Skip to content

Population in Ireland compared to Spain: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 8.84 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Ireland vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Spain
2100 5,468,791 33,862,981
2099 5,493,162 34,039,965
2098 5,516,999 34,215,187
2097 5,540,157 34,387,116
2096 5,562,811 34,552,002
2095 5,583,505 34,719,411
2094 5,603,538 34,882,039
2093 5,623,266 35,044,043
2092 5,642,437 35,204,657
2091 5,661,268 35,366,895
2090 5,680,076 35,535,838
2089 5,697,512 35,707,942
2088 5,714,108 35,877,681
2087 5,729,431 36,043,209
2086 5,743,405 36,210,710
2085 5,757,666 36,386,207
2084 5,771,610 36,564,622
2083 5,785,324 36,749,680
2082 5,798,037 36,936,644
2081 5,809,262 37,133,976
2080 5,821,598 37,337,517
2079 5,836,731 37,551,557
2078 5,851,937 37,771,135
2077 5,867,627 38,002,963
2076 5,883,876 38,249,247
2075 5,900,200 38,506,040
2074 5,917,659 38,777,715
2073 5,934,975 39,056,249
2072 5,952,211 39,348,447
2071 5,969,279 39,642,346
2070 5,986,770 39,949,413
2069 6,003,570 40,256,590
2068 6,019,937 40,575,543
2067 6,035,810 40,893,798
2066 6,051,604 41,218,263
2065 6,066,791 41,543,254
2064 6,081,606 41,878,338
2063 6,094,455 42,208,320
2062 6,106,325 42,542,893
2061 6,118,587 42,874,096
2060 6,131,482 43,191,452
2059 6,143,979 43,506,737
2058 6,153,447 43,809,907
2057 6,161,059 44,112,668
2056 6,164,047 44,415,689
2055 6,168,611 44,691,749
2054 6,169,455 44,958,971
2053 6,169,673 45,223,225
2052 6,167,591 45,470,541
2051 6,164,894 45,695,307
2050 6,159,756 45,911,520
2049 6,151,623 46,127,777
2048 6,140,272 46,322,244
2047 6,128,245 46,510,152
2046 6,115,454 46,687,914
2045 6,099,562 46,858,778
2044 6,081,384 47,016,278
2043 6,062,477 47,158,325
2042 6,041,683 47,301,091
2041 6,017,573 47,434,593
2040 5,992,311 47,563,236
2039 5,967,604 47,685,343
2038 5,940,474 47,798,797
2037 5,912,327 47,910,899
2036 5,884,159 48,020,350
2035 5,855,902 48,124,430
2034 5,825,178 48,220,051
2033 5,792,751 48,311,842
2032 5,757,842 48,402,470
2031 5,721,671 48,495,278
2030 5,684,420 48,579,920
2029 5,644,008 48,648,699
2028 5,600,083 48,707,969
2027 5,553,725 48,758,200
2026 5,505,248 48,806,901
2025 5,452,752 48,838,057
2024 5,395,790 48,848,840
2023 5,311,538 48,352,528
2022 5,212,836 47,786,102
2021 5,110,585 47,443,821
2020 5,039,747 47,359,424
2019 4,976,456 47,118,501
2018 4,898,022 46,782,011
2017 4,827,445 46,571,232
2016 4,762,722 46,458,139
2015 4,701,957 46,422,303
2014 4,657,740 46,460,733
2013 4,623,816 46,604,197
2012 4,599,533 46,773,055
2011 4,580,084 46,742,697
2010 4,560,155 46,576,897
2009 4,535,375 46,362,946
2008 4,489,544 45,954,106
2007 4,398,942 45,226,803
2006 4,273,591 44,397,319
2005 4,159,914 43,653,155
2004 4,070,262 42,921,895
2003 3,996,521 42,187,645
2002 3,931,947 41,431,558
