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Population in Ireland compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.9 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.86% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Ireland vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Africa
2100 5,468,791 94,767,727
2099 5,493,162 94,556,931
2098 5,516,999 94,349,546
2097 5,540,157 94,158,472
2096 5,562,811 93,960,605
2095 5,583,505 93,752,736
2094 5,603,538 93,527,902
2093 5,623,266 93,300,398
2092 5,642,437 93,074,837
2091 5,661,268 92,826,204
2090 5,680,076 92,594,033
2089 5,697,512 92,355,184
2088 5,714,108 92,112,914
2087 5,729,431 91,866,024
2086 5,743,405 91,614,165
2085 5,757,666 91,385,350
2084 5,771,610 91,139,318
2083 5,785,324 90,877,425
2082 5,798,037 90,615,359
2081 5,809,262 90,345,492
2080 5,821,598 90,071,835
2079 5,836,731 89,801,998
2078 5,851,937 89,526,224
2077 5,867,627 89,249,206
2076 5,883,876 88,986,114
2075 5,900,200 88,713,215
2074 5,917,659 88,428,616
2073 5,934,975 88,149,885
2072 5,952,211 87,866,246
2071 5,969,279 87,540,177
2070 5,986,770 87,209,425
2069 6,003,570 86,901,512
2068 6,019,937 86,588,742
2067 6,035,810 86,268,392
2066 6,051,604 85,935,310
2065 6,066,791 85,604,376
2064 6,081,606 85,244,950
2063 6,094,455 84,875,503
2062 6,106,325 84,503,237
2061 6,118,587 84,132,885
2060 6,131,482 83,748,999
2059 6,143,979 83,354,923
2058 6,153,447 82,947,675
2057 6,161,059 82,538,045
2056 6,164,047 82,127,477
2055 6,168,611 81,698,196
2054 6,169,455 81,255,867
2053 6,169,673 80,818,632
2052 6,167,591 80,367,409
2051 6,164,894 79,886,672
2050 6,159,756 79,411,977
2049 6,151,623 78,925,493
2048 6,140,272 78,437,677
2047 6,128,245 77,922,211
2046 6,115,454 77,397,298
2045 6,099,562 76,879,838
2044 6,081,384 76,357,155
2043 6,062,477 75,827,709
2042 6,041,683 75,291,615
2041 6,017,573 74,748,408
2040 5,992,311 74,205,530
2039 5,967,604 73,663,047
2038 5,940,474 73,105,930
2037 5,912,327 72,532,742
2036 5,884,159 71,956,247
2035 5,855,902 71,362,555
2034 5,825,178 70,762,815
2033 5,792,751 70,153,205
2032 5,757,842 69,527,410
2031 5,721,671 68,890,002
2030 5,684,420 68,245,372
2029 5,644,008 67,573,179
2028 5,600,083 66,884,377
2027 5,553,725 66,190,258
2026 5,505,248 65,496,277
2025 5,452,752 64,770,314
2024 5,395,790 64,007,187
2023 5,311,538 63,212,384
2022 5,212,836 62,378,410
2021 5,110,585 61,502,603
2020 5,039,747 60,562,381
2019 4,976,456 59,587,885
2018 4,898,022 58,613,001
2017 4,827,445 57,635,162
2016 4,762,722 57,259,551
2015 4,701,957 56,723,537
2014 4,657,740 55,594,838
2013 4,623,816 54,678,791
2012 4,599,533 53,782,567
2011 4,580,084 52,995,205
2010 4,560,155 52,344,051
2009 4,535,375 51,728,516
2008 4,489,544 51,114,599
2007 4,398,942 50,528,584
2006 4,273,591 49,998,277
2005 4,159,914 49,490,033
2004 4,070,262 48,991,421
2003 3,996,521 48,500,348
2002 3,931,947 48,019,415
2001 3,866,243 47,566,800
2000 3,805,174 47,159,719
1999 3,754,786 46,730,335
1998 3,712,696 46,223,880
1997 3,674,171 45,666,838
1996 3,637,510 45,123,018
