Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 2.27 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Ireland vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland South Sudan
2100 5,468,791 24,086,901
2099 5,493,162 24,081,477
2098 5,516,999 24,063,461
2097 5,540,157 24,065,268
2096 5,562,811 24,054,483
2095 5,583,505 24,046,345
2094 5,603,538 24,047,776
2093 5,623,266 24,039,017
2092 5,642,437 24,019,054
2091 5,661,268 24,000,308
2090 5,680,076 23,978,496
2089 5,697,512 23,937,487
2088 5,714,108 23,892,166
2087 5,729,431 23,857,250
2086 5,743,405 23,803,312
2085 5,757,666 23,759,178
2084 5,771,610 23,687,109
2083 5,785,324 23,617,646
2082 5,798,037 23,541,119
2081 5,809,262 23,466,449
2080 5,821,598 23,391,758
2079 5,836,731 23,294,252
2078 5,851,937 23,197,067
2077 5,867,627 23,086,584
2076 5,883,876 22,987,331
2075 5,900,200 22,868,587
2074 5,917,659 22,726,189
2073 5,934,975 22,583,672
2072 5,952,211 22,438,943
2071 5,969,279 22,288,026
2070 5,986,770 22,151,650
2069 6,003,570 22,003,659
2068 6,019,937 21,829,800
2067 6,035,810 21,662,211
2066 6,051,604 21,496,881
2065 6,066,791 21,317,455
2064 6,081,606 21,142,002
2063 6,094,455 20,965,122
2062 6,106,325 20,785,055
2061 6,118,587 20,608,964
2060 6,131,482 20,430,857
2059 6,143,979 20,235,022
2058 6,153,447 20,048,974
2057 6,161,059 19,853,696
2056 6,164,047 19,659,362
2055 6,168,611 19,464,297
2054 6,169,455 19,257,481
2053 6,169,673 19,060,517
2052 6,167,591 18,840,461
2051 6,164,894 18,633,198
2050 6,159,756 18,434,212
2049 6,151,623 18,230,881
2048 6,140,272 18,021,026
2047 6,128,245 17,806,282
2046 6,115,454 17,579,173
2045 6,099,562 17,355,041
2044 6,081,384 17,121,972
2043 6,062,477 16,888,278
2042 6,041,683 16,645,354
2041 6,017,573 16,396,768
2040 5,992,311 16,142,816
2039 5,967,604 15,889,952
2038 5,940,474 15,628,043
2037 5,912,327 15,363,975
2036 5,884,159 15,091,275
2035 5,855,902 14,815,307
2034 5,825,178 14,543,511
2033 5,792,751 14,278,180
2032 5,757,842 14,007,134
2031 5,721,671 13,730,637
2030 5,684,420 13,465,615
2029 5,644,008 13,206,477
2028 5,600,083 12,947,082
2027 5,553,725 12,692,769
2026 5,505,248 12,439,296
2025 5,452,752 12,193,102
2024 5,395,790 11,943,408
2023 5,311,538 11,483,374
2022 5,212,836 11,021,177
2021 5,110,585 10,865,780
2020 5,039,747 10,698,467
2019 4,976,456 10,423,384
2018 4,898,022 10,122,977
2017 4,827,445 10,259,154
2016 4,762,722 10,830,102
2015 4,701,957 11,107,561
2014 4,657,740 11,235,073
2013 4,623,816 11,166,275
2012 4,599,533 10,756,240
2011 4,580,084 10,288,109
2010 4,560,155 9,745,953
2009 4,535,375 9,243,556
2008 4,489,544 8,817,647
2007 4,398,942 8,388,788
2006 4,273,591 7,976,526
2005 4,159,914 7,590,143
2004 4,070,262 7,233,041
2003 3,996,521 6,903,127
2002 3,931,947 6,596,806
2001 3,866,243 6,308,391
2000 3,805,174 6,032,267
1999 3,754,786 5,771,628
1998 3,712,696 5,620,068
1997 3,674,171 5,509,136
1996 3,637,510 5,356,925
1995 3,608,841 5,225,836
1994 3,590,386 5,071,184
1993 3,576,261 4,956,002
