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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 36,007,074 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 6.47 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

Ireland vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Poland
2100 5,500,499 18,452,579
2099 5,525,011 18,644,857
2098 5,548,986 18,838,707
2097 5,572,279 19,033,962
2096 5,595,064 19,231,896
2095 5,615,877 19,431,204
2094 5,636,027 19,634,214
2093 5,655,870 19,840,304
2092 5,675,151 20,049,969
2091 5,694,092 20,263,764
2090 5,713,009 20,482,150
2089 5,730,546 20,705,051
2088 5,747,238 20,933,750
2087 5,762,650 21,167,790
2086 5,776,705 21,407,163
2085 5,791,049 21,652,018
2084 5,805,074 21,902,736
2083 5,818,867 22,159,983
2082 5,831,653 22,423,109
2081 5,842,944 22,691,495
2080 5,855,351 22,964,515
2079 5,870,572 23,242,960
2078 5,885,866 23,524,184
2077 5,901,647 23,811,918
2076 5,917,991 24,102,012
2075 5,934,408 24,395,355
2074 5,951,970 24,691,719
2073 5,969,385 24,990,908
2072 5,986,721 25,290,453
2071 6,003,888 25,590,102
2070 6,021,481 25,889,034
2069 6,038,378 26,187,633
2068 6,054,840 26,485,171
2067 6,070,805 26,780,961
2066 6,086,691 27,074,124
2065 6,101,966 27,364,039
2064 6,116,867 27,650,950
2063 6,129,790 27,934,132
2062 6,141,729 28,212,240
2061 6,154,062 28,487,283
2060 6,167,032 28,757,525
2059 6,179,602 29,025,705
2058 6,189,124 29,288,751
2057 6,196,781 29,548,996
2056 6,199,786 29,806,770
2055 6,204,376 30,060,951
2054 6,205,225 30,311,416
2053 6,205,444 30,559,065
2052 6,203,350 30,801,964
2051 6,200,637 31,043,690
2050 6,195,469 31,281,762
2049 6,187,289 31,516,893
2048 6,175,872 31,748,736
2047 6,163,776 31,978,608
2046 6,150,911 32,205,877
2045 6,134,927 32,431,013
2044 6,116,643 32,653,012
2043 6,097,627 32,873,136
2042 6,076,713 33,090,733
2041 6,052,462 33,303,578
2040 6,027,054 33,514,705
2039 6,002,204 33,722,530
2038 5,974,917 33,926,660
2037 5,946,606 34,126,585
2036 5,918,275 34,323,967
2035 5,889,854 34,515,669
2034 5,858,952 34,704,048
2033 5,826,337 34,887,791
2032 5,791,225 35,067,502
2031 5,754,845 35,242,658
2030 5,717,377 35,410,392
2029 5,676,731 35,572,635
2028 5,632,552 35,725,650
2027 5,585,925 35,870,384
2026 5,537,167 36,007,074
2025 5,484,367 36,435,861
2024 5,395,790 36,559,233
2023 5,311,538 36,687,353
2022 5,212,836 36,821,749
2021 5,110,585 36,981,559
2020 5,039,747 37,515,748
2019 4,976,456 37,965,475
2018 4,898,022 37,974,750
2017 4,827,445 37,974,826
2016 4,762,722 37,970,087
2015 4,701,957 37,986,412
2014 4,657,740 38,011,735
2013 4,623,816 38,040,196
2012 4,599,533 38,063,164
2011 4,580,084 38,063,255
2010 4,560,155 38,042,794
2009 4,535,375 38,151,603
2008 4,489,544 38,125,759
2007 4,398,942 38,120,560
2006 4,273,591 38,141,267
2005 4,159,914 38,165,445
2004 4,070,262 38,182,222
2003 3,996,521 38,204,570
2002 3,931,947 38,230,364
2001 3,866,243 38,248,076
2000 3,805,174 38,258,629
1999 3,754,786 38,660,271
1998 3,712,696 38,663,481
1997 3,674,171 38,649,660
1996 3,637,510 38,624,370
1995 3,608,841 38,594,998
1994 3,590,386 38,542,652
1993 3,576,261 38,461,408
1992 3,558,430 38,363,667