2001 3,866,243 40,850,412
2000 3,805,174 40,567,864
1999 3,754,786 40,386,875
1998 3,712,696 40,223,509
1997 3,674,171 40,057,389
1996 3,637,510 39,889,852
1995 3,608,841 39,724,050
1994 3,590,386 39,549,108
1993 3,576,261 39,361,262
1992 3,558,430 39,157,685
1991 3,534,235 38,966,376
1990 3,513,974 38,867,322
1989 3,511,009 38,827,764
1988 3,524,949 38,766,939
1987 3,540,057 38,684,815
1986 3,539,690 38,584,624
1985 3,538,082 38,469,512
1984 3,532,423 38,330,364
1983 3,510,600 38,171,525
1982 3,485,800 37,986,012
1981 3,453,000 37,758,631
1980 3,412,800 37,491,165
1979 3,373,750 37,191,330
1978 3,329,100 36,864,898
1977 3,282,200 36,511,638
1976 3,238,050 36,137,812
1975 3,189,550 35,757,900
1974 3,137,500 35,373,335
1973 3,085,950 34,988,947
1972 3,036,850 34,604,469
1971 2,992,050 34,224,490
1970 2,957,250 33,814,531
1969 2,932,650 33,441,054
1968 2,915,550 33,113,134
1967 2,902,450 32,682,947
1966 2,888,800 32,283,194
1965 2,877,300 31,954,292
1964 2,866,550 31,609,195
1963 2,852,650 31,296,651
1962 2,836,050 31,023,366
1961 2,824,400 30,739,250
1960 2,828,600 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Spain
2100 -0.44% -0.52%
2099 -0.43% -0.51%
2098 -0.42% -0.5%
2097 -0.41% -0.48%
2096 -0.37% -0.48%
2095 -0.36% -0.47%
2094 -0.35% -0.46%
2093 -0.34% -0.46%
2092 -0.33% -0.46%
2091 -0.33% -0.48%
2090 -0.31% -0.48%
2089 -0.29% -0.47%
2088 -0.27% -0.46%
2087 -0.24% -0.46%
2086 -0.25% -0.48%
2085 -0.24% -0.49%
2084 -0.24% -0.5%
2083 -0.22% -0.51%
2082 -0.19% -0.53%
2081 -0.21% -0.55%
2080 -0.26% -0.57%
2079 -0.26% -0.58%
2078 -0.27% -0.61%
2077 -0.28% -0.64%
2076 -0.28% -0.67%
2075 -0.3% -0.7%
2074 -0.29% -0.71%
2073 -0.29% -0.74%
2072 -0.29% -0.74%
2071 -0.29% -0.77%
2070 -0.28% -0.76%
2069 -0.27% -0.79%
2068 -0.26% -0.78%
2067 -0.26% -0.79%
2066 -0.25% -0.78%
2065 -0.24% -0.8%
2064 -0.21% -0.78%
2063 -0.19% -0.79%
2062 -0.2% -0.77%
2061 -0.21% -0.73%
2060 -0.2% -0.72%
2059 -0.15% -0.69%
2058 -0.12% -0.69%
2057 -0.05% -0.68%
2056 -0.07% -0.62%
2055 -0.01% -0.59%
2054 -0.004% -0.58%
2053 0.03% -0.54%
2052 0.04% -0.49%
2051 0.08% -0.47%
2050 0.13% -0.47%
2049 0.18% -0.42%
2048 0.2% -0.4%
2047 0.21% -0.38%
2046 0.26% -0.36%
2045 0.3% -0.33%
2044 0.31% -0.3%
2043 0.34% -0.3%
2042 0.4% -0.28%
2041 0.42% -0.27%
2040 0.41% -0.26%
2039 0.46% -0.24%
2038 0.48% -0.23%
2037 0.48% -0.23%
2036 0.48% -0.22%
2035 0.53% -0.2%
2034 0.56% -0.19%
2033 0.61% -0.19%
2032 0.63% -0.19%
2031 0.66% -0.17%
2030 0.72% -0.14%
2029 0.78% -0.12%
2028 0.83% -0.1%
2027 0.88% -0.1%
2026 0.96% -0.06%
2025 1.06% -0.02%
2024 1.59% 1.03%
2023 1.89% 1.19%
2022 2% 0.72%
2021 1.41% 0.18%
2020 1.27% 0.51%
2019 1.6% 0.72%
2018 1.46% 0.45%
2017 1.36% 0.24%
2016 1.29% 0.08%
2015 0.95% -0.08%
2014 0.73% -0.31%
2013 0.53% -0.36%
2012 0.42% 0.06%
2011 0.44% 0.36%
2010 0.55% 0.46%
2009 1.02% 0.89%
2008 2.06% 1.61%
2007 2.93% 1.87%
