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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.72 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.31% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Ireland vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Somalia
2100 5,468,791 68,384,185
2099 5,493,162 68,040,371
2098 5,516,999 67,702,230
2097 5,540,157 67,362,336
2096 5,562,811 66,972,933
2095 5,583,505 66,585,659
2094 5,603,538 66,179,819
2093 5,623,266 65,760,590
2092 5,642,437 65,324,261
2091 5,661,268 64,852,843
2090 5,680,076 64,362,727
2089 5,697,512 63,922,797
2088 5,714,108 63,464,036
2087 5,729,431 62,987,028
2086 5,743,405 62,447,029
2085 5,757,666 61,873,597
2084 5,771,610 61,318,916
2083 5,785,324 60,761,800
2082 5,798,037 60,187,980
2081 5,809,262 59,676,722
2080 5,821,598 59,100,915
2079 5,836,731 58,477,428
2078 5,851,937 57,852,528
2077 5,867,627 57,211,821
2076 5,883,876 56,602,463
2075 5,900,200 56,005,600
2074 5,917,659 55,330,165
2073 5,934,975 54,651,918
2072 5,952,211 53,978,548
2071 5,969,279 53,284,016
2070 5,986,770 52,573,210
2069 6,003,570 51,878,214
2068 6,019,937 51,197,653
2067 6,035,810 50,493,028
2066 6,051,604 49,779,172
2065 6,066,791 49,024,665
2064 6,081,606 48,265,876
2063 6,094,455 47,522,361
2062 6,106,325 46,785,920
2061 6,118,587 46,037,526
2060 6,131,482 45,220,507
2059 6,143,979 44,397,936
2058 6,153,447 43,659,021
2057 6,161,059 42,897,422
2056 6,164,047 42,121,542
2055 6,168,611 41,318,179
2054 6,169,455 40,513,141
2053 6,169,673 39,744,995
2052 6,167,591 38,992,177
2051 6,164,894 38,228,872
2050 6,159,756 37,471,735
2049 6,151,623 36,739,905
2048 6,140,272 35,984,999
2047 6,128,245 35,218,863
2046 6,115,454 34,462,403
2045 6,099,562 33,717,596
2044 6,081,384 32,977,674
2043 6,062,477 32,247,710
2042 6,041,683 31,537,272
2041 6,017,573 30,794,853
2040 5,992,311 30,032,324
2039 5,967,604 29,312,883
2038 5,940,474 28,583,386
2037 5,912,327 27,838,646
2036 5,884,159 27,114,453
2035 5,855,902 26,385,421
2034 5,825,178 25,687,629
2033 5,792,751 25,018,509
2032 5,757,842 24,338,597
2031 5,721,671 23,657,353
2030 5,684,420 22,965,742
2029 5,644,008 22,299,610
2028 5,600,083 21,651,582
2027 5,553,725 20,991,860
2026 5,505,248 20,322,668
2025 5,452,752 19,666,990
2024 5,395,790 19,009,151
2023 5,311,538 18,358,615
2022 5,212,836 17,801,897
2021 5,110,585 17,271,431
2020 5,039,747 16,651,191
2019 4,976,456 16,030,971
2018 4,898,022 15,452,487
2017 4,827,445 14,916,629
2016 4,762,722 14,348,740
2015 4,701,957 13,806,963
2014 4,657,740 13,339,491
2013 4,623,816 12,869,594
2012 4,599,533 12,461,160
2011 4,580,084 12,348,830
2010 4,560,155 12,261,756
2009 4,535,375 11,961,201
2008 4,489,544 11,663,084
2007 4,398,942 11,322,582
2006 4,273,591 10,975,502
2005 4,159,914 10,644,228
2004 4,070,262 10,280,998
2003 3,996,521 9,909,157
2002 3,931,947 9,550,063
2001 3,866,243 9,198,493
2000 3,805,174 8,838,713
1999 3,754,786 8,492,059
1998 3,712,696 8,155,417
1997 3,674,171 7,824,525
1996 3,637,510 7,554,474