1991 3,534,235 38,246,193
1990 3,513,974 38,110,782
1989 3,511,009 37,961,529
1988 3,524,949 37,824,487
1987 3,540,057 37,668,045
1986 3,539,690 37,456,119
1985 3,538,082 37,201,885
1984 3,532,423 36,904,134
1983 3,510,600 36,571,808
1982 3,485,800 36,230,481
1981 3,453,000 35,898,587
1980 3,412,800 35,574,150
1979 3,373,750 35,247,217
1978 3,329,100 34,965,600
1977 3,282,200 34,689,050
1976 3,238,050 34,356,300
1975 3,189,550 34,015,199
1974 3,137,500 33,678,899
1973 3,085,950 33,357,200
1972 3,036,850 33,055,650
1971 2,992,050 32,783,500
1970 2,957,250 32,664,300
1969 2,932,650 32,548,300
1968 2,915,550 32,294,655
1967 2,902,450 31,987,155
1966 2,888,800 31,681,000
1965 2,877,300 31,444,950
1964 2,866,550 31,139,450
1963 2,852,650 30,712,000
1962 2,836,050 30,308,500
1961 2,824,400 29,964,000
1960 2,828,600 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.5M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Poland
2100 -0.44% -1.03%
2099 -0.43% -1.03%
2098 -0.42% -1.03%
2097 -0.41% -1.03%
2096 -0.37% -1.03%
2095 -0.36% -1.03%
2094 -0.35% -1.04%
2093 -0.34% -1.05%
2092 -0.33% -1.06%
2091 -0.33% -1.07%
2090 -0.31% -1.08%
2089 -0.29% -1.09%
2088 -0.27% -1.11%
2087 -0.24% -1.12%
2086 -0.25% -1.13%
2085 -0.24% -1.14%
2084 -0.24% -1.16%
2083 -0.22% -1.17%
2082 -0.19% -1.18%
2081 -0.21% -1.19%
2080 -0.26% -1.2%
2079 -0.26% -1.2%
2078 -0.27% -1.21%
2077 -0.28% -1.2%
2076 -0.28% -1.2%
2075 -0.3% -1.2%
2074 -0.29% -1.2%
2073 -0.29% -1.18%
2072 -0.29% -1.17%
2071 -0.29% -1.15%
2070 -0.28% -1.14%
2069 -0.27% -1.12%
2068 -0.26% -1.1%
2067 -0.26% -1.08%
2066 -0.25% -1.06%
2065 -0.24% -1.04%
2064 -0.21% -1.01%
2063 -0.19% -0.99%
2062 -0.2% -0.97%
2061 -0.21% -0.94%
2060 -0.2% -0.92%
2059 -0.15% -0.9%
2058 -0.12% -0.88%
2057 -0.05% -0.86%
2056 -0.07% -0.85%
2055 -0.01% -0.83%
2054 -0.004% -0.81%
2053 0.03% -0.79%
2052 0.04% -0.78%
2051 0.08% -0.76%
2050 0.13% -0.75%
2049 0.18% -0.73%
2048 0.2% -0.72%
2047 0.21% -0.71%
2046 0.26% -0.69%
2045 0.3% -0.68%
2044 0.31% -0.67%
2043 0.34% -0.66%
2042 0.4% -0.64%
2041 0.42% -0.63%
2040 0.41% -0.62%
2039 0.46% -0.6%
2038 0.48% -0.59%
2037 0.48% -0.58%
2036 0.48% -0.56%
2035 0.53% -0.54%
2034 0.56% -0.53%
2033 0.61% -0.51%
2032 0.63% -0.5%
2031 0.66% -0.47%
2030 0.72% -0.46%
2029 0.78% -0.43%
2028 0.83% -0.4%
2027 0.88% -0.38%
2026 0.96% -1.18%
2025 1.64% -0.34%
2024 1.59% -0.35%
2023 1.89% -0.36%
2022 2% -0.43%
2021 1.41% -1.42%
2020 1.27% -1.18%
2019 1.6% -0.02%
2018 1.46% -0%
2017 1.36% 0.01%
2016 1.29% -0.04%
2015 0.95% -0.07%
2014 0.73% -0.07%
2013 0.53% -0.06%
2012 0.42% -0%
2011 0.44% 0.05%
2010 0.55% -0.29%
2009 1.02% 0.07%
2008 2.06% 0.01%
2007 2.93% -0.05%
2006 2.73% -0.06%
2005 2.2% -0.04%
2004 1.85% -0.06%
2003 1.64% -0.07%
2002 1.7% -0.05%
2001 1.6% -0.03%
2000 1.34% -1.04%
1999 1.13% -0.008%
1998 1.05% 0.04%
1997 1.01% 0.07%
1996 0.79% 0.08%
1995 0.51% 0.14%
1994 0.39% 0.21%
1993 0.5% 0.25%
1992 0.68% 0.31%
1991 0.58% 0.36%
1990 0.08% 0.39%
1989 -0.4% 0.36%
1988 -0.43% 0.42%
1987 0.01% 0.57%
1986 0.05% 0.68%
1985 0.16% 0.81%
1984 0.62% 0.91%
1983 0.71% 0.94%
1982 0.95% 0.92%
1981 1.18% 0.91%
1980 1.16% 0.93%
1979 1.34% 0.81%
1978 1.43% 0.8%
1977 1.36% 0.97%
