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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 3.41 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Ireland vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Romania
2100 5,468,791 10,801,385
2099 5,493,162 10,885,505
2098 5,516,999 10,969,050
2097 5,540,157 11,052,086
2096 5,562,811 11,134,776
2095 5,583,505 11,217,462
2094 5,603,538 11,299,298
2093 5,623,266 11,382,352
2092 5,642,437 11,464,817
2091 5,661,268 11,546,872
2090 5,680,076 11,630,335
2089 5,697,512 11,713,468
2088 5,714,108 11,796,733
2087 5,729,431 11,880,373
2086 5,743,405 11,966,550
2085 5,757,666 12,052,744
2084 5,771,610 12,140,454
2083 5,785,324 12,229,714
2082 5,798,037 12,319,480
2081 5,809,262 12,412,385
2080 5,821,598 12,507,333
2079 5,836,731 12,603,302
2078 5,851,937 12,700,870
2077 5,867,627 12,799,985
2076 5,883,876 12,900,610
2075 5,900,200 13,002,848
2074 5,917,659 13,107,513
2073 5,934,975 13,213,407
2072 5,952,211 13,323,211
2071 5,969,279 13,435,661
2070 5,986,770 13,550,449
2069 6,003,570 13,667,892
2068 6,019,937 13,786,771
2067 6,035,810 13,909,141
2066 6,051,604 14,034,214
2065 6,066,791 14,163,381
2064 6,081,606 14,293,294
2063 6,094,455 14,424,068
2062 6,106,325 14,557,025
2061 6,118,587 14,689,897
2060 6,131,482 14,821,441
2059 6,143,979 14,952,855
2058 6,153,447 15,082,857
2057 6,161,059 15,211,914
2056 6,164,047 15,340,213
2055 6,168,611 15,467,019
2054 6,169,455 15,590,545
2053 6,169,673 15,712,155
2052 6,167,591 15,834,374
2051 6,164,894 15,954,507
2050 6,159,756 16,073,070
2049 6,151,623 16,192,498
2048 6,140,272 16,311,535
2047 6,128,245 16,430,565
2046 6,115,454 16,547,661
2045 6,099,562 16,665,026
2044 6,081,384 16,783,383
2043 6,062,477 16,900,955
2042 6,041,683 17,018,000
2041 6,017,573 17,136,818
2040 5,992,311 17,253,674
2039 5,967,604 17,370,310
2038 5,940,474 17,488,193
2037 5,912,327 17,604,853
2036 5,884,159 17,721,511
2035 5,855,902 17,837,396
2034 5,825,178 17,950,976
2033 5,792,751 18,064,449
2032 5,757,842 18,176,399
2031 5,721,671 18,288,437
2030 5,684,420 18,399,699
2029 5,644,008 18,511,331
2028 5,600,083 18,621,197
2027 5,553,725 18,730,482
2026 5,505,248 18,839,108
2025 5,452,752 18,946,392
2024 5,395,790 19,051,804
2023 5,311,538 19,061,062
2022 5,212,836 19,048,502
2021 5,110,585 19,122,059
2020 5,039,747 19,265,250
2019 4,976,456 19,371,648
2018 4,898,022 19,473,970
2017 4,827,445 19,588,715
2016 4,762,722 19,702,267
2015 4,701,957 19,815,616
2014 4,657,740 19,908,979
2013 4,623,816 19,983,693
2012 4,599,533 20,058,035
2011 4,580,084 20,147,528
2010 4,560,155 20,246,871
2009 4,535,375 20,367,487
2008 4,489,544 20,537,875
2007 4,398,942 20,882,982
2006 4,273,591 21,193,760
2005 4,159,914 21,319,685
2004 4,070,262 21,451,748
2003 3,996,521 21,574,326
2002 3,931,947 21,730,496
2001 3,866,243 22,131,970
2000 3,805,174 22,442,971
1999 3,754,786 22,472,040
1998 3,712,696 22,507,344
1997 3,674,171 22,553,978
1996 3,637,510 22,619,004
1995 3,608,841 22,684,270
1994 3,590,386 22,730,211
1993 3,576,261 22,763,280
1992 3,558,430 22,794,284
1991 3,534,235 23,001,155
1990 3,513,974 23,201,835
1989 3,511,009 23,161,458