1995 3,608,841 7,285,007
1994 3,590,386 7,026,797
1993 3,576,261 6,681,399
1992 3,558,430 6,495,107
1991 3,534,235 6,813,760
1990 3,513,974 7,082,811
1989 3,511,009 7,114,817
1988 3,524,949 7,235,360
1987 3,540,057 7,228,302
1986 3,539,690 6,974,788
1985 3,538,082 6,693,289
1984 3,532,423 6,428,389
1983 3,510,600 6,198,430
1982 3,485,800 6,003,840
1981 3,453,000 5,982,849
1980 3,412,800 5,936,154
1979 3,373,750 5,449,117
1978 3,329,100 4,814,892
1977 3,282,200 4,484,050
1976 3,238,050 4,365,812
1975 3,189,550 4,257,535
1974 3,137,500 4,151,842
1973 3,085,950 4,045,592
1972 3,036,850 3,939,436
1971 2,992,050 3,837,691
1970 2,957,250 3,738,448
1969 2,932,650 3,641,015
1968 2,915,550 3,546,590
1967 2,902,450 3,454,537
1966 2,888,800 3,365,106
1965 2,877,300 3,277,874
1964 2,866,550 3,192,796
1963 2,852,650 3,110,361
1962 2,836,050 3,030,091
1961 2,824,400 2,952,054
1960 2,828,600 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Somalia
2100 -0.44% 0.51%
2099 -0.43% 0.5%
2098 -0.42% 0.5%
2097 -0.41% 0.58%
2096 -0.37% 0.58%
2095 -0.36% 0.61%
2094 -0.35% 0.64%
2093 -0.34% 0.67%
2092 -0.33% 0.73%
2091 -0.33% 0.76%
2090 -0.31% 0.69%
2089 -0.29% 0.72%
2088 -0.27% 0.76%
2087 -0.24% 0.86%
2086 -0.25% 0.93%
2085 -0.24% 0.9%
2084 -0.24% 0.92%
2083 -0.22% 0.95%
2082 -0.19% 0.86%
2081 -0.21% 0.97%
2080 -0.26% 1.07%
2079 -0.26% 1.08%
2078 -0.27% 1.12%
2077 -0.28% 1.08%
2076 -0.28% 1.07%
2075 -0.3% 1.22%
2074 -0.29% 1.24%
2073 -0.29% 1.25%
2072 -0.29% 1.3%
2071 -0.29% 1.35%
2070 -0.28% 1.34%
2069 -0.27% 1.33%
2068 -0.26% 1.4%
2067 -0.26% 1.43%
2066 -0.25% 1.54%
2065 -0.24% 1.57%
2064 -0.21% 1.56%
2063 -0.19% 1.57%
2062 -0.2% 1.63%
2061 -0.21% 1.81%
2060 -0.2% 1.85%
2059 -0.15% 1.69%
2058 -0.12% 1.78%
2057 -0.05% 1.84%
2056 -0.07% 1.94%
2055 -0.01% 1.99%
2054 -0.004% 1.93%
2053 0.03% 1.93%
2052 0.04% 2%
2051 0.08% 2.02%
2050 0.13% 1.99%
2049 0.18% 2.1%
2048 0.2% 2.18%
2047 0.21% 2.2%
2046 0.26% 2.21%
2045 0.3% 2.24%
2044 0.31% 2.26%
2043 0.34% 2.25%
2042 0.4% 2.41%
2041 0.42% 2.54%
2040 0.41% 2.45%
2039 0.46% 2.55%
2038 0.48% 2.68%
2037 0.48% 2.67%
2036 0.48% 2.76%
2035 0.53% 2.72%
2034 0.56% 2.67%
2033 0.61% 2.79%
2032 0.63% 2.88%
2031 0.66% 3.01%
2030 0.72% 2.99%
2029 0.78% 2.99%
2028 0.83% 3.14%
2027 0.88% 3.29%
2026 0.96% 3.33%
2025 1.06% 3.46%
2024 1.59% 3.54%
2023 1.89% 3.13%
2022 2% 3.07%
2021 1.41% 3.72%
2020 1.27% 3.87%
2019 1.6% 3.74%
2018 1.46% 3.59%
2017 1.36% 3.96%
2016 1.29% 3.92%
2015 0.95% 3.5%
2014 0.73% 3.65%
2013 0.53% 3.28%
2012 0.42% 0.91%
2011 0.44% 0.71%
2010 0.55% 2.51%
2009 1.02% 2.56%
2008 2.06% 3.01%
2007 2.93% 3.16%
2006 2.73% 3.11%
2005 2.2% 3.53%
2004 1.85% 3.75%
2003 1.64% 3.76%
2002 1.7% 3.82%
2001 1.6% 4.07%
2000 1.34% 4.08%
1999 1.13% 4.13%
1998 1.05% 4.23%
1997 1.01% 3.57%
1996 0.79% 3.7%
1995 0.51% 3.67%
1994 0.39% 5.17%
1993 0.5% 2.87%
1992 0.68% -4.68%
1991 0.58% -3.8%
1990 0.08% -0.45%
1989 -0.4% -1.67%
1988 -0.43% 0.1%
1987 0.01% 3.63%
1986 0.05% 4.21%
1985 0.16% 4.12%
1984 0.62% 3.71%
1983 0.71% 3.24%
1982 0.95% 0.35%
1981 1.18% 0.79%
