Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.93 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Ireland vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Portugal
2100 5,468,791 8,977,781
2099 5,493,162 8,983,042
2098 5,516,999 8,987,129
2097 5,540,157 8,992,549
2096 5,562,811 8,998,689
2095 5,583,505 9,006,394
2094 5,603,538 9,011,158
2093 5,623,266 9,016,023
2092 5,642,437 9,021,257
2091 5,661,268 9,025,345
2090 5,680,076 9,029,722
2089 5,697,512 9,034,399
2088 5,714,108 9,039,122
2087 5,729,431 9,045,400
2086 5,743,405 9,050,153
2085 5,757,666 9,055,552
2084 5,771,610 9,062,369
2083 5,785,324 9,068,714
2082 5,798,037 9,077,003
2081 5,809,262 9,087,394
2080 5,821,598 9,098,423
2079 5,836,731 9,111,057
2078 5,851,937 9,125,056
2077 5,867,627 9,140,039
2076 5,883,876 9,158,661
2075 5,900,200 9,178,289
2074 5,917,659 9,201,245
2073 5,934,975 9,225,478
2072 5,952,211 9,248,867
2071 5,969,279 9,275,782
2070 5,986,770 9,304,137
2069 6,003,570 9,334,425
2068 6,019,937 9,367,211
2067 6,035,810 9,399,389
2066 6,051,604 9,432,609
2065 6,066,791 9,466,860
2064 6,081,606 9,503,941
2063 6,094,455 9,540,829
2062 6,106,325 9,578,098
2061 6,118,587 9,614,549
2060 6,131,482 9,652,893
2059 6,143,979 9,691,151
2058 6,153,447 9,731,557
2057 6,161,059 9,769,285
2056 6,164,047 9,807,403
2055 6,168,611 9,847,280
2054 6,169,455 9,885,446
2053 6,169,673 9,924,814
2052 6,167,591 9,963,090
2051 6,164,894 9,999,372
2050 6,159,756 10,035,796
2049 6,151,623 10,072,922
2048 6,140,272 10,106,403
2047 6,128,245 10,140,325
2046 6,115,454 10,173,871
2045 6,099,562 10,206,046
2044 6,081,384 10,237,224
2043 6,062,477 10,268,090
2042 6,041,683 10,296,167
2041 6,017,573 10,322,968
2040 5,992,311 10,351,965
2039 5,967,604 10,379,824
2038 5,940,474 10,405,843
2037 5,912,327 10,430,143
2036 5,884,159 10,454,779
2035 5,855,902 10,478,501
2034 5,825,178 10,502,828
2033 5,792,751 10,525,638
2032 5,757,842 10,548,736
2031 5,721,671 10,569,489
2030 5,684,420 10,588,717
2029 5,644,008 10,609,556
2028 5,600,083 10,631,437
2027 5,553,725 10,649,916
2026 5,505,248 10,667,081
2025 5,452,752 10,683,692
2024 5,395,790 10,694,681
2023 5,311,538 10,578,174
2022 5,212,836 10,434,332
2021 5,110,585 10,361,831
2020 5,039,747 10,297,081
2019 4,976,456 10,286,263
2018 4,898,022 10,283,822
2017 4,827,445 10,300,300
2016 4,762,722 10,325,452
2015 4,701,957 10,358,076
2014 4,657,740 10,401,062
2013 4,623,816 10,457,295
2012 4,599,533 10,514,844
2011 4,580,084 10,557,560
2010 4,560,155 10,573,100
2009 4,535,375 10,568,247
2008 4,489,544 10,558,177
2007 4,398,942 10,542,964
2006 4,273,591 10,522,288
2005 4,159,914 10,503,330
2004 4,070,262 10,483,861
2003 3,996,521 10,458,821
2002 3,931,947 10,419,631
2001 3,866,243 10,362,722
2000 3,805,174 10,289,898
1999 3,754,786 10,217,828
1998 3,712,696 10,160,196
1997 3,674,171 10,108,977
1996 3,637,510 10,063,945
1995 3,608,841 10,026,176
1994 3,590,386 9,991,525
1993 3,576,261 9,964,675
1992 3,558,430 9,952,494