1988 3,524,949 23,057,662
1987 3,540,057 22,949,430
1986 3,539,690 22,836,841
1985 3,538,082 22,732,999
1984 3,532,423 22,640,547
1983 3,510,600 22,560,478
1982 3,485,800 22,475,741
1981 3,453,000 22,353,070
1980 3,412,800 22,207,282
1979 3,373,750 22,090,488
1978 3,329,100 21,951,464
1977 3,282,200 21,756,096
1976 3,238,050 21,551,634
1975 3,189,550 21,293,583
1974 3,137,500 21,029,429
1973 3,085,950 20,835,681
1972 3,036,850 20,657,957
1971 2,992,050 20,461,567
1970 2,957,250 20,250,398
1969 2,932,650 20,009,141
1968 2,915,550 19,799,831
1967 2,902,450 19,534,242
1966 2,888,800 19,215,450
1965 2,877,300 19,031,576
1964 2,866,550 18,919,126
1963 2,852,650 18,797,850
1962 2,836,050 18,676,550
1961 2,824,400 18,555,250
1960 2,828,600 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Romania's population already peaked in 1990 at 23.2M people and is projected to decrease to 10.8M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Romania
2100 -0.44% -0.77%
2099 -0.43% -0.76%
2098 -0.42% -0.75%
2097 -0.41% -0.74%
2096 -0.37% -0.74%
2095 -0.36% -0.72%
2094 -0.35% -0.73%
2093 -0.34% -0.72%
2092 -0.33% -0.71%
2091 -0.33% -0.72%
2090 -0.31% -0.71%
2089 -0.29% -0.71%
2088 -0.27% -0.7%
2087 -0.24% -0.72%
2086 -0.25% -0.72%
2085 -0.24% -0.72%
2084 -0.24% -0.73%
2083 -0.22% -0.73%
2082 -0.19% -0.75%
2081 -0.21% -0.76%
2080 -0.26% -0.76%
2079 -0.26% -0.77%
2078 -0.27% -0.77%
2077 -0.28% -0.78%
2076 -0.28% -0.79%
2075 -0.3% -0.8%
2074 -0.29% -0.8%
2073 -0.29% -0.82%
2072 -0.29% -0.84%
2071 -0.29% -0.85%
2070 -0.28% -0.86%
2069 -0.27% -0.86%
2068 -0.26% -0.88%
2067 -0.26% -0.89%
2066 -0.25% -0.91%
2065 -0.24% -0.91%
2064 -0.21% -0.91%
2063 -0.19% -0.91%
2062 -0.2% -0.9%
2061 -0.21% -0.89%
2060 -0.2% -0.88%
2059 -0.15% -0.86%
2058 -0.12% -0.85%
2057 -0.05% -0.84%
2056 -0.07% -0.82%
2055 -0.01% -0.79%
2054 -0.004% -0.77%
2053 0.03% -0.77%
2052 0.04% -0.75%
2051 0.08% -0.74%
2050 0.13% -0.74%
2049 0.18% -0.73%
2048 0.2% -0.72%
2047 0.21% -0.71%
2046 0.26% -0.7%
2045 0.3% -0.71%
2044 0.31% -0.7%
2043 0.34% -0.69%
2042 0.4% -0.69%
2041 0.42% -0.68%
2040 0.41% -0.67%
2039 0.46% -0.67%
2038 0.48% -0.66%
2037 0.48% -0.66%
2036 0.48% -0.65%
2035 0.53% -0.63%
2034 0.56% -0.63%
2033 0.61% -0.62%
2032 0.63% -0.61%
2031 0.66% -0.6%
2030 0.72% -0.6%
2029 0.78% -0.59%
2028 0.83% -0.58%
2027 0.88% -0.58%
2026 0.96% -0.57%
2025 1.06% -0.55%
2024 1.59% -0.05%
2023 1.89% 0.07%
2022 2% -0.38%
2021 1.41% -0.74%
2020 1.27% -0.55%
2019 1.6% -0.53%
2018 1.46% -0.59%
2017 1.36% -0.58%
2016 1.29% -0.57%
2015 0.95% -0.47%
2014 0.73% -0.37%
2013 0.53% -0.37%
2012 0.42% -0.44%
2011 0.44% -0.49%
2010 0.55% -0.59%
2009 1.02% -0.83%
2008 2.06% -1.65%
2007 2.93% -1.47%
2006 2.73% -0.59%
2005 2.2% -0.62%
2004 1.85% -0.57%
2003 1.64% -0.72%
2002 1.7% -1.81%
2001 1.6% -1.39%
2000 1.34% -0.13%
1999 1.13% -0.16%
1998 1.05% -0.21%
1997 1.01% -0.29%
1996 0.79% -0.29%
1995 0.51% -0.2%
1994 0.39% -0.15%
1993 0.5% -0.14%
1992 0.68% -0.9%
1991 0.58% -0.86%
1990 0.08% 0.17%
1989 -0.4% 0.45%
1988 -0.43% 0.47%
1987 0.01% 0.49%
1986 0.05% 0.46%
1985 0.16% 0.41%
1984 0.62% 0.35%
1983 0.71% 0.38%
1982 0.95% 0.55%
1981 1.18% 0.66%
1980 1.16% 0.53%
1979 1.34% 0.63%
1978 1.43% 0.9%
