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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.71 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Ireland vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Rwanda
2100 5,500,499 33,113,283
2099 5,525,011 33,008,545
2098 5,548,986 32,927,982
2097 5,572,279 32,853,307
2096 5,595,064 32,768,037
2095 5,615,877 32,635,508
2094 5,636,027 32,550,001
2093 5,655,870 32,416,870
2092 5,675,151 32,294,333
2091 5,694,092 32,191,262
2090 5,713,009 32,088,747
2089 5,730,546 31,892,591
2088 5,747,238 31,746,789
2087 5,762,650 31,553,150
2086 5,776,705 31,399,004
2085 5,791,049 31,254,597
2084 5,805,074 31,112,448
2083 5,818,867 30,937,106
2082 5,831,653 30,752,861
2081 5,842,944 30,576,992
2080 5,855,351 30,386,351
2079 5,870,572 30,195,560
2078 5,885,866 30,016,688
2077 5,901,647 29,819,259
2076 5,917,991 29,645,610
2075 5,934,408 29,441,964
2074 5,951,970 29,243,980
2073 5,969,385 29,025,977
2072 5,986,721 28,798,822
2071 6,003,888 28,578,302
2070 6,021,481 28,334,300
2069 6,038,378 28,121,174
2068 6,054,840 27,872,383
2067 6,070,805 27,609,059
2066 6,086,691 27,372,823
2065 6,101,966 27,101,698
2064 6,116,867 26,838,144
2063 6,129,790 26,559,838
2062 6,141,729 26,312,631
2061 6,154,062 26,001,660
2060 6,167,032 25,729,037
2059 6,179,602 25,453,407
2058 6,189,124 25,121,995
2057 6,196,781 24,853,512
2056 6,199,786 24,582,198
2055 6,204,376 24,281,895
2054 6,205,225 23,991,958
2053 6,205,444 23,705,290
2052 6,203,350 23,421,032
2051 6,200,637 23,113,700
2050 6,195,469 22,814,556
2049 6,187,289 22,498,806
2048 6,175,872 22,171,841
2047 6,163,776 21,848,486
2046 6,150,911 21,554,082
2045 6,134,927 21,228,573
2044 6,116,643 20,915,810
2043 6,097,627 20,548,490
2042 6,076,713 20,214,283
2041 6,052,462 19,845,021
2040 6,027,054 19,475,227
2039 6,002,204 19,108,842
2038 5,974,917 18,773,398
2037 5,946,606 18,433,422
2036 5,918,275 18,128,058
2035 5,889,854 17,765,049
2034 5,858,952 17,432,165
2033 5,826,337 17,100,072
2032 5,791,225 16,822,053
2031 5,754,845 16,495,903
2030 5,717,377 16,178,061
2029 5,676,731 15,868,812
2028 5,632,552 15,554,713
2027 5,585,925 15,217,275
2026 5,537,167 14,898,118
2025 5,484,367 14,569,341
2024 5,395,790 14,256,567
2023 5,311,538 13,954,471
2022 5,212,836 13,651,030
2021 5,110,585 13,355,260
2020 5,039,747 13,065,837
2019 4,976,456 12,776,103
2018 4,898,022 12,487,996
2017 4,827,445 12,202,060
2016 4,762,722 11,919,183
2015 4,701,957 11,640,022
2014 4,657,740 11,364,757
2013 4,623,816 11,093,340
2012 4,599,533 10,829,901
2011 4,580,084 10,573,733
2010 4,560,155 10,317,553
2009 4,535,375 10,060,432
2008 4,489,544 9,804,269
2007 4,398,942 9,549,933
2006 4,273,591 9,299,246
2005 4,159,914 9,054,528
2004 4,070,262 8,816,844
2003 3,996,521 8,586,875
2002 3,931,947 8,400,180
2001 3,866,243 8,287,094
2000 3,805,174 8,213,931
1999 3,754,786 8,147,912
1998 3,712,696 8,081,681
1997 3,674,171 7,755,238
1996 3,637,510 6,708,764
1995 3,608,841 5,674,118
1994 3,590,386 6,792,352
1993 3,576,261 7,981,132
1992 3,558,430 7,683,266
