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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 11.8 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 +1.5% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Ireland vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Africa
2100 5,500,499 94,734,082
2099 5,525,011 94,523,360
2098 5,548,986 94,316,049
2097 5,572,279 94,125,043
2096 5,595,064 93,927,246
2095 5,615,877 93,719,451
2094 5,636,027 93,494,697
2093 5,655,870 93,267,274
2092 5,675,151 93,041,793
2091 5,694,092 92,793,249
2090 5,713,009 92,561,159
2089 5,730,546 92,322,396
2088 5,747,238 92,080,212
2087 5,762,650 91,833,409
2086 5,776,705 91,581,639
2085 5,791,049 91,352,906
2084 5,805,074 91,106,961
2083 5,818,867 90,845,161
2082 5,831,653 90,583,188
2081 5,842,944 90,313,417
2080 5,855,351 90,039,857
2079 5,870,572 89,770,116
2078 5,885,866 89,494,440
2077 5,901,647 89,217,520
2076 5,917,991 88,954,522
2075 5,934,408 88,681,719
2074 5,951,970 88,397,221
2073 5,969,385 88,118,589
2072 5,986,721 87,835,051
2071 6,003,888 87,509,098
2070 6,021,481 87,178,463
2069 6,038,378 86,870,660
2068 6,054,840 86,558,000
2067 6,070,805 86,237,764
2066 6,086,691 85,904,801
2065 6,101,966 85,573,984
2064 6,116,867 85,214,686
2063 6,129,790 84,845,370
2062 6,141,729 84,473,236
2061 6,154,062 84,103,016
2060 6,167,032 83,719,266
2059 6,179,602 83,325,330
2058 6,189,124 82,918,226
2057 6,196,781 82,508,742
2056 6,199,786 82,098,320
2055 6,204,376 81,669,191
2054 6,205,225 81,227,019
2053 6,205,444 80,789,939
2052 6,203,350 80,338,877
2051 6,200,637 79,858,310
2050 6,195,469 79,383,784
2049 6,187,289 78,897,472
2048 6,175,872 78,409,829
2047 6,163,776 77,894,547
2046 6,150,911 77,369,819
2045 6,134,927 76,852,544
2044 6,116,643 76,330,046
2043 6,097,627 75,800,788
2042 6,076,713 75,264,885
2041 6,052,462 74,721,871
2040 6,027,054 74,179,185
2039 6,002,204 73,636,894
2038 5,974,917 73,079,976
2037 5,946,606 72,506,991
2036 5,918,275 71,930,701
2035 5,889,854 71,337,219
2034 5,858,952 70,737,692
2033 5,826,337 70,128,299
2032 5,791,225 69,502,726
2031 5,754,845 68,865,544
2030 5,717,377 68,221,143
2029 5,676,731 67,549,189
2028 5,632,552 66,860,631
2027 5,585,925 66,166,759
2026 5,537,167 65,473,024
2025 5,484,367 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 94.7M 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 1.64% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Ireland South Africa
Current population
5562212
65829368
Population rank 122/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.79%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
9.74 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +243 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 91/197
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 18,885 39,059 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, 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/south-africa | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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