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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.36 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Ireland vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Korea
2100 5,468,791 22,012,503
2099 5,493,162 22,335,528
2098 5,516,999 22,668,719
2097 5,540,157 23,009,661
2096 5,562,811 23,360,151
2095 5,583,505 23,722,747
2094 5,603,538 24,093,391
2093 5,623,266 24,473,038
2092 5,642,437 24,860,975
2091 5,661,268 25,255,379
2090 5,680,076 25,655,577
2089 5,697,512 26,060,945
2088 5,714,108 26,470,073
2087 5,729,431 26,884,813
2086 5,743,405 27,301,913
2085 5,757,666 27,723,736
2084 5,771,610 28,147,480
2083 5,785,324 28,578,182
2082 5,798,037 29,012,953
2081 5,809,262 29,456,022
2080 5,821,598 29,901,880
2079 5,836,731 30,352,062
2078 5,851,937 30,809,176
2077 5,867,627 31,273,700
2076 5,883,876 31,744,480
2075 5,900,200 32,221,226
2074 5,917,659 32,706,020
2073 5,934,975 33,196,556
2072 5,952,211 33,696,490
2071 5,969,279 34,203,935
2070 5,986,770 34,719,324
2069 6,003,570 35,241,850
2068 6,019,937 35,762,799
2067 6,035,810 36,292,307
2066 6,051,604 36,826,655
2065 6,066,791 37,368,086
2064 6,081,606 37,916,439
2063 6,094,455 38,469,051
2062 6,106,325 39,028,473
2061 6,118,587 39,584,621
2060 6,131,482 40,149,830
2059 6,143,979 40,712,514
2058 6,153,447 41,277,134
2057 6,161,059 41,833,887
2056 6,164,047 42,377,427
2055 6,168,611 42,909,302
2054 6,169,455 43,427,254
2053 6,169,673 43,938,741
2052 6,167,591 44,441,106
2051 6,164,894 44,923,604
2050 6,159,756 45,385,311
2049 6,151,623 45,832,153
2048 6,140,272 46,258,529
2047 6,128,245 46,668,898
2046 6,115,454 47,056,404
2045 6,099,562 47,433,205
2044 6,081,384 47,797,411
2043 6,062,477 48,144,730
2042 6,041,683 48,478,991
2041 6,017,573 48,806,273
2040 5,992,311 49,115,658
2039 5,967,604 49,412,830
2038 5,940,474 49,694,340
2037 5,912,327 49,957,504
2036 5,884,159 50,200,702
2035 5,855,902 50,426,000
2034 5,825,178 50,632,962
2033 5,792,751 50,821,090
2032 5,757,842 50,987,020
2031 5,721,671 51,134,940
2030 5,684,420 51,267,908
2029 5,644,008 51,385,868
2028 5,600,083 51,486,791
2027 5,553,725 51,576,746
2026 5,505,248 51,649,918
2025 5,452,752 51,710,062
2024 5,395,790 51,751,065
2023 5,311,538 51,712,619
2022 5,212,836 51,672,569
2021 5,110,585 51,769,539
2020 5,039,747 51,836,239
2019 4,976,456 51,764,822
2018 4,898,022 51,585,058
2017 4,827,445 51,361,911
2016 4,762,722 51,217,803
2015 4,701,957 51,014,947
2014 4,657,740 50,746,659
2013 4,623,816 50,428,893
2012 4,599,533 50,199,853
2011 4,580,084 49,936,638
2010 4,560,155 49,554,112
2009 4,535,375 49,307,835
2008 4,489,544 49,054,708
2007 4,398,942 48,683,638
2006 4,273,591 48,438,292
2005 4,159,914 48,184,561
2004 4,070,262 48,082,519
2003 3,996,521 47,892,330
2002 3,931,947 47,644,736
2001 3,866,243 47,370,164
2000 3,805,174 47,008,111
1999 3,754,786 46,616,677
1998 3,712,696 46,286,503
1997 3,674,171 45,953,580
1996 3,637,510 45,524,681
1995 3,608,841 45,092,991
1994 3,590,386 44,641,540
1993 3,576,261 44,194,628
1992 3,558,430 43,747,962
1991 3,534,235 43,295,704