1991 3,534,235 7,526,966
1990 3,513,974 7,375,307
1989 3,511,009 7,184,706
1988 3,524,949 6,968,071
1987 3,540,057 6,749,493
1986 3,539,690 6,531,881
1985 3,538,082 6,317,228
1984 3,532,423 6,107,627
1983 3,510,600 5,905,311
1982 3,485,800 5,711,549
1981 3,453,000 5,527,230
1980 3,412,800 5,353,259
1979 3,373,750 5,189,541
1978 3,329,100 5,035,171
1977 3,282,200 4,888,240
1976 3,238,050 4,745,954
1975 3,189,550 4,607,728
1974 3,137,500 4,474,228
1973 3,085,950 4,345,047
1972 3,036,850 4,220,335
1971 2,992,050 4,100,044
1970 2,957,250 3,980,669
1969 2,932,650 3,861,271
1968 2,915,550 3,744,010
1967 2,902,450 3,629,577
1966 2,888,800 3,521,626
1965 2,877,300 3,423,210
1964 2,866,550 3,334,834
1963 2,852,650 3,258,890
1962 2,836,050 3,186,025
1961 2,824,400 3,106,779
1960 2,828,600 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Rwanda
2100 -0.44% 0.32%
2099 -0.43% 0.24%
2098 -0.42% 0.23%
2097 -0.41% 0.26%
2096 -0.37% 0.41%
2095 -0.36% 0.26%
2094 -0.35% 0.41%
2093 -0.34% 0.38%
2092 -0.33% 0.32%
2091 -0.33% 0.32%
2090 -0.31% 0.62%
2089 -0.29% 0.46%
2088 -0.27% 0.61%
2087 -0.24% 0.49%
2086 -0.25% 0.46%
2085 -0.24% 0.46%
2084 -0.24% 0.57%
2083 -0.22% 0.6%
2082 -0.19% 0.58%
2081 -0.21% 0.63%
2080 -0.26% 0.63%
2079 -0.26% 0.6%
2078 -0.27% 0.66%
2077 -0.28% 0.59%
2076 -0.28% 0.69%
2075 -0.3% 0.68%
2074 -0.29% 0.75%
2073 -0.29% 0.79%
2072 -0.29% 0.77%
2071 -0.29% 0.86%
2070 -0.28% 0.76%
2069 -0.27% 0.89%
2068 -0.26% 0.95%
2067 -0.26% 0.86%
2066 -0.25% 1%
2065 -0.24% 0.98%
2064 -0.21% 1.05%
2063 -0.19% 0.94%
2062 -0.2% 1.2%
2061 -0.21% 1.06%
2060 -0.2% 1.08%
2059 -0.15% 1.32%
2058 -0.12% 1.08%
2057 -0.05% 1.1%
2056 -0.07% 1.24%
2055 -0.01% 1.21%
2054 -0.004% 1.21%
2053 0.03% 1.21%
2052 0.04% 1.33%
2051 0.08% 1.31%
2050 0.13% 1.4%
2049 0.18% 1.47%
2048 0.2% 1.48%
2047 0.21% 1.37%
2046 0.26% 1.53%
2045 0.3% 1.5%
2044 0.31% 1.79%
2043 0.34% 1.65%
2042 0.4% 1.86%
2041 0.42% 1.9%
2040 0.41% 1.92%
2039 0.46% 1.79%
2038 0.48% 1.84%
2037 0.48% 1.68%
2036 0.48% 2.04%
2035 0.53% 1.91%
2034 0.56% 1.94%
2033 0.61% 1.65%
2032 0.63% 1.98%
2031 0.66% 1.96%
2030 0.72% 1.95%
2029 0.78% 2.02%
2028 0.83% 2.22%
2027 0.88% 2.14%
2026 0.96% 2.26%
2025 1.64% 2.19%
2024 1.59% 2.16%
2023 1.89% 2.22%
2022 2% 2.21%
2021 1.41% 2.22%
2020 1.27% 2.27%
2019 1.6% 2.31%
2018 1.46% 2.34%
2017 1.36% 2.37%
2016 1.29% 2.4%
2015 0.95% 2.42%
2014 0.73% 2.45%
2013 0.53% 2.43%
2012 0.42% 2.42%
2011 0.44% 2.48%
2010 0.55% 2.56%
2009 1.02% 2.61%
2008 2.06% 2.66%
2007 2.93% 2.7%
2006 2.73% 2.7%
2005 2.2% 2.7%
2004 1.85% 2.68%
2003 1.64% 2.22%
2002 1.7% 1.36%
2001 1.6% 0.89%
2000 1.34% 0.81%
1999 1.13% 0.82%
1998 1.05% 4.21%
1997 1.01% 15.6%
1996 0.79% 18.2%
1995 0.51% -16.5%
1994 0.39% -14.9%
1993 0.5% 3.88%
1992 0.68% 2.08%
1991 0.58% 2.06%
1990 0.08% 2.65%
1989 -0.4% 3.11%
1988 -0.43% 3.24%
1987 0.01% 3.33%
1986 0.05% 3.4%
1985 0.16% 3.43%
1984 0.62% 3.43%
1983 0.71% 3.39%
1982 0.95% 3.33%
1981 1.18% 3.25%
1980 1.16% 3.15%
1979 1.34% 3.07%
1978 1.43% 3.01%
1977 1.36% 3%
1976 1.52% 3%
1975 1.66% 2.98%
1974 1.67% 2.97%