1976 1.52% 1%
1975 1.66% 1%
1974 1.67% 0.96%
1973 1.62% 0.91%
1972 1.5% 0.83%
1971 1.18% 0.36%
1970 0.84% 0.36%
1969 0.59% 0.79%
1968 0.45% 0.96%
1967 0.47% 0.97%
1966 0.4% 0.75%
1965 0.38% 0.98%
1964 0.49% 1.39%
1963 0.59% 1.33%
1962 0.41% 1.15%
1961 -0.15% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Ireland Poland
Current population
5562212
36007074
Population rank 122/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.43%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
4.27 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 -338
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 179/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -330,820
Net migration rank 27/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -330,820
2024 18,885 39,059 -157,205 -238,062
2023 19,652 43,873 -135,743 -7,824
2022 19,287 93,535 -143,605 967,744
2021 26,064 27,419 -184,907 2,251
2020 23,687 15,746 -120,050 3,920
2019 28,365 29,663 -34,169 7,696
2018 29,878 33,387 -26,582 -223
2017 31,379 28,883 0 -21,535
2016 33,339 18,967 -3,797 -5,675
2015 35,265 13,376 -26,590 3,887
2014 37,728 448 0 5,525
2013 39,302 -12,309 -19,020 12,402
2012 42,775 -22,411 0 4,635
2011 45,801 -26,529 11,419 45,951
2010 47,426 -26,974 38,043 119,623
2009 47,168 -18,524 30,521 -8,283
2008 46,691 18,979 34,313 -42,288
2007 43,109 76,465 11,436 -51,235
2006 36,752 94,513 3,814 -68,882
2005 33,279 63,983 -3,817 -41,942
2004 33,376 49,102 -7,637 -38,216
2003 32,372 32,220 -15,281 -19,039
2002 31,062 34,286 -3,823 -16,462
2001 27,837 39,220 3,825 -16,648
2000 23,592 31,298 11,478 -15,921
1999 21,402 23,592 0 -53,035
1998 22,277 16,615 19,332 -39,509
1997 21,311 17,425 34,785 -44,230
1996 18,915 9,959 42,487 -45,349
1995 16,601 10,019 46,314 -52,989
1994 17,234 -3,118 96,357 -41,845
1993 17,166 -3,762 103,846 -48,805
1992 20,283 1,335 118,928 -46,893
1991 21,206 4,944 141,511 -55,342
1990 21,787 -8,203 160,066 -50,339
1989 20,012 -28,752 182,215 -49,192
1988 22,912 -44,020 215,599 -101,671
1987 26,904 -38,426 226,008 -32,310
1986 27,963 -21,139 258,448 -22,520
1985 29,013 -16,178 297,615 -27,277
1984 31,791 -15,549 332,137 -18,402
1983 34,053 -15,043 373,032 -26,724
1982 38,344 -14,464 369,551 -34,980
1981 39,364 -10,834 351,806 -16,155
1980 40,612 -2,876 348,627 -42,420
1979 38,798 1,486 366,571 -22,162
1978 36,288 15,543 339,166 -62,936
1977 35,448 14,505 353,828 -33,496
1976 33,676 14,200 367,612 -25,716
1975 34,128 13,828 350,356 -31,346
1974 34,199 13,482 346,893 -18,273
1973 34,562 13,164 320,229 -29,335
1972 34,316 12,858 314,028 -15,004
1971 35,606 5,851 278,660 -31,767
1970 30,756 -8,892 280,913 -66,859
1969 29,326 -10,250 270,151 -26,744
1968 27,697 -11,132 280,963 -11,905
1967 29,895 -11,708 275,089 -25,479
1966 26,866 -11,858 297,801 -17,158
1965 30,500 -14,016 314,450 -21,658
1964 31,532 -15,640 326,965 -23,273
1963 29,667 -16,615 359,330 -13,770
1962 28,077 -17,438 360,671 -31,021
1961 25,137 -22,237 398,521 -20,044
1960 28,286 -38,492 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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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