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Population in Ireland compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 6.66 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Ireland vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2100 5,468,791 74,230,118
2099 5,493,162 73,760,045
2098 5,516,999 73,287,526
2097 5,540,157 72,813,125
2096 5,562,811 72,336,039
2095 5,583,505 71,858,206
2094 5,603,538 71,379,928
2093 5,623,266 70,900,460
2092 5,642,437 70,420,464
2091 5,661,268 69,940,749
2090 5,680,076 69,462,214
2089 5,697,512 68,985,976
2088 5,714,108 68,510,277
2087 5,729,431 68,035,545
2086 5,743,405 67,562,521
2085 5,757,666 67,091,615
2084 5,771,610 66,621,667
2083 5,785,324 66,152,653
2082 5,798,037 65,684,321
2081 5,809,262 65,216,102
2080 5,821,598 64,749,128
2079 5,836,731 64,282,393
2078 5,851,937 63,815,918
2077 5,867,627 63,348,712
2076 5,883,876 62,880,120
2075 5,900,200 62,409,793
2074 5,917,659 61,937,628
2073 5,934,975 61,462,662
2072 5,952,211 60,984,202
2071 5,969,279 60,502,791
2070 5,986,770 60,018,216
2069 6,003,570 59,529,456
2068 6,019,937 59,036,086
2067 6,035,810 58,539,487
2066 6,051,604 58,039,687
2065 6,066,791 57,537,106
2064 6,081,606 57,032,172
2063 6,094,455 56,524,331
2062 6,106,325 56,014,549
2061 6,118,587 55,501,467
2060 6,131,482 54,986,901
2059 6,143,979 54,469,809
2058 6,153,447 53,950,469
2057 6,161,059 53,430,639
2056 6,164,047 52,909,061
2055 6,168,611 52,386,571
2054 6,169,455 51,862,312
2053 6,169,673 51,336,335
2052 6,167,591 50,809,100
2051 6,164,894 50,280,719
2050 6,159,756 49,751,739
2049 6,151,623 49,221,828
2048 6,140,272 48,690,143
2047 6,128,245 48,157,605
2046 6,115,454 47,623,246
2045 6,099,562 47,087,215
2044 6,081,384 46,550,306
2043 6,062,477 46,013,232
2042 6,041,683 45,475,200
2041 6,017,573 44,936,131
2040 5,992,311 44,396,093
2039 5,967,604 43,856,006
2038 5,940,474 43,314,707
2037 5,912,327 42,773,375
2036 5,884,159 42,231,639
2035 5,855,902 41,690,245
2034 5,825,178 41,150,029
2033 5,792,751 40,611,021
2032 5,757,842 40,073,144
2031 5,721,671 39,535,357
2030 5,684,420 38,998,581
2029 5,644,008 38,417,447
2028 5,600,083 37,810,902
2027 5,553,725 37,189,969
2026 5,505,248 36,566,201
2025 5,452,752 35,932,673
2024 5,395,790 35,300,280
2023 5,311,538 33,702,731
2022 5,212,836 32,175,224
2021 5,110,585 30,784,383
2020 5,039,747 31,552,510
2019 4,976,456 30,063,799
2018 4,898,022 30,196,281
2017 4,827,445 30,977,355
2016 4,762,722 30,954,198
2015 4,701,957 29,816,382
2014 4,657,740 28,309,273
2013 4,623,816 27,624,004
2012 4,599,533 26,168,861
2011 4,580,084 25,091,867
2010 4,560,155 23,978,487
2009 4,535,375 24,217,654
2008 4,489,544 23,287,877
2007 4,398,942 22,368,313
2006 4,273,591 21,459,144
2005 4,159,914 20,559,890
2004 4,070,262 19,669,480
2003 3,996,521 18,786,767
2002 3,931,947 17,910,910
2001 3,866,243 17,041,397
2000 3,805,174 16,177,722
1999 3,754,786 15,472,075
1998 3,712,696 14,922,185
1997 3,674,171 14,374,943
1996 3,637,510 13,831,009
1995 3,608,841 13,289,245