1992 3,558,430 4,909,749
1991 3,534,235 4,836,677
1990 3,513,974 4,737,633
1989 3,511,009 4,713,229
1988 3,524,949 4,848,029
1987 3,540,057 4,962,395
1986 3,539,690 4,921,240
1985 3,538,082 4,834,296
1984 3,532,423 4,750,627
1983 3,510,600 4,661,574
1982 3,485,800 4,557,686
1981 3,453,000 4,447,272
1980 3,412,800 4,339,030
1979 3,373,750 4,232,605
1978 3,329,100 4,127,657
1977 3,282,200 4,024,032
1976 3,238,050 3,921,910
1975 3,189,550 3,821,494
1974 3,137,500 3,723,259
1973 3,085,950 3,627,383
1972 3,036,850 3,542,497
1971 2,992,050 3,468,646
1970 2,957,250 3,409,614
1969 2,932,650 3,365,533
1968 2,915,550 3,321,528
1967 2,902,450 3,277,648
1966 2,888,800 3,236,423
1965 2,877,300 3,189,835
1964 2,866,550 3,129,918
1963 2,852,650 3,072,669
1962 2,836,050 3,024,308
1961 2,824,400 2,976,724
1960 2,828,600 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland South Sudan
2100 -0.44% 0.02%
2099 -0.43% 0.07%
2098 -0.42% -0.008%
2097 -0.41% 0.04%
2096 -0.37% 0.03%
2095 -0.36% -0.006%
2094 -0.35% 0.04%
2093 -0.34% 0.08%
2092 -0.33% 0.08%
2091 -0.33% 0.09%
2090 -0.31% 0.17%
2089 -0.29% 0.19%
2088 -0.27% 0.15%
2087 -0.24% 0.23%
2086 -0.25% 0.19%
2085 -0.24% 0.3%
2084 -0.24% 0.29%
2083 -0.22% 0.33%
2082 -0.19% 0.32%
2081 -0.21% 0.32%
2080 -0.26% 0.42%
2079 -0.26% 0.42%
2078 -0.27% 0.48%
2077 -0.28% 0.43%
2076 -0.28% 0.52%
2075 -0.3% 0.63%
2074 -0.29% 0.63%
2073 -0.29% 0.64%
2072 -0.29% 0.68%
2071 -0.29% 0.62%
2070 -0.28% 0.67%
2069 -0.27% 0.8%
2068 -0.26% 0.77%
2067 -0.26% 0.77%
2066 -0.25% 0.84%
2065 -0.24% 0.83%
2064 -0.21% 0.84%
2063 -0.19% 0.87%
2062 -0.2% 0.85%
2061 -0.21% 0.87%
2060 -0.2% 0.97%
2059 -0.15% 0.93%
2058 -0.12% 0.98%
2057 -0.05% 0.99%
2056 -0.07% 1%
2055 -0.01% 1.07%
2054 -0.004% 1.03%
2053 0.03% 1.17%
2052 0.04% 1.11%
2051 0.08% 1.08%
2050 0.13% 1.12%
2049 0.18% 1.16%
2048 0.2% 1.21%
2047 0.21% 1.29%
2046 0.26% 1.29%
2045 0.3% 1.36%
2044 0.31% 1.38%
2043 0.34% 1.46%
2042 0.4% 1.52%
2041 0.42% 1.57%
2040 0.41% 1.59%
2039 0.46% 1.68%
2038 0.48% 1.72%
2037 0.48% 1.81%
2036 0.48% 1.86%
2035 0.53% 1.87%
2034 0.56% 1.86%
2033 0.61% 1.94%
2032 0.63% 2.01%
2031 0.66% 1.97%
2030 0.72% 1.96%
2029 0.78% 2%
2028 0.83% 2%
2027 0.88% 2.04%
2026 0.96% 2.02%
2025 1.06% 2.09%
2024 1.59% 4.01%
2023 1.89% 4.19%
2022 2% 1.43%
2021 1.41% 1.56%
2020 1.27% 2.64%
2019 1.6% 2.97%
2018 1.46% -1.33%
2017 1.36% -5.27%
2016 1.29% -2.5%
2015 0.95% -1.13%
2014 0.73% 0.62%
2013 0.53% 3.81%
2012 0.42% 4.55%
2011 0.44% 5.56%
2010 0.55% 5.44%
2009 1.02% 4.83%
2008 2.06% 5.11%
2007 2.93% 5.17%
2006 2.73% 5.09%
2005 2.2% 4.94%
2004 1.85% 4.78%
2003 1.64% 4.64%
2002 1.7% 4.57%
2001 1.6% 4.58%
2000 1.34% 4.52%
1999 1.13% 2.7%
1998 1.05% 2.01%
1997 1.01% 2.84%
1996 0.79% 2.51%
1995 0.51% 3.05%
1994 0.39% 2.32%
1993 0.5% 0.94%
1992 0.68% 1.51%
1991 0.58% 2.09%
1990 0.08% 0.52%
1989 -0.4% -2.78%
1988 -0.43% -2.3%
1987 0.01% 0.84%
1986 0.05% 1.8%
1985 0.16% 1.76%
1984 0.62% 1.91%
1983 0.71% 2.28%
1982 0.95% 2.48%
1981 1.18% 2.49%
1980 1.16% 2.51%
