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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.71 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st 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 +1.41% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Ireland vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Rwanda
2100 5,468,791 33,092,520
2099 5,493,162 32,987,847
2098 5,516,999 32,907,335
2097 5,540,157 32,832,706
2096 5,562,811 32,747,490
2095 5,583,505 32,615,044
2094 5,603,538 32,529,590
2093 5,623,266 32,396,544
2092 5,642,437 32,274,083
2091 5,661,268 32,171,077
2090 5,680,076 32,068,626
2089 5,697,512 31,872,593
2088 5,714,108 31,726,882
2087 5,729,431 31,533,364
2086 5,743,405 31,379,315
2085 5,757,666 31,235,000
2084 5,771,610 31,092,940
2083 5,785,324 30,917,707
2082 5,798,037 30,733,578
2081 5,809,262 30,557,819
2080 5,821,598 30,367,298
2079 5,836,731 30,176,627
2078 5,851,937 29,997,866
2077 5,867,627 29,800,561
2076 5,883,876 29,627,021
2075 5,900,200 29,423,503
2074 5,917,659 29,225,643
2073 5,934,975 29,007,777
2072 5,952,211 28,780,763
2071 5,969,279 28,560,382
2070 5,986,770 28,316,533
2069 6,003,570 28,103,541
2068 6,019,937 27,854,906
2067 6,035,810 27,591,747
2066 6,051,604 27,355,659
2065 6,066,791 27,084,704
2064 6,081,606 26,821,315
2063 6,094,455 26,543,184
2062 6,106,325 26,296,132
2061 6,118,587 25,985,356
2060 6,131,482 25,712,904
2059 6,143,979 25,437,446
2058 6,153,447 25,106,242
2057 6,161,059 24,837,928
2056 6,164,047 24,566,784
2055 6,168,611 24,266,669
2054 6,169,455 23,976,914
2053 6,169,673 23,690,426
2052 6,167,591 23,406,346
2051 6,164,894 23,099,207
2050 6,159,756 22,800,250
2049 6,151,623 22,484,698
2048 6,140,272 22,157,938
2047 6,128,245 21,834,786
2046 6,115,454 21,540,566
2045 6,099,562 21,215,262
2044 6,081,384 20,902,695
2043 6,062,477 20,535,605
2042 6,041,683 20,201,608
2041 6,017,573 19,832,577
2040 5,992,311 19,463,015
2039 5,967,604 19,096,860
2038 5,940,474 18,761,626
2037 5,912,327 18,421,864
2036 5,884,159 18,116,691
2035 5,855,902 17,753,910
2034 5,825,178 17,421,234
2033 5,792,751 17,089,349
2032 5,757,842 16,811,505
2031 5,721,671 16,485,559
2030 5,684,420 16,167,916
2029 5,644,008 15,858,862
2028 5,600,083 15,544,959
2027 5,553,725 15,207,733
2026 5,505,248 14,888,776
2025 5,452,752 14,560,205
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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 1.06% 2.13%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Ireland Rwanda
Current population
5518360
14975051
Population rank 121/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.18%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +828
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 45/197
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 - 39,059 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 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 (1960–2024, 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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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