1977 1.36% 0.95%
1976 1.52% 1.21%
1975 1.66% 1.26%
1974 1.67% 0.93%
1973 1.62% 0.86%
1972 1.5% 0.96%
1971 1.18% 1.04%
1970 0.84% 1.21%
1969 0.59% 1.06%
1968 0.45% 1.36%
1967 0.47% 1.66%
1966 0.4% 0.97%
1965 0.38% 0.59%
1964 0.49% 0.65%
1963 0.59% 0.65%
1962 0.41% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Ireland Romania
Current population
5518360
18839108
Population rank 121/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.23%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 -25
Annual growth/decline +84,252 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 169/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -29,041
Net migration rank 27/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -29,041
2024 - 39,059 - -28,466
2023 19,652 43,873 -89,587 -27,780
2022 19,287 93,535 -93,338 89,076
2021 26,064 27,419 -141,504 -17,731
2020 23,687 15,746 -100,179 -13,202
2019 28,365 29,663 -60,053 -27,909
2018 29,878 33,387 -62,316 -33,018
2017 31,379 28,883 -50,930 -33,081
2016 33,339 18,967 -53,196 -33,073
2015 35,265 13,376 -59,447 -35,751
2014 37,728 448 -55,745 -35,448
2013 39,302 -12,309 -59,951 -34,910
2012 42,775 -22,411 -54,157 -37,589
2011 45,801 -26,529 -56,413 -102,769
2010 47,426 -26,974 -46,567 -122,364
2009 47,168 -18,524 -34,625 -137,953
2008 46,691 18,979 -30,806 -144,368
2007 43,109 76,465 -37,590 -133,089
2006 36,752 94,513 -38,148 -132,777
2005 33,279 63,983 -40,508 -131,176
2004 33,376 49,102 -42,904 -117,432
2003 32,372 32,220 -56,093 -107,139
2002 31,062 34,286 -58,673 -106,585
2001 27,837 39,220 -37,625 -91,154
2000 23,592 31,298 -22,443 -92,451
1999 21,402 23,592 -31,461 -82,590
1998 22,277 16,615 -33,761 -81,366
1997 21,311 17,425 -42,853 -88,734
1996 18,915 9,959 -56,548 -70,799
1995 16,601 10,019 -36,295 -73,779
1994 17,234 -3,118 -18,184 -76,246
1993 17,166 -3,762 -13,658 -73,475
1992 20,283 1,335 -4,559 -63,200
1991 21,206 4,944 25,301 -36,824
1990 21,787 -8,203 69,605 -38,157
1989 20,012 -28,752 122,756 -33,866
1988 22,912 -44,020 126,817 -48,911
1987 26,904 -38,426 128,517 -42,868
1986 27,963 -21,139 134,737 -50,450
1985 29,013 -16,178 111,392 -28,108
1984 31,791 -15,549 117,731 -24,629
1983 34,053 -15,043 87,986 3,093
1982 38,344 -14,464 119,121 -4,725
1981 39,364 -10,834 156,472 -20,870
1980 40,612 -2,876 168,776 -16,668
1979 38,798 1,486 194,397 -29,600
1978 36,288 15,543 204,148 -31,427
1977 35,448 14,505 215,385 -28,135
1976 33,676 14,200 213,361 18,748
1975 34,128 13,828 219,324 9,125
1974 34,199 13,482 235,530 6,725
1973 34,562 13,164 175,020 58,651
1972 34,316 12,858 198,316 61,920
1971 35,606 5,851 206,662 74,473
1970 30,756 -8,892 234,905 71,919
1969 29,326 -10,250 264,120 74,851
1968 27,697 -11,132 338,577 33,601
1967 29,895 -11,708 347,709 37,282
1966 26,866 -11,858 115,293 -25,458
1965 30,500 -14,016 114,190 -60,430
1964 31,532 -15,640 134,326 -59,500
1963 29,667 -16,615 139,104 -58,076
1962 28,077 -17,438 130,736 -56,152
1961 25,137 -22,237 163,286 -54,642
1960 28,286 -38,492 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | 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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