1995 3,608,841 44,541,554
1994 3,590,386 44,004,139
1993 3,576,261 43,297,156
1992 3,558,430 42,443,509
1991 3,534,235 41,687,898
1990 3,513,974 40,746,268
1989 3,511,009 39,628,575
1988 3,524,949 38,480,649
1987 3,540,057 37,326,190
1986 3,539,690 36,180,515
1985 3,538,082 35,042,093
1984 3,532,423 33,892,788
1983 3,510,600 32,739,304
1982 3,485,800 31,615,339
1981 3,453,000 30,541,044
1980 3,412,800 29,518,857
1979 3,373,750 28,634,162
1978 3,329,100 27,869,507
1977 3,282,200 27,118,952
1976 3,238,050 26,395,450
1975 3,189,550 25,690,940
1974 3,137,500 24,989,108
1973 3,085,950 24,294,263
1972 3,036,850 23,609,456
1971 2,992,050 22,942,143
1970 2,957,250 22,279,984
1969 2,932,650 21,614,676
1968 2,915,550 20,957,287
1967 2,902,450 20,314,066
1966 2,888,800 19,690,087
1965 2,877,300 19,089,380
1964 2,866,550 18,511,361
1963 2,852,650 17,954,564
1962 2,836,050 17,418,522
1961 2,824,400 16,908,035
1960 2,828,600 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland South Africa
2100 -0.44% 0.22%
2099 -0.43% 0.22%
2098 -0.42% 0.2%
2097 -0.41% 0.21%
2096 -0.37% 0.22%
2095 -0.36% 0.24%
2094 -0.35% 0.24%
2093 -0.34% 0.24%
2092 -0.33% 0.27%
2091 -0.33% 0.25%
2090 -0.31% 0.26%
2089 -0.29% 0.26%
2088 -0.27% 0.27%
2087 -0.24% 0.27%
2086 -0.25% 0.25%
2085 -0.24% 0.27%
2084 -0.24% 0.29%
2083 -0.22% 0.29%
2082 -0.19% 0.3%
2081 -0.21% 0.3%
2080 -0.26% 0.3%
2079 -0.26% 0.31%
2078 -0.27% 0.31%
2077 -0.28% 0.3%
2076 -0.28% 0.31%
2075 -0.3% 0.32%
2074 -0.29% 0.32%
2073 -0.29% 0.32%
2072 -0.29% 0.37%
2071 -0.29% 0.38%
2070 -0.28% 0.35%
2069 -0.27% 0.36%
2068 -0.26% 0.37%
2067 -0.26% 0.39%
2066 -0.25% 0.39%
2065 -0.24% 0.42%
2064 -0.21% 0.44%
2063 -0.19% 0.44%
2062 -0.2% 0.44%
2061 -0.21% 0.46%
2060 -0.2% 0.47%
2059 -0.15% 0.49%
2058 -0.12% 0.5%
2057 -0.05% 0.5%
2056 -0.07% 0.53%
2055 -0.01% 0.54%
2054 -0.004% 0.54%
2053 0.03% 0.56%
2052 0.04% 0.6%
2051 0.08% 0.6%
2050 0.13% 0.62%
2049 0.18% 0.62%
2048 0.2% 0.66%
2047 0.21% 0.68%
2046 0.26% 0.67%
2045 0.3% 0.68%
2044 0.31% 0.7%
2043 0.34% 0.71%
2042 0.4% 0.73%
2041 0.42% 0.73%
2040 0.41% 0.74%
2039 0.46% 0.76%
2038 0.48% 0.79%
2037 0.48% 0.8%
2036 0.48% 0.83%
2035 0.53% 0.85%
2034 0.56% 0.87%
2033 0.61% 0.9%
2032 0.63% 0.93%
2031 0.66% 0.94%
2030 0.72% 0.99%
2029 0.78% 1.03%
2028 0.83% 1.05%
2027 0.88% 1.06%
2026 0.96% 1.12%
2025 1.06% 1.19%
2024 1.59% 1.26%
2023 1.89% 1.34%
2022 2% 1.42%
2021 1.41% 1.55%
2020 1.27% 1.64%
2019 1.6% 1.66%
2018 1.46% 1.7%
2017 1.36% 0.66%
2016 1.29% 0.94%
2015 0.95% 2.03%
2014 0.73% 1.68%
2013 0.53% 1.67%
2012 0.42% 1.49%
2011 0.44% 1.24%
2010 0.55% 1.19%
2009 1.02% 1.2%
2008 2.06% 1.16%
2007 2.93% 1.06%
2006 2.73% 1.03%
2005 2.2% 1.02%
2004 1.85% 1.01%
2003 1.64% 1%
2002 1.7% 0.95%
2001 1.6% 0.86%
2000 1.34% 0.92%
1999 1.13% 1.1%
1998 1.05% 1.22%
1997 1.01% 1.21%
1996 0.79% 1.31%
1995 0.51% 1.22%
1994 0.39% 1.63%
1993 0.5% 2.01%
1992 0.68% 1.81%
1991 0.58% 2.31%
1990 0.08% 2.82%
1989 -0.4% 2.98%
1988 -0.43% 3.09%
1987 0.01% 3.17%
1986 0.05% 3.25%
1985 0.16% 3.39%
1984 0.62% 3.52%
1983 0.71% 3.56%
