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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.28 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 +1.5% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Ireland vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Korea
2100 5,500,499 22,001,649
2099 5,525,011 22,324,514
2098 5,548,986 22,657,541
2097 5,572,279 22,998,315
2096 5,595,064 23,348,632
2095 5,615,877 23,711,049
2094 5,636,027 24,081,510
2093 5,655,870 24,460,970
2092 5,675,151 24,848,715
2091 5,694,092 25,242,926
2090 5,713,009 25,642,926
2089 5,730,546 26,048,094
2088 5,747,238 26,457,020
2087 5,762,650 26,871,556
2086 5,776,705 27,288,450
2085 5,791,049 27,710,065
2084 5,805,074 28,133,600
2083 5,818,867 28,564,090
2082 5,831,653 28,998,646
2081 5,842,944 29,441,497
2080 5,855,351 29,887,135
2079 5,870,572 30,337,095
2078 5,885,866 30,793,984
2077 5,901,647 31,258,278
2076 5,917,991 31,728,826
2075 5,934,408 32,205,338
2074 5,951,970 32,689,892
2073 5,969,385 33,180,187
2072 5,986,721 33,679,874
2071 6,003,888 34,187,068
2070 6,021,481 34,702,204
2069 6,038,378 35,224,472
2068 6,054,840 35,745,164
2067 6,070,805 36,274,411
2066 6,086,691 36,808,495
2065 6,101,966 37,349,660
2064 6,116,867 37,897,742
2063 6,129,790 38,450,082
2062 6,141,729 39,009,227
2061 6,154,062 39,565,102
2060 6,167,032 40,130,032
2059 6,179,602 40,692,438
2058 6,189,124 41,256,780
2057 6,196,781 41,813,259
2056 6,199,786 42,356,530
2055 6,204,376 42,888,143
2054 6,205,225 43,405,840
2053 6,205,444 43,917,075
2052 6,203,350 44,419,192
2051 6,200,637 44,901,452
2050 6,195,469 45,362,931
2049 6,187,289 45,809,553
2048 6,175,872 46,235,718
2047 6,163,776 46,645,885
2046 6,150,911 47,033,200
2045 6,134,927 47,409,815
2044 6,116,643 47,773,842
2043 6,097,627 48,120,989
2042 6,076,713 48,455,085
2041 6,052,462 48,782,206
2040 6,027,054 49,091,438
2039 6,002,204 49,388,464
2038 5,974,917 49,669,835
2037 5,946,606 49,932,869
2036 5,918,275 50,175,947
2035 5,889,854 50,401,135
2034 5,858,952 50,607,994
2033 5,826,337 50,796,030
2032 5,791,225 50,961,878
2031 5,754,845 51,109,725
2030 5,717,377 51,242,628
2029 5,676,731 51,360,529
2028 5,632,552 51,461,403
2027 5,585,925 51,551,313
2026 5,537,167 51,624,449
2025 5,484,367 51,684,564
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M 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 1.64% -0.13%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Ireland South Korea
Current population
5562212
51624449
Population rank 122/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.62%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 -182
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 169/197
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 18,885 39,059 -119,027 75,963
2023 19,652 43,873 -124,111 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-korea | 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 Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 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 (1960–2025, 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-korea | 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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