1980 1.16% 8.94%
1979 1.34% 13.2%
1978 1.43% 7.38%
1977 1.36% 2.71%
1976 1.52% 2.54%
1975 1.66% 2.55%
1974 1.67% 2.63%
1973 1.62% 2.69%
1972 1.5% 2.65%
1971 1.18% 2.65%
1970 0.84% 2.68%
1969 0.59% 2.66%
1968 0.45% 2.66%
1967 0.47% 2.66%
1966 0.4% 2.66%
1965 0.38% 2.66%
1964 0.49% 2.65%
1963 0.59% 2.65%
1962 0.41% 2.64%
1961 -0.15% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Ireland Somalia
Current population
5518360
20503678
Population rank 121/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.25%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 8/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +12,077
Net migration rank 27/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 12,077
2024 - 39,059 - 26,859
2023 19,652 43,873 608,203 46,217
2022 19,287 93,535 551,450 -92,434
2021 26,064 27,419 566,399 35,506
2020 23,687 15,746 561,311 77,259
2019 28,365 29,663 548,756 53,124
2018 29,878 33,387 514,244 40,844
2017 31,379 28,883 478,556 38,067
2016 33,339 18,967 495,132 124,017
2015 35,265 13,376 481,573 -17,178
2014 37,728 448 464,481 6,065
2013 39,302 -12,309 448,518 20,723
2012 42,775 -22,411 399,468 -51,833
2011 45,801 -26,529 203,213 -326,192
2010 47,426 -26,974 385,571 -88,448
2009 47,168 -18,524 405,784 -101,795
2008 46,691 18,979 394,258 -102,035
2007 43,109 76,465 380,303 8,476
2006 36,752 94,513 372,597 -67,200
2005 33,279 63,983 363,117 -5,955
2004 33,376 49,102 351,959 17,353
2003 32,372 32,220 341,192 33,174
2002 31,062 34,286 331,215 12,603
2001 27,837 39,220 319,059 40,274
2000 23,592 31,298 306,651 53,580
1999 21,402 23,592 295,523 37,548
1998 22,277 16,615 284,779 55,426
1997 21,311 17,425 271,894 49,692
1996 18,915 9,959 264,807 -46,291
1995 16,601 10,019 254,509 65,888
1994 17,234 -3,118 246,950 -50,921
1993 17,166 -3,762 232,960 261,815
1992 20,283 1,335 57,495 -179,675
1991 21,206 4,944 53,052 -568,166
1990 21,787 -8,203 225,162 -248,155
1989 20,012 -28,752 225,255 -266,281
1988 22,912 -44,020 215,599 -415,660
1987 26,904 -38,426 231,580 -17,391
1986 27,963 -21,139 218,416 74,424
1985 29,013 -16,178 207,960 62,183
1984 31,791 -15,549 199,017 60,630
1983 34,053 -15,043 190,775 9,505
1982 38,344 -14,464 182,793 6,115
1981 39,364 -10,834 185,211 -332,129
1980 40,612 -2,876 174,790 65,519
1979 38,798 1,486 151,016 582,746
1978 36,288 15,543 132,689 402,005
1977 35,448 14,505 124,818 2,170
1976 33,676 14,200 113,319 -3,831
1975 34,128 13,828 108,998 -1,934
1974 34,199 13,482 104,813 -495
1973 34,562 13,164 108,038 143
1972 34,316 12,858 104,493 -351
1971 35,606 5,851 101,196 -1,850
1970 30,756 -8,892 98,025 1,104
1969 29,326 -10,250 95,045 690
1968 27,697 -11,132 92,208 906
1967 29,895 -11,708 89,497 1,498
1966 26,866 -11,858 86,930 941
1965 30,500 -14,016 84,448 2,142
1964 31,532 -15,640 82,042 1,518
1963 29,667 -16,615 79,859 1,449
1962 28,077 -17,438 77,737 1,496
1961 25,137 -22,237 75,513 1,336
1960 28,286 -38,492 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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