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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 6.49 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st 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 +1.41% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

Ireland vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Poland
2100 5,468,791 18,350,017
2099 5,493,162 18,541,227
2098 5,516,999 18,733,999
2097 5,540,157 18,928,169
2096 5,562,811 19,125,003
2095 5,583,505 19,323,203
2094 5,603,538 19,525,085
2093 5,623,266 19,730,030
2092 5,642,437 19,938,529
2091 5,661,268 20,151,135
2090 5,680,076 20,368,308
2089 5,697,512 20,589,970
2088 5,714,108 20,817,398
2087 5,729,431 21,050,137
2086 5,743,405 21,288,179
2085 5,757,666 21,531,674
2084 5,771,610 21,780,998
2083 5,785,324 22,036,816
2082 5,798,037 22,298,479
2081 5,809,262 22,565,373
2080 5,821,598 22,836,875
2079 5,836,731 23,113,773
2078 5,851,937 23,393,434
2077 5,867,627 23,679,569
2076 5,883,876 23,968,050
2075 5,900,200 24,259,763
2074 5,917,659 24,554,480
2073 5,934,975 24,852,006
2072 5,952,211 25,149,886
2071 5,969,279 25,447,869
2070 5,986,770 25,745,140
2069 6,003,570 26,042,079
2068 6,019,937 26,337,963
2067 6,035,810 26,632,110
2066 6,051,604 26,923,643
2065 6,066,791 27,211,946
2064 6,081,606 27,497,263
2063 6,094,455 27,778,871
2062 6,106,325 28,055,433
2061 6,118,587 28,328,948
2060 6,131,482 28,597,687
2059 6,143,979 28,864,377
2058 6,153,447 29,125,961
2057 6,161,059 29,384,759
2056 6,164,047 29,641,101
2055 6,168,611 29,893,868
2054 6,169,455 30,142,942
2053 6,169,673 30,389,214
2052 6,167,591 30,630,763
2051 6,164,894 30,871,146
2050 6,159,756 31,107,894
2049 6,151,623 31,341,718
2048 6,140,272 31,572,273
2047 6,128,245 31,800,868
2046 6,115,454 32,026,873
2045 6,099,562 32,250,757
2044 6,081,384 32,471,522
2043 6,062,477 32,690,423
2042 6,041,683 32,906,811
2041 6,017,573 33,118,473
2040 5,992,311 33,328,426
2039 5,967,604 33,535,096
2038 5,940,474 33,738,091
2037 5,912,327 33,936,906
2036 5,884,159 34,133,190
2035 5,855,902 34,323,827
2034 5,825,178 34,511,159
2033 5,792,751 34,693,880
2032 5,757,842 34,872,593
2031 5,721,671 35,046,775
2030 5,684,420 35,213,577
2029 5,644,008 35,374,919
2028 5,600,083 35,527,083
2027 5,553,725 35,671,012
2026 5,505,248 35,806,942
2025 5,452,752 36,233,346
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Poland's population already peaked in 1998 at 38.7M people and is projected to decrease to 18.4M 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 1.06% -0.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/poland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

Ireland Poland
Current population
5518360
35806942
Population rank 121/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.43%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
4.1 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 -351
Annual growth/decline +84,252 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 181/197
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 - 39,059 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 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 (1960–2024, 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/poland | 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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