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Population in Ireland compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.99 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Ireland vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Papua New Guinea
2100 5,468,791 18,802,138
2099 5,493,162 18,790,040
2098 5,516,999 18,776,265
2097 5,540,157 18,758,897
2096 5,562,811 18,737,707
2095 5,583,505 18,714,219
2094 5,603,538 18,687,257
2093 5,623,266 18,658,233
2092 5,642,437 18,625,772
2091 5,661,268 18,590,001
2090 5,680,076 18,549,501
2089 5,697,512 18,510,463
2088 5,714,108 18,468,827
2087 5,729,431 18,424,378
2086 5,743,405 18,376,043
2085 5,757,666 18,325,641
2084 5,771,610 18,274,394
2083 5,785,324 18,218,709
2082 5,798,037 18,163,177
2081 5,809,262 18,104,285
2080 5,821,598 18,039,008
2079 5,836,731 17,975,778
2078 5,851,937 17,908,670
2077 5,867,627 17,840,781
2076 5,883,876 17,771,791
2075 5,900,200 17,699,428
2074 5,917,659 17,625,044
2073 5,934,975 17,548,128
2072 5,952,211 17,466,649
2071 5,969,279 17,381,598
2070 5,986,770 17,295,105
2069 6,003,570 17,205,503
2068 6,019,937 17,112,154
2067 6,035,810 17,015,090
2066 6,051,604 16,915,436
2065 6,066,791 16,812,946
2064 6,081,606 16,708,669
2063 6,094,455 16,604,296
2062 6,106,325 16,497,292
2061 6,118,587 16,386,905
2060 6,131,482 16,270,535
2059 6,143,979 16,152,614
2058 6,153,447 16,032,684
2057 6,161,059 15,909,649
2056 6,164,047 15,784,519
2055 6,168,611 15,656,542
2054 6,169,455 15,523,143
2053 6,169,673 15,389,244
2052 6,167,591 15,250,715
2051 6,164,894 15,110,389
2050 6,159,756 14,968,530
2049 6,151,623 14,821,865
2048 6,140,272 14,673,459
2047 6,128,245 14,522,926
2046 6,115,454 14,370,120
2045 6,099,562 14,213,585
2044 6,081,384 14,056,036
2043 6,062,477 13,897,765
2042 6,041,683 13,738,690
2041 6,017,573 13,577,382
2040 5,992,311 13,413,396
2039 5,967,604 13,247,486
2038 5,940,474 13,079,352
2037 5,912,327 12,909,735
2036 5,884,159 12,738,223
2035 5,855,902 12,566,543
2034 5,825,178 12,392,476
2033 5,792,751 12,218,246
2032 5,757,842 12,042,345
2031 5,721,671 11,865,316
2030 5,684,420 11,685,599
2029 5,644,008 11,504,890
2028 5,600,083 11,322,573
2027 5,553,725 11,138,409
2026 5,505,248 10,952,454
2025 5,452,752 10,765,048
2024 5,395,790 10,576,502
2023 5,311,538 10,389,635
2022 5,212,836 10,203,169
2021 5,110,585 10,012,896
2020 5,039,747 9,815,746
2019 4,976,456 9,609,010
2018 4,898,022 9,394,513
2017 4,827,445 9,178,714
2016 4,762,722 8,961,718
2015 4,701,957 8,743,246
2014 4,657,740 8,523,441
2013 4,623,816 8,302,698
2012 4,599,533 8,081,390
2011 4,580,084 7,859,346
2010 4,560,155 7,633,523
2009 4,535,375 7,406,438
2008 4,489,544 7,183,002
2007 4,398,942 6,963,345
2006 4,273,591 6,747,720
2005 4,159,914 6,535,905
2004 4,070,262 6,328,041
2003 3,996,521 6,123,997
2002 3,931,947 5,924,003
2001 3,866,243 5,728,435
2000 3,805,174 5,537,064
1999 3,754,786 5,349,333
1998 3,712,696 5,166,390
1997 3,674,171 4,987,883
1996 3,637,510 4,813,361
1995 3,608,841 4,644,278