1990 3,513,974 42,869,283
1989 3,511,009 42,449,038
1988 3,524,949 42,031,247
1987 3,540,057 41,621,690
1986 3,539,690 41,213,674
1985 3,538,082 40,805,744
1984 3,532,423 40,405,956
1983 3,510,600 39,910,403
1982 3,485,800 39,326,352
1981 3,453,000 38,723,248
1980 3,412,800 38,123,775
1979 3,373,750 37,534,236
1978 3,329,100 36,969,185
1977 3,282,200 36,411,795
1976 3,238,050 35,848,523
1975 3,189,550 35,280,725
1974 3,137,500 34,692,266
1973 3,085,950 34,103,149
1972 3,036,850 33,505,406
1971 2,992,050 32,882,704
1970 2,957,250 32,240,827
1969 2,932,650 31,544,266
1968 2,915,550 30,838,302
1967 2,902,450 30,130,983
1966 2,888,800 29,435,571
1965 2,877,300 28,704,674
1964 2,866,550 27,984,155
1963 2,852,650 27,261,747
1962 2,836,050 26,513,030
1961 2,824,400 25,765,673
1960 2,828,600 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland South Korea
2100 -0.44% -1.45%
2099 -0.43% -1.47%
2098 -0.42% -1.48%
2097 -0.41% -1.5%
2096 -0.37% -1.53%
2095 -0.36% -1.54%
2094 -0.35% -1.55%
2093 -0.34% -1.56%
2092 -0.33% -1.56%
2091 -0.33% -1.56%
2090 -0.31% -1.56%
2089 -0.29% -1.55%
2088 -0.27% -1.54%
2087 -0.24% -1.53%
2086 -0.25% -1.52%
2085 -0.24% -1.51%
2084 -0.24% -1.51%
2083 -0.22% -1.5%
2082 -0.19% -1.5%
2081 -0.21% -1.49%
2080 -0.26% -1.48%
2079 -0.26% -1.48%
2078 -0.27% -1.49%
2077 -0.28% -1.48%
2076 -0.28% -1.48%
2075 -0.3% -1.48%
2074 -0.29% -1.48%
2073 -0.29% -1.48%
2072 -0.29% -1.48%
2071 -0.29% -1.48%
2070 -0.28% -1.48%
2069 -0.27% -1.46%
2068 -0.26% -1.46%
2067 -0.26% -1.45%
2066 -0.25% -1.45%
2065 -0.24% -1.45%
2064 -0.21% -1.44%
2063 -0.19% -1.43%
2062 -0.2% -1.4%
2061 -0.21% -1.41%
2060 -0.2% -1.38%
2059 -0.15% -1.37%
2058 -0.12% -1.33%
2057 -0.05% -1.28%
2056 -0.07% -1.24%
2055 -0.01% -1.19%
2054 -0.004% -1.16%
2053 0.03% -1.13%
2052 0.04% -1.07%
2051 0.08% -1.02%
2050 0.13% -0.97%
2049 0.18% -0.92%
2048 0.2% -0.88%
2047 0.21% -0.82%
2046 0.26% -0.79%
2045 0.3% -0.76%
2044 0.31% -0.72%
2043 0.34% -0.69%
2042 0.4% -0.67%
2041 0.42% -0.63%
2040 0.41% -0.6%
2039 0.46% -0.57%
2038 0.48% -0.53%
2037 0.48% -0.48%
2036 0.48% -0.45%
2035 0.53% -0.41%
2034 0.56% -0.37%
2033 0.61% -0.33%
2032 0.63% -0.29%
2031 0.66% -0.26%
2030 0.72% -0.23%
2029 0.78% -0.2%
2028 0.83% -0.17%
2027 0.88% -0.14%
2026 0.96% -0.12%
2025 1.06% -0.08%
2024 1.59% 0.07%
2023 1.89% 0.08%
2022 2% -0.19%
2021 1.41% -0.13%
2020 1.27% 0.14%
2019 1.6% 0.35%
2018 1.46% 0.43%
2017 1.36% 0.28%
2016 1.29% 0.4%
2015 0.95% 0.53%
2014 0.73% 0.63%
2013 0.53% 0.46%
2012 0.42% 0.53%
2011 0.44% 0.77%
2010 0.55% 0.5%
2009 1.02% 0.52%
2008 2.06% 0.76%
2007 2.93% 0.51%
2006 2.73% 0.53%
2005 2.2% 0.21%
2004 1.85% 0.4%
2003 1.64% 0.52%
2002 1.7% 0.58%
2001 1.6% 0.77%
2000 1.34% 0.84%
1999 1.13% 0.71%
1998 1.05% 0.72%
1997 1.01% 0.94%
1996 0.79% 0.96%
1995 0.51% 1.01%
1994 0.39% 1.01%
1993 0.5% 1.02%
1992 0.68% 1.04%
1991 0.58% 0.99%
1990 0.08% 0.99%
1989 -0.4% 0.99%
1988 -0.43% 0.98%
1987 0.01% 0.99%
1986 0.05% 1%
1985 0.16% 0.99%
1984 0.62% 1.24%
1983 0.71% 1.49%
1982 0.95% 1.56%
1981 1.18% 1.57%
1980 1.16% 1.57%
1979 1.34% 1.53%
1978 1.43% 1.53%
1977 1.36% 1.57%