1979 1.34% 2.54%
1978 1.43% 2.58%
1977 1.36% 2.6%
1976 1.52% 2.63%
1975 1.66% 2.64%
1974 1.67% 2.64%
1973 1.62% 2.4%
1972 1.5% 2.13%
1971 1.18% 1.73%
1970 0.84% 1.31%
1969 0.59% 1.32%
1968 0.45% 1.34%
1967 0.47% 1.27%
1966 0.4% 1.46%
1965 0.38% 1.91%
1964 0.49% 1.86%
1963 0.59% 1.6%
1962 0.41% 1.6%
1961 -0.15% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Ireland South Sudan
Current population
5518360
12507858
Population rank 121/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.15%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.14 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 7/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 +6,145
Net migration rank 27/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 6,145
2024 - 39,059 - 15,374
2023 19,652 43,873 217,966 455,000
2022 19,287 93,535 211,166 40,259
2021 26,064 27,419 213,567 -154,359
2020 23,687 15,746 212,332 62,935
2019 28,365 29,663 209,708 65,198
2018 29,878 33,387 168,497 157,408
2017 31,379 28,883 72,193 -670,477
2016 33,339 18,967 110,553 -654,225
2015 35,265 13,376 148,542 -159,822
2014 37,728 448 227,611 -471,523
2013 39,302 -12,309 315,983 65,337
2012 42,775 -22,411 312,974 125,771
2011 45,801 -26,529 303,181 194,325
2010 47,426 -26,974 287,409 299,402
2009 47,168 -18,524 278,859 139,129
2008 46,691 18,979 268,268 165,557
2007 43,109 76,465 256,546 167,350
2006 36,752 94,513 246,706 153,926
2005 33,279 63,983 239,272 132,869
2004 33,376 49,102 231,877 110,182
2003 32,372 32,220 225,822 91,951
2002 31,062 34,286 212,014 82,847
2001 27,837 39,220 204,108 77,856
2000 23,592 31,298 196,055 74,227
1999 21,402 23,592 180,721 70,271
1998 22,277 16,615 -12,157 64,285
1997 21,311 17,425 121,454 48,280
1996 18,915 9,959 116,728 17,953
1995 16,601 10,019 110,417 17,077
1994 17,234 -3,118 165,407 16,407
1993 17,166 -3,762 32,779 15,772
1992 20,283 1,335 28,874 15,077
1991 21,206 4,944 87,873 14,327
1990 21,787 -8,203 82,900 12,988
1989 20,012 -28,752 83,735 -130,821
1988 22,912 -44,020 -125,447 -97,065
1987 26,904 -38,426 5,756 -11,976
1986 27,963 -21,139 99,502 -10,973
1985 29,013 -16,178 95,342 -9,986
1984 31,791 -15,549 90,970 -8,984
1983 34,053 -15,043 104,107 -7,986
1982 38,344 -14,464 118,641 -6,983
1981 39,364 -10,834 115,163 -5,994
1980 40,612 -2,876 112,307 -4,997
1979 38,798 1,486 109,540 -3,997
1978 36,288 15,543 107,352 -2,998
1977 35,448 14,505 104,886 -1,997
1976 33,676 14,200 102,346 -995
1975 34,128 13,828 99,882 -395
1974 34,199 13,482 97,181 -192
1973 34,562 13,164 94,765 0
1972 34,316 12,858 74,803 193
1971 35,606 5,851 72,308 394
1970 30,756 -8,892 44,776 587
1969 29,326 -10,250 42,015 786
1968 27,697 -11,132 44,213 995
1967 29,895 -11,708 41,357 1,194
1966 26,866 -11,858 38,523 1,386
1965 30,500 -14,016 51,682 1,591
1964 31,532 -15,640 64,786 1,785
1963 29,667 -16,615 46,333 1,591
1962 28,077 -17,438 47,406 1,386
1961 25,137 -22,237 45,186 1,194
1960 28,286 -38,492 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.