1982 0.95% 3.52%
1981 1.18% 3.46%
1980 1.16% 3.09%
1979 1.34% 2.74%
1978 1.43% 2.77%
1977 1.36% 2.74%
1976 1.52% 2.74%
1975 1.66% 2.81%
1974 1.67% 2.86%
1973 1.62% 2.9%
1972 1.5% 2.91%
1971 1.18% 2.97%
1970 0.84% 3.08%
1969 0.59% 3.14%
1968 0.45% 3.17%
1967 0.47% 3.17%
1966 0.4% 3.15%
1965 0.38% 3.12%
1964 0.49% 3.1%
1963 0.59% 3.08%
1962 0.41% 3.02%
1961 -0.15% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Ireland South Africa
Current population
5518360
65683993
Population rank 121/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 85/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +146,370
Net migration rank 27/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 146,370
2024 - 39,059 - 166,972
2023 19,652 43,873 602,793 228,222
2022 19,287 93,535 603,636 233,284
2021 26,064 27,419 456,411 458,246
2020 23,687 15,746 595,873 369,901
2019 28,365 29,663 652,130 331,124
2018 29,878 33,387 648,319 318,260
2017 31,379 28,883 645,975 343,146
2016 33,339 18,967 641,365 -879,235
2015 35,265 13,376 668,771 641,150
2014 37,728 448 674,754 272,697
2013 39,302 -12,309 652,427 232,230
2012 42,775 -22,411 643,723 264,091
2011 45,801 -26,529 601,708 65,166
2010 47,426 -26,974 566,834 68,563
2009 47,168 -18,524 554,115 41,528
2008 46,691 18,979 595,332 36,869
2007 43,109 76,465 503,567 36,339
2006 36,752 94,513 487,584 33,159
2005 33,279 63,983 464,464 31,286
2004 33,376 49,102 442,540 58,924
2003 32,372 32,220 415,018 65,604
2002 31,062 34,286 430,926 50,313
2001 27,837 39,220 484,801 -60,793
2000 23,592 31,298 526,963 -136,794
1999 21,402 23,592 594,643 -126,011
1998 22,277 16,615 627,027 -82,722
1997 21,311 17,425 667,969 -98,181
1996 18,915 9,959 710,868 -193,007
1995 16,601 10,019 743,488 -98,403
1994 17,234 -3,118 698,609 -268,849
1993 17,166 -3,762 789,220 194,977
1992 20,283 1,335 794,415 -71,342
1991 21,206 4,944 827,296 -39,131
1990 21,787 -8,203 835,421 259,718
1989 20,012 -28,752 884,629 255,605
1988 22,912 -44,020 909,221 246,382
1987 26,904 -38,426 922,330 231,009
1986 27,963 -21,139 903,644 234,378
1985 29,013 -16,178 893,889 244,940
1984 31,791 -15,549 869,011 290,789
1983 34,053 -15,043 837,013 310,172
1982 38,344 -14,464 807,550 293,195
1981 39,364 -10,834 767,833 279,985
1980 40,612 -2,876 738,415 258,127
1979 38,798 1,486 716,541 56,323
1978 36,288 15,543 694,341 62,121
1977 35,448 14,505 680,929 63,739
1976 33,676 14,200 675,011 27,333
1975 34,128 13,828 667,862 38,809
1974 34,199 13,482 658,438 38,518
1973 34,562 13,164 651,596 41,125
1972 34,316 12,858 638,754 38,163
1971 35,606 5,851 624,761 32,961
1970 30,756 -8,892 605,102 61,514
1969 29,326 -10,250 590,794 73,225
1968 27,697 -11,132 571,841 78,932
1967 29,895 -11,708 553,741 81,932
1966 26,866 -11,858 534,862 77,417
1965 30,500 -14,016 506,632 82,514
1964 31,532 -15,640 490,606 76,298
1963 29,667 -16,615 473,821 72,844
1962 28,077 -17,438 455,634 69,771
1961 25,137 -22,237 437,851 57,728
1960 28,286 -38,492 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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