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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Norway's population is 1.03 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

Ireland vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Norway
2100 5,468,791 5,441,855
2099 5,493,162 5,454,583
2098 5,516,999 5,466,669
2097 5,540,157 5,478,174
2096 5,562,811 5,490,010
2095 5,583,505 5,502,418
2094 5,603,538 5,514,598
2093 5,623,266 5,527,174
2092 5,642,437 5,539,172
2091 5,661,268 5,551,172
2090 5,680,076 5,564,044
2089 5,697,512 5,576,715
2088 5,714,108 5,590,047
2087 5,729,431 5,604,159
2086 5,743,405 5,617,935
2085 5,757,666 5,631,413
2084 5,771,610 5,645,116
2083 5,785,324 5,658,044
2082 5,798,037 5,670,485
2081 5,809,262 5,682,427
2080 5,821,598 5,694,199
2079 5,836,731 5,705,317
2078 5,851,937 5,715,984
2077 5,867,627 5,726,145
2076 5,883,876 5,735,898
2075 5,900,200 5,745,619
2074 5,917,659 5,755,683
2073 5,934,975 5,765,642
2072 5,952,211 5,775,295
2071 5,969,279 5,784,119
2070 5,986,770 5,793,594
2069 6,003,570 5,802,341
2068 6,019,937 5,811,630
2067 6,035,810 5,821,550
2066 6,051,604 5,831,535
2065 6,066,791 5,841,333
2064 6,081,606 5,851,085
2063 6,094,455 5,860,548
2062 6,106,325 5,869,700
2061 6,118,587 5,877,754
2060 6,131,482 5,885,488
2059 6,143,979 5,892,036
2058 6,153,447 5,897,922
2057 6,161,059 5,904,330
2056 6,164,047 5,910,291
2055 6,168,611 5,915,286
2054 6,169,455 5,919,312
2053 6,169,673 5,922,325
2052 6,167,591 5,923,483
2051 6,164,894 5,923,938
2050 6,159,756 5,923,557
2049 6,151,623 5,922,138
2048 6,140,272 5,919,215
2047 6,128,245 5,916,146
2046 6,115,454 5,912,426
2045 6,099,562 5,907,334
2044 6,081,384 5,902,175
2043 6,062,477 5,896,614
2042 6,041,683 5,889,741
2041 6,017,573 5,881,692
2040 5,992,311 5,873,512
2039 5,967,604 5,864,063
2038 5,940,474 5,853,639
2037 5,912,327 5,842,734
2036 5,884,159 5,830,991
2035 5,855,902 5,818,882
2034 5,825,178 5,805,966
2033 5,792,751 5,792,030
2032 5,757,842 5,777,062
2031 5,721,671 5,760,828
2030 5,684,420 5,743,814
2029 5,644,008 5,725,891
2028 5,600,083 5,706,765
2027 5,553,725 5,686,336
2026 5,505,248 5,665,477
2025 5,452,752 5,626,258
2024 5,395,790 5,572,279
2023 5,311,538 5,519,601
2022 5,212,836 5,457,127
2021 5,110,585 5,408,320
2020 5,039,747 5,379,475
2019 4,976,456 5,347,896
2018 4,898,022 5,311,916
2017 4,827,445 5,276,968
2016 4,762,722 5,234,519
2015 4,701,957 5,188,607
2014 4,657,740 5,137,232
2013 4,623,816 5,079,623
2012 4,599,533 5,018,573
2011 4,580,084 4,953,088
2010 4,560,155 4,889,252
2009 4,535,375 4,828,726
2008 4,489,544 4,768,212
2007 4,398,942 4,709,153
2006 4,273,591 4,660,677
2005 4,159,914 4,623,291
2004 4,070,262 4,591,910
2003 3,996,521 4,564,855
2002 3,931,947 4,538,159
2001 3,866,243 4,513,751
2000 3,805,174 4,490,967
1999 3,754,786 4,461,913
1998 3,712,696 4,431,464
1997 3,674,171 4,405,157
1996 3,637,510 4,381,336
1995 3,608,841 4,359,184
1994 3,590,386 4,336,613
1993 3,576,261 4,311,991
1992 3,558,430 4,286,401
1991 3,534,235 4,261,732
1990 3,513,974 4,241,473
1989 3,511,009 4,226,901