1976 1.52% 1.61%
1975 1.66% 1.7%
1974 1.67% 1.73%
1973 1.62% 1.78%
1972 1.5% 1.89%
1971 1.18% 1.99%
1970 0.84% 2.21%
1969 0.59% 2.29%
1968 0.45% 2.35%
1967 0.47% 2.36%
1966 0.4% 2.55%
1965 0.38% 2.57%
1964 0.49% 2.65%
1963 0.59% 2.82%
1962 0.41% 2.9%
1961 -0.15% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Ireland South Korea
Current population
5518360
51649918
Population rank 121/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.62%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +105
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 160/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +65,731
Net migration rank 27/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 65,731
2024 - 39,059 - 75,963
2023 19,652 43,873 -77,569 87,800
2022 19,287 93,535 -124,014 87,800
2021 26,064 27,419 -56,947 -16,778
2020 23,687 15,746 -31,101 112,631
2019 28,365 29,663 10,353 128,622
2018 29,878 33,387 30,951 118,220
2017 31,379 28,883 71,907 104,029
2016 33,339 18,967 122,923 91,568
2015 35,265 13,376 163,248 276,427
2014 37,728 448 167,464 308,037
2013 39,302 -12,309 166,415 301,926
2012 42,775 -22,411 215,859 281,866
2011 45,801 -26,529 214,728 269,958
2010 47,426 -26,974 213,083 52,042
2009 47,168 -18,524 197,231 5,308
2008 46,691 18,979 215,841 -19,630
2007 43,109 76,465 248,286 -42,293
2006 36,752 94,513 203,441 -28,434
2005 33,279 63,983 187,920 -47,821
2004 33,376 49,102 225,988 -42,549
2003 32,372 32,220 244,251 -31,994
2002 31,062 34,286 247,752 -18,105
2001 27,837 39,220 312,643 -28,006
2000 23,592 31,298 390,167 -84,960
1999 21,402 23,592 368,272 -107,448
1998 22,277 16,615 393,436 -98,044
1997 21,311 17,425 422,773 -109,130
1996 18,915 9,959 446,142 -115,705
1995 16,601 10,019 468,967 -208,491
1994 17,234 -3,118 473,200 -208,309
1993 17,166 -3,762 477,302 -222,802
1992 20,283 1,335 494,352 -265,849
1991 21,206 4,944 467,594 -270,754
1990 21,787 -8,203 411,546 79,294
1989 20,012 -28,752 403,266 186,120
1988 22,912 -44,020 399,297 192,534
1987 26,904 -38,426 378,758 198,057
1986 27,963 -21,139 395,651 189,782
1985 29,013 -16,178 416,219 97,949
1984 31,791 -15,549 436,384 101,394
1983 34,053 -15,043 514,844 102,167
1982 38,344 -14,464 605,626 48,638
1981 39,364 -10,834 631,189 18,442
1980 40,612 -2,876 583,294 -148,341
1979 38,798 1,486 623,068 -139,566
1978 36,288 15,543 499,084 -85,721
1977 35,448 14,505 578,947 -90,737
1976 33,676 14,200 530,558 -92,314
1975 34,128 13,828 603,300 -52,332
1974 34,199 13,482 673,030 27,005
1973 34,562 13,164 699,115 35,779
1972 34,316 12,858 740,469 25,382
1971 35,606 5,851 789,185 -6,326
1970 30,756 -8,892 747,987 -27,999
1969 29,326 -10,250 694,227 -21,175
1968 27,697 -11,132 684,487 -16,868
1967 29,895 -11,708 692,169 -16,484
1966 26,866 -11,858 623,534 -16,688
1965 30,500 -14,016 641,090 -146,386
1964 31,532 -15,640 655,501 -102,284
1963 29,667 -16,615 685,824 -80,226
1962 28,077 -17,438 712,590 -94,606
1961 25,137 -22,237 730,173 -93,179
1960 28,286 -38,492 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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