1994 3,590,386 12,750,040
1993 3,576,261 12,215,862
1992 3,558,430 11,686,676
1991 3,534,235 11,160,744
1990 3,513,974 10,640,691
1989 3,511,009 10,128,394
1988 3,524,949 9,629,165
1987 3,540,057 9,130,194
1986 3,539,690 8,628,639
1985 3,538,082 8,151,779
1984 3,532,423 7,697,307
1983 3,510,600 7,252,941
1982 3,485,800 6,824,486
1981 3,453,000 6,420,551
1980 3,412,800 6,047,997
1979 3,373,750 5,703,698
1978 3,329,100 5,381,902
1977 3,282,200 5,083,048
1976 3,238,050 4,807,933
1975 3,189,550 4,556,287
1974 3,137,500 4,323,632
1973 3,085,950 4,106,344
1972 3,036,850 3,905,722
1971 2,992,050 3,724,031
1970 2,957,250 3,562,470
1969 2,932,650 3,417,114
1968 2,915,550 3,282,711
1967 2,902,450 3,157,242
1966 2,888,800 3,039,887
1965 2,877,300 2,928,771
1964 2,866,550 2,821,968
1963 2,852,650 2,719,341
1962 2,836,050 2,620,910
1961 2,824,400 2,526,347
1960 2,828,600 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.44% 0.64%
2099 -0.43% 0.64%
2098 -0.42% 0.65%
2097 -0.41% 0.66%
2096 -0.37% 0.66%
2095 -0.36% 0.67%
2094 -0.35% 0.68%
2093 -0.34% 0.68%
2092 -0.33% 0.69%
2091 -0.33% 0.69%
2090 -0.31% 0.69%
2089 -0.29% 0.69%
2088 -0.27% 0.7%
2087 -0.24% 0.7%
2086 -0.25% 0.7%
2085 -0.24% 0.71%
2084 -0.24% 0.71%
2083 -0.22% 0.71%
2082 -0.19% 0.72%
2081 -0.21% 0.72%
2080 -0.26% 0.73%
2079 -0.26% 0.73%
2078 -0.27% 0.74%
2077 -0.28% 0.75%
2076 -0.28% 0.75%
2075 -0.3% 0.76%
2074 -0.29% 0.77%
2073 -0.29% 0.78%
2072 -0.29% 0.8%
2071 -0.29% 0.81%
2070 -0.28% 0.82%
2069 -0.27% 0.84%
2068 -0.26% 0.85%
2067 -0.26% 0.86%
2066 -0.25% 0.87%
2065 -0.24% 0.89%
2064 -0.21% 0.9%
2063 -0.19% 0.91%
2062 -0.2% 0.92%
2061 -0.21% 0.94%
2060 -0.2% 0.95%
2059 -0.15% 0.96%
2058 -0.12% 0.97%
2057 -0.05% 0.99%
2056 -0.07% 1%
2055 -0.01% 1.01%
2054 -0.004% 1.02%
2053 0.03% 1.04%
2052 0.04% 1.05%
2051 0.08% 1.06%
2050 0.13% 1.08%
2049 0.18% 1.09%
2048 0.2% 1.11%
2047 0.21% 1.12%
2046 0.26% 1.14%
2045 0.3% 1.15%
2044 0.31% 1.17%
2043 0.34% 1.18%
2042 0.4% 1.2%
2041 0.42% 1.22%
2040 0.41% 1.23%
2039 0.46% 1.25%
2038 0.48% 1.27%
2037 0.48% 1.28%
2036 0.48% 1.3%
2035 0.53% 1.31%
2034 0.56% 1.33%
2033 0.61% 1.34%
2032 0.63% 1.36%
2031 0.66% 1.38%
2030 0.72% 1.51%
2029 0.78% 1.6%
2028 0.83% 1.67%
2027 0.88% 1.71%
2026 0.96% 1.76%
2025 1.06% 1.79%
2024 1.59% 4.74%
2023 1.89% 4.75%
2022 2% 4.52%
2021 1.41% -2.43%
2020 1.27% 4.95%
2019 1.6% -0.44%
2018 1.46% -2.52%
2017 1.36% 0.07%
2016 1.29% 3.82%
2015 0.95% 5.32%
2014 0.73% 2.48%
2013 0.53% 5.56%
2012 0.42% 4.29%
2011 0.44% 4.64%
2010 0.55% -0.99%
2009 1.02% 3.99%
2008 2.06% 4.11%
2007 2.93% 4.24%
2006 2.73% 4.37%
2005 2.2% 4.53%
2004 1.85% 4.7%
2003 1.64% 4.89%
2002 1.7% 5.1%
2001 1.6% 5.34%
2000 1.34% 4.56%
1999 1.13% 3.69%
1998 1.05% 3.81%
1997 1.01% 3.93%
1996 0.79% 4.08%
1995 0.51% 4.23%
1994 0.39% 4.37%
1993 0.5% 4.53%
1992 0.68% 4.71%
1991 0.58% 4.89%
1990 0.08% 5.06%
1989 -0.4% 5.18%
1988 -0.43% 5.47%
1987 0.01% 5.81%
1986 0.05% 5.85%
1985 0.16% 5.9%
1984 0.62% 6.13%
1983 0.71% 6.28%
1982 0.95% 6.29%
1981 1.18% 6.16%
1980 1.16% 6.04%
1979 1.34% 5.98%
1978 1.43% 5.88%