1994 3,590,386 4,480,208
1993 3,576,261 4,320,872
1992 3,558,430 4,166,699
1991 3,534,235 4,021,837
1990 3,513,974 3,896,481
1989 3,511,009 3,796,078
1988 3,524,949 3,711,880
1987 3,540,057 3,632,543
1986 3,539,690 3,554,793
1985 3,538,082 3,478,936
1984 3,532,423 3,405,198
1983 3,510,600 3,333,633
1982 3,485,800 3,264,291
1981 3,453,000 3,197,019
1980 3,412,800 3,131,512
1979 3,373,750 3,067,341
1978 3,329,100 3,003,714
1977 3,282,200 2,940,327
1976 3,238,050 2,877,327
1975 3,189,550 2,814,820
1974 3,137,500 2,752,671
1973 3,085,950 2,690,629
1972 3,036,850 2,628,432
1971 2,992,050 2,566,421
1970 2,957,250 2,505,628
1969 2,932,650 2,446,927
1968 2,915,550 2,390,803
1967 2,902,450 2,337,532
1966 2,888,800 2,285,774
1965 2,877,300 2,235,820
1964 2,866,550 2,188,325
1963 2,852,650 2,141,376
1962 2,836,050 2,093,919
1961 2,824,400 2,046,127
1960 2,828,600 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.44% 0.06%
2099 -0.43% 0.07%
2098 -0.42% 0.09%
2097 -0.41% 0.11%
2096 -0.37% 0.13%
2095 -0.36% 0.14%
2094 -0.35% 0.16%
2093 -0.34% 0.17%
2092 -0.33% 0.19%
2091 -0.33% 0.22%
2090 -0.31% 0.21%
2089 -0.29% 0.23%
2088 -0.27% 0.24%
2087 -0.24% 0.26%
2086 -0.25% 0.28%
2085 -0.24% 0.28%
2084 -0.24% 0.31%
2083 -0.22% 0.31%
2082 -0.19% 0.33%
2081 -0.21% 0.36%
2080 -0.26% 0.35%
2079 -0.26% 0.37%
2078 -0.27% 0.38%
2077 -0.28% 0.39%
2076 -0.28% 0.41%
2075 -0.3% 0.42%
2074 -0.29% 0.44%
2073 -0.29% 0.47%
2072 -0.29% 0.49%
2071 -0.29% 0.5%
2070 -0.28% 0.52%
2069 -0.27% 0.55%
2068 -0.26% 0.57%
2067 -0.26% 0.59%
2066 -0.25% 0.61%
2065 -0.24% 0.62%
2064 -0.21% 0.63%
2063 -0.19% 0.65%
2062 -0.2% 0.67%
2061 -0.21% 0.72%
2060 -0.2% 0.73%
2059 -0.15% 0.75%
2058 -0.12% 0.77%
2057 -0.05% 0.79%
2056 -0.07% 0.82%
2055 -0.01% 0.86%
2054 -0.004% 0.87%
2053 0.03% 0.91%
2052 0.04% 0.93%
2051 0.08% 0.95%
2050 0.13% 0.99%
2049 0.18% 1.01%
2048 0.2% 1.04%
2047 0.21% 1.06%
2046 0.26% 1.1%
2045 0.3% 1.12%
2044 0.31% 1.14%
2043 0.34% 1.16%
2042 0.4% 1.19%
2041 0.42% 1.22%
2040 0.41% 1.25%
2039 0.46% 1.29%
2038 0.48% 1.31%
2037 0.48% 1.35%
2036 0.48% 1.37%
2035 0.53% 1.4%
2034 0.56% 1.43%
2033 0.61% 1.46%
2032 0.63% 1.49%
2031 0.66% 1.54%
2030 0.72% 1.57%
2029 0.78% 1.61%
2028 0.83% 1.65%
2027 0.88% 1.7%
2026 0.96% 1.74%
2025 1.06% 1.78%
2024 1.59% 1.8%
2023 1.89% 1.83%
2022 2% 1.9%
2021 1.41% 2.01%
2020 1.27% 2.15%
2019 1.6% 2.28%
2018 1.46% 2.35%
2017 1.36% 2.42%
2016 1.29% 2.5%
2015 0.95% 2.58%
2014 0.73% 2.66%
2013 0.53% 2.74%
2012 0.42% 2.83%
2011 0.44% 2.96%
2010 0.55% 3.07%
2009 1.02% 3.11%
2008 2.06% 3.15%
2007 2.93% 3.2%
2006 2.73% 3.24%
2005 2.2% 3.28%
2004 1.85% 3.33%
2003 1.64% 3.38%
2002 1.7% 3.41%
2001 1.6% 3.46%
2000 1.34% 3.51%
1999 1.13% 3.54%
1998 1.05% 3.58%
1997 1.01% 3.63%
1996 0.79% 3.64%
1995 0.51% 3.66%
1994 0.39% 3.69%
1993 0.5% 3.7%
1992 0.68% 3.6%
1991 0.58% 3.22%
1990 0.08% 2.64%
1989 -0.4% 2.27%
1988 -0.43% 2.18%
1987 0.01% 2.19%
1986 0.05% 2.18%
1985 0.16% 2.17%
1984 0.62% 2.15%
1983 0.71% 2.12%
1982 0.95% 2.1%
1981 1.18% 2.09%
1980 1.16% 2.09%
1979 1.34% 2.12%