1988 3,524,949 4,209,488
1987 3,540,057 4,186,905
1986 3,539,690 4,167,354
1985 3,538,082 4,152,516
1984 3,532,423 4,140,099
1983 3,510,600 4,128,432
1982 3,485,800 4,114,787
1981 3,453,000 4,099,702
1980 3,412,800 4,085,620
1979 3,373,750 4,072,517
1978 3,329,100 4,058,671
1977 3,282,200 4,043,205
1976 3,238,050 4,026,152
1975 3,189,550 4,007,313
1974 3,137,500 3,985,258
1973 3,085,950 3,960,612
1972 3,036,850 3,933,004
1971 2,992,050 3,903,039
1970 2,957,250 3,875,763
1969 2,932,650 3,847,707
1968 2,915,550 3,816,486
1967 2,902,450 3,784,539
1966 2,888,800 3,753,012
1965 2,877,300 3,723,168
1964 2,866,550 3,694,339
1963 2,852,650 3,666,537
1962 2,836,050 3,638,918
1961 2,824,400 3,609,800
1960 2,828,600 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 5.92M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Norway
2100 -0.44% -0.23%
2099 -0.43% -0.22%
2098 -0.42% -0.21%
2097 -0.41% -0.22%
2096 -0.37% -0.23%
2095 -0.36% -0.22%
2094 -0.35% -0.23%
2093 -0.34% -0.22%
2092 -0.33% -0.22%
2091 -0.33% -0.23%
2090 -0.31% -0.23%
2089 -0.29% -0.24%
2088 -0.27% -0.25%
2087 -0.24% -0.25%
2086 -0.25% -0.24%
2085 -0.24% -0.24%
2084 -0.24% -0.23%
2083 -0.22% -0.22%
2082 -0.19% -0.21%
2081 -0.21% -0.21%
2080 -0.26% -0.19%
2079 -0.26% -0.19%
2078 -0.27% -0.18%
2077 -0.28% -0.17%
2076 -0.28% -0.17%
2075 -0.3% -0.17%
2074 -0.29% -0.17%
2073 -0.29% -0.17%
2072 -0.29% -0.15%
2071 -0.29% -0.16%
2070 -0.28% -0.15%
2069 -0.27% -0.16%
2068 -0.26% -0.17%
2067 -0.26% -0.17%
2066 -0.25% -0.17%
2065 -0.24% -0.17%
2064 -0.21% -0.16%
2063 -0.19% -0.16%
2062 -0.2% -0.14%
2061 -0.21% -0.13%
2060 -0.2% -0.11%
2059 -0.15% -0.1%
2058 -0.12% -0.11%
2057 -0.05% -0.1%
2056 -0.07% -0.08%
2055 -0.01% -0.07%
2054 -0.004% -0.05%
2053 0.03% -0.02%
2052 0.04% -0.008%
2051 0.08% 0.006%
2050 0.13% 0.02%
2049 0.18% 0.05%
2048 0.2% 0.05%
2047 0.21% 0.06%
2046 0.26% 0.09%
2045 0.3% 0.09%
2044 0.31% 0.09%
2043 0.34% 0.12%
2042 0.4% 0.14%
2041 0.42% 0.14%
2040 0.41% 0.16%
2039 0.46% 0.18%
2038 0.48% 0.19%
2037 0.48% 0.2%
2036 0.48% 0.21%
2035 0.53% 0.22%
2034 0.56% 0.24%
2033 0.61% 0.26%
2032 0.63% 0.28%
2031 0.66% 0.3%
2030 0.72% 0.31%
2029 0.78% 0.34%
2028 0.83% 0.36%
2027 0.88% 0.37%
2026 0.96% 0.7%
2025 1.06% 0.97%
2024 1.59% 0.95%
2023 1.89% 1.14%
2022 2% 0.9%
2021 1.41% 0.54%
2020 1.27% 0.59%
2019 1.6% 0.68%
2018 1.46% 0.66%
2017 1.36% 0.81%
2016 1.29% 0.88%
2015 0.95% 1%
2014 0.73% 1.13%
2013 0.53% 1.22%
2012 0.42% 1.32%
2011 0.44% 1.31%
2010 0.55% 1.25%
2009 1.02% 1.27%
2008 2.06% 1.25%
2007 2.93% 1.04%
2006 2.73% 0.81%
2005 2.2% 0.68%
2004 1.85% 0.59%
2003 1.64% 0.59%
2002 1.7% 0.54%
2001 1.6% 0.51%
2000 1.34% 0.65%
1999 1.13% 0.69%
1998 1.05% 0.6%
1997 1.01% 0.54%
1996 0.79% 0.51%
1995 0.51% 0.52%
1994 0.39% 0.57%
1993 0.5% 0.6%
1992 0.68% 0.58%
1991 0.58% 0.48%
1990 0.08% 0.34%
1989 -0.4% 0.41%
1988 -0.43% 0.54%
1987 0.01% 0.47%
1986 0.05% 0.36%
1985 0.16% 0.3%
1984 0.62% 0.28%
1983 0.71% 0.33%
1982 0.95% 0.37%
1981 1.18% 0.34%
1980 1.16% 0.32%
1979 1.34% 0.34%
1978 1.43% 0.38%
1977 1.36% 0.42%
1976 1.52% 0.47%
1975 1.66% 0.55%
1974 1.67% 0.62%
1973 1.62% 0.7%