1991 3,534,235 9,960,235
1990 3,513,974 9,983,218
1989 3,511,009 10,005,000
1988 3,524,949 10,019,610
1987 3,540,057 10,030,031
1986 3,539,690 10,032,734
1985 3,538,082 10,023,613
1984 3,532,423 9,996,232
1983 3,510,600 9,957,865
1982 3,485,800 9,911,771
1981 3,453,000 9,851,362
1980 3,412,800 9,766,312
1979 3,373,750 9,661,265
1978 3,329,100 9,558,250
1977 3,282,200 9,455,675
1976 3,238,050 9,355,810
1975 3,189,550 9,093,470
1974 3,137,500 8,754,365
1973 3,085,950 8,633,100
1972 3,036,850 8,630,430
1971 2,992,050 8,643,756
1970 2,957,250 8,680,431
1969 2,932,650 8,757,705
1968 2,915,550 8,836,650
1967 2,902,450 8,874,520
1966 2,888,800 8,930,990
1965 2,877,300 8,998,595
1964 2,866,550 9,035,365
1963 2,852,650 9,030,355
1962 2,836,050 8,993,985
1961 2,824,400 8,929,316
1960 2,828,600 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Portugal
2100 -0.44% -0.06%
2099 -0.43% -0.05%
2098 -0.42% -0.06%
2097 -0.41% -0.07%
2096 -0.37% -0.09%
2095 -0.36% -0.05%
2094 -0.35% -0.05%
2093 -0.34% -0.06%
2092 -0.33% -0.05%
2091 -0.33% -0.05%
2090 -0.31% -0.05%
2089 -0.29% -0.05%
2088 -0.27% -0.07%
2087 -0.24% -0.05%
2086 -0.25% -0.06%
2085 -0.24% -0.08%
2084 -0.24% -0.07%
2083 -0.22% -0.09%
2082 -0.19% -0.11%
2081 -0.21% -0.12%
2080 -0.26% -0.14%
2079 -0.26% -0.15%
2078 -0.27% -0.16%
2077 -0.28% -0.2%
2076 -0.28% -0.21%
2075 -0.3% -0.25%
2074 -0.29% -0.26%
2073 -0.29% -0.25%
2072 -0.29% -0.29%
2071 -0.29% -0.3%
2070 -0.28% -0.32%
2069 -0.27% -0.35%
2068 -0.26% -0.34%
2067 -0.26% -0.35%
2066 -0.25% -0.36%
2065 -0.24% -0.39%
2064 -0.21% -0.39%
2063 -0.19% -0.39%
2062 -0.2% -0.38%
2061 -0.21% -0.4%
2060 -0.2% -0.39%
2059 -0.15% -0.42%
2058 -0.12% -0.39%
2057 -0.05% -0.39%
2056 -0.07% -0.4%
2055 -0.01% -0.39%
2054 -0.004% -0.4%
2053 0.03% -0.38%
2052 0.04% -0.36%
2051 0.08% -0.36%
2050 0.13% -0.37%
2049 0.18% -0.33%
2048 0.2% -0.33%
2047 0.21% -0.33%
2046 0.26% -0.32%
2045 0.3% -0.3%
2044 0.31% -0.3%
2043 0.34% -0.27%
2042 0.4% -0.26%
2041 0.42% -0.28%
2040 0.41% -0.27%
2039 0.46% -0.25%
2038 0.48% -0.23%
2037 0.48% -0.24%
2036 0.48% -0.23%
2035 0.53% -0.23%
2034 0.56% -0.22%
2033 0.61% -0.22%
2032 0.63% -0.2%
2031 0.66% -0.18%
2030 0.72% -0.2%
2029 0.78% -0.21%
2028 0.83% -0.17%
2027 0.88% -0.16%
2026 0.96% -0.16%
2025 1.06% -0.1%
2024 1.59% 1.1%
2023 1.89% 1.38%
2022 2% 0.7%
2021 1.41% 0.63%
2020 1.27% 0.11%
2019 1.6% 0.02%
2018 1.46% -0.16%
2017 1.36% -0.24%
2016 1.29% -0.31%
2015 0.95% -0.41%
2014 0.73% -0.54%
2013 0.53% -0.55%
2012 0.42% -0.4%
2011 0.44% -0.15%
2010 0.55% 0.05%
2009 1.02% 0.1%
2008 2.06% 0.14%
2007 2.93% 0.2%
2006 2.73% 0.18%
2005 2.2% 0.19%
2004 1.85% 0.24%
2003 1.64% 0.38%
2002 1.7% 0.55%
2001 1.6% 0.71%
2000 1.34% 0.71%
1999 1.13% 0.57%
1998 1.05% 0.51%
1997 1.01% 0.45%
1996 0.79% 0.38%
1995 0.51% 0.35%
1994 0.39% 0.27%
1993 0.5% 0.12%
1992 0.68% -0.08%
1991 0.58% -0.23%
1990 0.08% -0.22%
1989 -0.4% -0.15%
1988 -0.43% -0.1%
1987 0.01% -0.03%
1986 0.05% 0.09%
1985 0.16% 0.27%
1984 0.62% 0.39%
1983 0.71% 0.47%
1982 0.95% 0.61%