1973 1.62% 2.96%
1972 1.5% 2.93%
1971 1.18% 3%
1970 0.84% 3.09%
1969 0.59% 3.13%
1968 0.45% 3.15%
1967 0.47% 3.07%
1966 0.4% 2.87%
1965 0.38% 2.65%
1964 0.49% 2.33%
1963 0.59% 2.29%
1962 0.41% 2.55%
1961 -0.15% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Ireland Rwanda
Current population
5562212
15062056
Population rank 122/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
1.69 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +857
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 40/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 +6,282
Net migration rank 27/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 6,282
2024 18,885 39,059 316,025 -15,582
2023 19,652 43,873 312,762 -9,001
2022 19,287 93,535 312,145 -9,001
2021 26,064 27,419 309,895 -21,492
2020 23,687 15,746 312,692 -22,251
2019 28,365 29,663 313,525 -24,492
2018 29,878 33,387 312,512 -25,323
2017 31,379 28,883 310,323 -25,634
2016 33,339 18,967 305,549 -24,474
2015 35,265 13,376 299,114 -21,862
2014 37,728 448 292,779 -19,505
2013 39,302 -12,309 286,331 -16,779
2012 42,775 -22,411 282,584 -25,260
2011 45,801 -26,529 282,922 -27,915
2010 47,426 -26,974 286,848 -29,501
2009 47,168 -18,524 287,034 -30,128
2008 46,691 18,979 287,334 -31,913
2007 43,109 76,465 285,791 -32,537
2006 36,752 94,513 282,149 -34,008
2005 33,279 63,983 275,121 -33,830
2004 33,376 49,102 265,273 -31,214
2003 32,372 32,220 251,243 -25,355
2002 31,062 34,286 239,036 -91,518
2001 27,837 39,220 230,845 -152,197
2000 23,592 31,298 221,276 -153,588
1999 21,402 23,592 210,518 -146,162
1998 22,277 16,615 197,185 -129,089
1997 21,311 17,425 174,687 410,106
1996 18,915 9,959 140,455 1,367,700
1995 16,601 10,019 121,137 439,995
1994 17,234 -3,118 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 17,166 -3,762 183,926 236,110
1992 20,283 1,335 188,025 -12,334
1991 21,206 4,944 196,431 -59,519
1990 21,787 -8,203 207,895 -41,483
1989 20,012 -28,752 217,632 -2,826
1988 22,912 -44,020 223,759 -5,285
1987 26,904 -38,426 225,744 -7,062
1986 27,963 -21,139 225,526 -8,982
1985 29,013 -16,178 223,794 -11,031
1984 31,791 -15,549 219,337 -12,899
1983 34,053 -15,043 212,750 -14,560
1982 38,344 -14,464 205,147 -15,818
1981 39,364 -10,834 195,769 -16,453
1980 40,612 -2,876 184,988 -16,359
1979 38,798 1,486 174,477 -15,669
1978 36,288 15,543 163,779 -13,838
1977 35,448 14,505 155,011 -11,084
1976 33,676 14,200 147,665 -7,027
1975 34,128 13,828 140,596 -4,791
1974 34,199 13,482 135,743 -4,535
1973 34,562 13,164 131,021 -3,862
1972 34,316 12,858 126,403 -4,156
1971 35,606 5,851 122,567 -4,230
1970 30,756 -8,892 119,273 1,149
1969 29,326 -10,250 115,394 2,983
1968 27,697 -11,132 111,422 4,728
1967 29,895 -11,708 108,053 4,655
1966 26,866 -11,858 105,128 -1,930
1965 30,500 -14,016 103,422 -9,774
1964 31,532 -15,640 102,562 -19,458
1963 29,667 -16,615 94,296 -25,524
1962 28,077 -17,438 102,548 -25,594
1961 25,137 -22,237 102,051 -20,508
1960 28,286 -38,492 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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