1972 1.5% 0.77%
1971 1.18% 0.7%
1970 0.84% 0.73%
1969 0.59% 0.82%
1968 0.45% 0.84%
1967 0.47% 0.84%
1966 0.4% 0.8%
1965 0.38% 0.78%
1964 0.49% 0.76%
1963 0.59% 0.76%
1962 0.41% 0.81%
1961 -0.15% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

Ireland Norway
Current population
5518360
5671119
Population rank 121/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.07%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
9.98 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
10.1 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +144
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 105/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +29,798
Net migration rank 27/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 29,798
2024 - 39,059 - 44,356
2023 19,652 43,873 8,280 53,806
2022 19,287 93,535 5,457 58,040
2021 26,064 27,419 14,062 19,804
2020 23,687 15,746 12,372 11,277
2019 28,365 29,663 13,904 25,707
2018 29,878 33,387 14,342 18,473
2017 31,379 28,883 15,831 21,657
2016 33,339 18,967 17,797 26,417
2015 35,265 13,376 18,160 30,242
2014 37,728 448 18,494 38,522
2013 39,302 -12,309 17,779 40,690
2012 42,775 -22,411 18,066 47,883
2011 45,801 -26,529 18,822 47,454
2010 47,426 -26,974 20,046 42,865
2009 47,168 -18,524 20,280 39,316
2008 46,691 18,979 19,073 44,002
2007 43,109 76,465 16,482 40,111
2006 36,752 94,513 17,244 24,054
2005 33,279 63,983 15,719 18,588
2004 33,376 49,102 15,612 13,412
2003 32,372 32,220 14,151 11,389
2002 31,062 34,286 10,892 17,279
2001 27,837 39,220 13,090 7,906
2000 23,592 31,298 15,269 9,805
1999 21,402 23,592 14,278 19,147
1998 22,277 16,615 14,181 13,519
1997 21,311 17,425 15,418 9,744
1996 18,915 9,959 17,087 5,671
1995 16,601 10,019 14,821 6,343
1994 17,234 -3,118 16,045 7,580
1993 17,166 -3,762 12,936 12,567
1992 20,283 1,335 15,431 10,218
1991 21,206 4,944 16,194 7,949
1990 21,787 -8,203 14,845 1,818
1989 20,012 -28,752 13,949 -1,730
1988 22,912 -44,020 12,207 10,380
1987 26,904 -38,426 9,212 13,907
1986 27,963 -21,139 8,751 7,616
1985 29,013 -16,178 6,644 6,725
1984 31,791 -15,549 7,452 3,856
1983 34,053 -15,043 7,844 4,120
1982 38,344 -14,464 9,875 5,749
1981 39,364 -10,834 9,020 6,010
1980 40,612 -2,876 9,806 3,763
1979 38,798 1,486 10,181 2,839
1978 36,288 15,543 11,364 3,823
1977 35,448 14,505 11,321 4,845
1976 33,676 14,200 13,286 4,779
1975 34,128 13,828 16,430 3,312
1974 34,199 13,482 20,324 4,425
1973 34,562 13,164 21,387 3,414
1972 34,316 12,858 24,777 5,603
1971 35,606 5,851 26,541 3,031
1970 30,756 -8,892 25,968 -1,034
1969 29,326 -10,250 28,858 2,230
1968 27,697 -11,132 29,387 1,761
1967 29,895 -11,708 30,276 2,460
1966 26,866 -11,858 31,150 -888
1965 30,500 -14,016 31,275 -1,525
1964 31,532 -15,640 30,293 -1,571
1963 29,667 -16,615 26,766 1,061
1962 28,077 -17,438 28,020 655
1961 25,137 -22,237 29,239 1,437
1960 28,286 -38,492 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

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
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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