98%
2054 -0.004% -0.96%
2053 0.03% -0.91%
2052 0.04% -0.91%
2051 0.08% -0.86%
2050 0.13% -0.85%
2049 0.18% -0.83%
2048 0.2% -0.82%
2047 0.21% -0.83%
2046 0.26% -0.82%
2045 0.3% -0.8%
2044 0.31% -0.81%
2043 0.34% -0.8%
2042 0.4% -0.78%
2041 0.42% -0.77%
2040 0.41% -0.76%
2039 0.46% -0.74%
2038 0.48% -0.74%
2037 0.48% -0.73%
2036 0.48% -0.71%
2035 0.53% -0.69%
2034 0.56% -0.67%
2033 0.61% -0.66%
2032 0.63% -0.65%
2031 0.66% -0.65%
2030 0.72% -0.6%
2029 0.78% -0.57%
2028 0.83% -0.55%
2027 0.88% -0.55%
2026 0.96% -0.52%
2025 1.64% -0.19%
2024 1.59% -0.19%
2023 1.89% -0.21%
2022 2% -0.29%
2021 1.41% -1.02%
2020 1.27% -1.07%
2019 1.6% -0.68%
2018 1.46% -0.51%
2017 1.36% -0.4%
2016 1.29% -0.32%
2015 0.95% -0.27%
2014 0.73% -0.27%
2013 0.53% -0.37%
2012 0.42% -0.39%
2011 0.44% -0.46%
2010 0.55% -0.64%
2009 1.02% -0.64%
2008 2.06% -0.58%
2007 2.93% -0.57%
2006 2.73% -0.55%
2005 2.2% -0.54%
2004 1.85% -0.32%
2003 1.64% 0.13%
2002 1.7% -0.72%
2001 1.6% 0.42%
2000 1.34% 0.46%
1999 1.13% 0.48%
1998 1.05% 0.53%
1997 1.01% -0.78%
1996 0.79% 0.7%
1995 0.51% 0.29%
1994 0.39% -0.71%
1993 0.5% -1.26%
1992 0.68% -1.14%
1991 0.58% -0.37%
1990 0.08% 0.39%
1989 -0.4% 0.48%
1988 -0.43% 0.52%
1987 0.01% 0.51%
1986 0.05% 0.52%
1985 0.16% 0.55%
1984 0.62% 0.58%
1983 0.71% 0.65%
1982 0.95% 1.02%
1981 1.18% 1.35%
1980 1.16% 1.39%
1979 1.34% 1.42%
1978 1.43% 1.44%
1977 1.36% 1.5%
1976 1.52% 1.55%
1975 1.66% 1.55%
1974 1.67% 1.53%
1973 1.62% 1.54%
1972 1.5% 1.55%
1971 1.18% 1.62%
1970 0.84% 1.7%
1969 0.59% 1.7%
1968 0.45% 1.67%
1967 0.47% 1.61%
1966 0.4% 1.56%
1965 0.38% 1.49%
1964 0.49% 1.49%
1963 0.59% 1.15%
1962 0.41% 1.14%
1961 -0.15% 1.4%

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-macedonia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Ireland North Macedonia
Current population
5562212
1811466
Population rank 122/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.02%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
2.55 hours
One birth every
9.74 minutes
32.7 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
26 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 -9
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -3,450
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 176/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 -5,645
Net migration rank 27/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -5,645
2024 18,885 39,059 -4,196 -5,728
2023 19,652 43,873 -3,290 -5,597
2022 19,287 93,535 -4,397 -5,296
2021 26,064 27,419 -9,737 -5,483
2020 23,687 15,746 -5,939 -23,458
2019 28,365 29,663 -375 -24,204
2018 29,878 33,387 1,512 -24,878
2017 31,379 28,883 1,329 -24,227
2016 33,339 18,967 2,374 -24,144
2015 35,265 13,376 2,294 -23,010
2014 37,728 448 3,644 -22,132
2013 39,302 -12,309 3,653 -20,297
2012 42,775 -22,411 3,087 -19,083
2011 45,801 -26,529 3,100 -17,871
2010 47,426 -26,974 4,866 -16,668
2009 47,168 -18,524 4,309 -15,455
2008 46,691 18,979 3,746 -17,645
2007 43,109 76,465 2,974 -15,705
2006 36,752 94,513 3,988 -9,632
2005 33,279 63,983 4,011 -2,244
2004 33,376 49,102 5,444 -2,640
2003 32,372 32,220 8,900 -2,880
2002 31,062 34,286 9,697 -2,858
2001 27,837 39,220 10,174 -922
2000 23,592 31,298 12,159 -2,824
1999 21,402 23,592 10,489 -1,261
1998 22,277 16,615 12,446 -589
1997 21,311 17,425 12,979 -477
1996 18,915 9,959 14,806 -397
1995 16,601 10,019 17,239 -3,603
1994 17,234 -3,118 19,103 -21,006
1993 17,166 -3,762 20,797 -47,273
1992 20,283 1,335 21,659 -46,509
1991 21,206 4,944 23,387 -45,484
1990 21,787 -8,203 22,868 -16,174
1989 20,012 -28,752 22,912 -13,528
1988 22,912 -44,020 24,064 -13,621
1987 26,904 -38,426 24,359 -13,635
1986 27,963 -21,139 23,720 -13,589
1985 29,013 -16,178 24,167 -13,492
1984 31,791 -15,549 24,436 -13,251
1983 34,053 -15,043 24,690 -12,884
1982 38,344 -14,464 25,810 -11,716
1981 39,364 -10,834 25,689 0
1980 40,612 -2,876 26,547 -189
1979 38,798 1,486 27,096 -426
1978 36,288 15,543 27,150 -462
1977 35,448 14,505 27,410 -683
1976 33,676 14,200 28,799 -911
1975 34,128 13,828 28,983 -1,147
1974 34,199 13,482 28,400 -1,376
1973 34,562 13,164 28,032 -1,600
1972 34,316 12,858 28,236 -1,834
1971 35,606 5,851 28,010 -2,064
1970 30,756 -8,892 28,022 60
1969 29,326 -10,250 27,464 181
1968 27,697 -11,132 28,378 -1,201
1967 29,895 -11,708 28,401 -2,696
1966 26,866 -11,858 28,766 -4,176
1965 30,500 -14,016 28,564 -5,385
1964 31,532 -15,640 27,889 -5,938
1963 29,667 -16,615 28,124 -5,759
1962 28,077 -17,438 25,317 -13,702
1961 25,137 -22,237 27,846 -6,309
1960 28,286 -38,492 28,816 -10,126

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/north-macedonia | 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 Macedonia 11% is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

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 Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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-macedonia | 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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