1978 1.43% 2.16%
1977 1.36% 2.19%
1976 1.52% 2.22%
1975 1.66% 2.26%
1974 1.67% 2.31%
1973 1.62% 2.37%
1972 1.5% 2.42%
1971 1.18% 2.43%
1970 0.84% 2.4%
1969 0.59% 2.35%
1968 0.45% 2.28%
1967 0.47% 2.26%
1966 0.4% 2.23%
1965 0.38% 2.17%
1964 0.49% 2.19%
1963 0.59% 2.27%
1962 0.41% 2.34%
1961 -0.15% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Ireland Papua New Guinea
Current population
5518360
11002753
Population rank 121/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +512
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 59/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change +35,417 -284
Net migration rank 27/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -284
2024 - 39,059 - -707
2023 19,652 43,873 187,637 -787
2022 19,287 93,535 186,861 -787
2021 26,064 27,419 183,766 10,703
2020 23,687 15,746 189,130 10,703
2019 28,365 29,663 190,662 22,978
2018 29,878 33,387 190,662 24,684
2017 31,379 28,883 189,715 26,513
2016 33,339 18,967 189,281 28,473
2015 35,265 13,376 188,600 30,580
2014 37,728 448 187,592 32,840
2013 39,302 -12,309 185,790 35,280
2012 42,775 -22,411 183,658 37,893
2011 45,801 -26,529 181,842 40,690
2010 47,426 -26,974 178,998 50,106
2009 47,168 -18,524 175,421 49,647
2008 46,691 18,979 172,823 48,985
2007 43,109 76,465 169,306 48,203
2006 36,752 94,513 166,540 47,191
2005 33,279 63,983 163,888 46,014
2004 33,376 49,102 161,023 44,811
2003 32,372 32,220 158,611 43,639
2002 31,062 34,286 155,091 42,657
2001 27,837 39,220 151,431 41,962
2000 23,592 31,298 147,496 41,855
1999 21,402 23,592 143,592 42,519
1998 22,277 16,615 136,677 43,091
1997 21,311 17,425 134,458 42,787
1996 18,915 9,959 129,802 41,994
1995 16,601 10,019 125,410 40,962
1994 17,234 -3,118 122,113 39,669
1993 17,166 -3,762 118,668 38,220
1992 20,283 1,335 114,818 36,622
1991 21,206 4,944 111,453 26,830
1990 21,787 -8,203 110,033 2,398
1989 20,012 -28,752 108,199 -19,824
1988 22,912 -44,020 106,256 -26,232
1987 26,904 -38,426 104,367 -25,720
1986 27,963 -21,139 102,346 -25,495
1985 29,013 -16,178 100,333 -25,470
1984 31,791 -15,549 98,103 -25,487
1983 34,053 -15,043 95,982 -25,465
1982 38,344 -14,464 93,522 -25,355
1981 39,364 -10,834 91,767 -25,383
1980 40,612 -2,876 90,266 -25,638
1979 38,798 1,486 89,330 -25,618
1978 36,288 15,543 88,747 -25,208
1977 35,448 14,505 87,954 -24,722
1976 33,676 14,200 86,965 -24,198
1975 34,128 13,828 85,809 -23,562
1974 34,199 13,482 84,829 -22,771
1973 34,562 13,164 83,821 -21,803
1972 34,316 12,858 82,672 -20,303
1971 35,606 5,851 80,599 -18,945
1970 30,756 -8,892 78,712 -18,773
1969 29,326 -10,250 76,454 -18,994
1968 27,697 -11,132 73,983 -19,188
1967 29,895 -11,708 71,519 -19,767
1966 26,866 -11,858 69,206 -17,454
1965 30,500 -14,016 66,693 -18,532
1964 31,532 -15,640 64,558 -17,730
1963 29,667 -16,615 62,260 -15,189
1962 28,077 -17,438 59,974 -12,141
1961 25,137 -22,237 58,151 -10,409
1960 28,286 -38,492 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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