1977 1.36% 5.72%
1976 1.52% 5.52%
1975 1.66% 5.38%
1974 1.67% 5.29%
1973 1.62% 5.14%
1972 1.5% 4.88%
1971 1.18% 4.54%
1970 0.84% 4.25%
1969 0.59% 4.09%
1968 0.45% 3.97%
1967 0.47% 3.86%
1966 0.4% 3.79%
1965 0.38% 3.78%
1964 0.49% 3.77%
1963 0.59% 3.76%
1962 0.41% 3.74%
1961 -0.15% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Ireland Saudi Arabia
Current population
5518360
36734925
Population rank 121/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.44%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 4/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +119,738
Net migration rank 27/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 119,738
2024 - 39,059 - 122,170
2023 19,652 43,873 474,366 325,691
2022 19,287 93,535 406,920 977,072
2021 26,064 27,419 409,032 -106,287
2020 23,687 15,746 447,036 -74,725
2019 28,365 29,663 474,407 191,582
2018 29,878 33,387 528,767 -988,751
2017 31,379 28,883 546,751 -920,812
2016 33,339 18,967 537,829 -26,997
2015 35,265 13,376 511,023 465,292
2014 37,728 448 493,431 469,144
2013 39,302 -12,309 475,299 485,794
2012 42,775 -22,411 465,649 479,206
2011 45,801 -26,529 443,675 491,253
2010 47,426 -26,974 418,641 504,955
2009 47,168 -18,524 438,557 496,229
2008 46,691 18,979 433,457 491,337
2007 43,109 76,465 425,199 489,136
2006 36,752 94,513 399,333 504,661
2005 33,279 63,983 375,938 518,565
2004 33,376 49,102 362,843 523,472
2003 32,372 32,220 364,520 514,606
2002 31,062 34,286 372,099 500,508
2001 27,837 39,220 382,153 484,252
2000 23,592 31,298 392,407 468,515
1999 21,402 23,592 390,112 160,263
1998 22,277 16,615 389,499 159,898
1997 21,311 17,425 385,033 160,066
1996 18,915 9,959 382,248 160,532
1995 16,601 10,019 380,231 160,512
1994 17,234 -3,118 377,351 160,306
1993 17,166 -3,762 372,621 158,074
1992 20,283 1,335 366,763 160,908
1991 21,206 4,944 361,329 162,857
1990 21,787 -8,203 355,495 160,416
1989 20,012 -28,752 349,399 159,273
1988 22,912 -44,020 342,865 146,918
1987 26,904 -38,426 333,088 175,075
1986 27,963 -21,139 322,340 172,606
1985 29,013 -16,178 310,558 148,208
1984 31,791 -15,549 296,615 153,562
1983 34,053 -15,043 280,616 157,930
1982 38,344 -14,464 264,831 153,528
1981 39,364 -10,834 249,156 140,355
1980 40,612 -2,876 234,372 121,220
1979 38,798 1,486 220,186 112,826
1978 36,288 15,543 205,331 105,263
1977 35,448 14,505 191,103 96,015
1976 33,676 14,200 178,024 85,083
1975 34,128 13,828 166,223 73,960
1974 34,199 13,482 155,478 69,653
1973 34,562 13,164 145,450 63,995
1972 34,316 12,858 136,360 55,439
1971 35,606 5,851 127,600 43,989
1970 30,756 -8,892 120,440 31,097
1969 29,326 -10,250 113,859 25,312
1968 27,697 -11,132 108,281 21,366
1967 29,895 -11,708 103,343 17,947
1966 26,866 -11,858 98,361 15,054
1965 30,500 -14,016 93,820 15,000
1964 31,532 -15,640 89,776 15,000
1963 29,667 -16,615 85,480 15,000
1962 28,077 -17,438 81,393 15,000
1961 25,137 -22,237 77,743 15,000
1960 28,286 -38,492 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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