1981 1.18% 0.87%
1980 1.16% 1.09%
1979 1.34% 1.08%
1978 1.43% 1.08%
1977 1.36% 1.07%
1976 1.52% 2.88%
1975 1.66% 3.87%
1974 1.67% 1.4%
1973 1.62% 0.03%
1972 1.5% -0.15%
1971 1.18% -0.42%
1970 0.84% -0.88%
1969 0.59% -0.89%
1968 0.45% -0.43%
1967 0.47% -0.63%
1966 0.4% -0.75%
1965 0.38% -0.41%
1964 0.49% 0.06%
1963 0.59% 0.4%
1962 0.41% 0.72%
1961 -0.15% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Ireland Portugal
Current population
5518360
10667081
Population rank 121/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +319
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 94/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +16,472
Net migration rank 27/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 16,472
2024 - 39,059 - 20,648
2023 19,652 43,873 -32,792 29,102
2022 19,287 93,535 -40,694 68,696
2021 26,064 27,419 -45,592 69,606
2020 23,687 15,746 -39,129 54,076
2019 28,365 29,663 -24,687 63,031
2018 29,878 33,387 -25,709 22,495
2017 31,379 28,883 -23,691 13,979
2016 33,339 18,967 -23,749 -775
2015 35,265 13,376 -23,823 -3,209
2014 37,728 448 -22,882 -26,447
2013 39,302 -12,309 -24,052 -36,342
2012 42,775 -22,411 -17,875 -37,083
2011 45,801 -26,529 -5,279 -31,513
2010 47,426 -26,974 -4,230 -5,627
2009 47,168 -18,524 -5,284 14,532
2008 46,691 18,979 0 9,478
2007 43,109 76,465 -1,055 21,064
2006 36,752 94,513 3,156 16,754
2005 33,279 63,983 2,101 15,537
2004 33,376 49,102 7,339 13,928
2003 32,372 32,220 4,184 24,740
2002 31,062 34,286 8,335 42,169
2001 27,837 39,220 8,290 55,565
2000 23,592 31,298 15,435 60,586
1999 21,402 23,592 8,175 49,572
1998 22,277 16,615 7,112 40,931
1997 21,311 17,425 8,087 36,922
1996 18,915 9,959 4,026 32,640
1995 16,601 10,019 4,011 26,971
1994 17,234 -3,118 9,991 20,761
1993 17,166 -3,762 7,972 8,561
1992 20,283 1,335 13,933 -11,847
1991 21,206 4,944 12,948 -37,914
1990 21,787 -8,203 13,976 -34,855
1989 20,012 -28,752 22,011 -30,615
1988 22,912 -44,020 24,047 -26,595
1987 26,904 -38,426 28,084 -23,142
1986 27,963 -21,139 31,102 -20,000
1985 29,013 -16,178 33,077 -19,183
1984 31,791 -15,549 45,983 -16,658
1983 34,053 -15,043 47,798 -16,568
1982 38,344 -14,464 58,479 -15,006
1981 39,364 -10,834 56,152 -7,938
1980 40,612 -2,876 63,481 29,881
1979 38,798 1,486 67,628 32,434
1978 36,288 15,543 70,731 34,345
1977 35,448 14,505 84,156 37,779
1976 33,676 14,200 85,138 40,490
1975 34,128 13,828 81,841 42,262
1974 34,199 13,482 74,412 41,254
1973 34,562 13,164 76,835 39,748
1972 34,316 12,858 83,715 39,058
1971 35,606 5,851 82,980 48,944
1970 30,756 -8,892 87,672 -191,862
1969 29,326 -10,250 89,329 -161,114
1968 27,697 -11,132 100,737 -145,200
1967 29,895 -11,708 106,495 -136,232
1966 26,866 -11,858 107,171 -129,233
1965 30,500 -14,016 115,182 -123,855
1964 31,532 -15,640 120,170 -118,763
1963 29,667 -16,615 113,783 -116,874
1962 28,077 -17,438 123,217 -113,947
1961 25,137 -22,237 117,867 -112,768
1960 28,286 -38,492 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.