2006 2.73% 1.7%
2005 2.2% 1.7%
2004 1.85% 1.74%
2003 1.64% 1.82%
2002 1.7% 1.42%
2001 1.6% 0.7%
2000 1.34% 0.45%
1999 1.13% 0.41%
1998 1.05% 0.41%
1997 1.01% 0.42%
1996 0.79% 0.42%
1995 0.51% 0.44%
1994 0.39% 0.48%
1993 0.5% 0.52%
1992 0.68% 0.49%
1991 0.58% 0.25%
1990 0.08% 0.1%
1989 -0.4% 0.16%
1988 -0.43% 0.21%
1987 0.01% 0.26%
1986 0.05% 0.3%
1985 0.16% 0.36%
1984 0.62% 0.42%
1983 0.71% 0.49%
1982 0.95% 0.6%
1981 1.18% 0.71%
1980 1.16% 0.81%
1979 1.34% 0.89%
1978 1.43% 0.97%
1977 1.36% 1.03%
1976 1.52% 1.06%
1975 1.66% 1.09%
1974 1.67% 1.1%
1973 1.62% 1.11%
1972 1.5% 1.11%
1971 1.18% 1.21%
1970 0.84% 1.12%
1969 0.59% 0.99%
1968 0.45% 1.32%
1967 0.47% 1.24%
1966 0.4% 1.03%
1965 0.38% 1.09%
1964 0.49% 1%
1963 0.59% 0.88%
1962 0.41% 0.92%
1961 -0.15% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Ireland Spain
Current population
5518360
48806901
Population rank 121/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.59%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 100/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +96,630
Net migration rank 27/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 96,630
2024 - 39,059 - 111,674
2023 19,652 43,873 -111,211 119,099
2022 19,287 93,535 -133,801 299,779
2021 26,064 27,419 -113,865 144,385
2020 23,687 15,746 -151,551 236,854
2019 28,365 29,663 -56,542 464,783
2018 29,878 33,387 -56,139 337,467
2017 31,379 28,883 -32,600 201,135
2016 33,339 18,967 0 106,474
2015 35,265 13,376 -4,642 -1,979
2014 37,728 448 32,522 -97,870
2013 39,302 -12,309 37,284 -250,741
2012 42,775 -22,411 51,450 -153,486
2011 45,801 -26,529 84,137 60,761
2010 47,426 -26,974 102,469 69,406
2009 47,168 -18,524 106,635 129,557
2008 46,691 18,979 133,267 434,135
2007 43,109 76,465 108,545 772,317
2006 36,752 94,513 110,994 659,720
2005 33,279 63,983 78,576 629,803
2004 33,376 49,102 85,844 661,158
2003 32,372 32,220 54,844 658,428
2002 31,062 34,286 53,861 737,880
2001 27,837 39,220 44,936 181,307
2000 23,592 31,298 36,512 176,269
1999 21,402 23,592 8,077 178,559
1998 22,277 16,615 4,022 182,926
1997 21,311 17,425 20,028 165,345
1996 18,915 9,959 11,967 162,704
1995 16,601 10,019 15,889 162,434
1994 17,234 -3,118 31,639 160,407
1993 17,166 -3,762 47,234 160,907
1992 20,283 1,335 62,652 177,544
1991 21,206 4,944 58,450 122,841
1990 21,787 -8,203 66,075 -30,684
1989 20,012 -28,752 81,538 -25,892
1988 22,912 -44,020 100,794 -17,663
1987 26,904 -38,426 116,054 -12,681
1986 27,963 -21,139 131,188 -13,540
1985 29,013 -16,178 146,184 -589
1984 31,791 -15,549 172,487 2,754
1983 34,053 -15,043 183,223 1,241
1982 38,344 -14,464 231,714 -7,384
1981 39,364 -10,834 237,879 2,563
1980 40,612 -2,876 281,184 20,166
1979 38,798 1,486 312,407 -5,929
1978 36,288 15,543 339,157 -2,504
1977 35,448 14,505 361,465 -1,332
1976 33,676 14,200 375,834 2,804
1975 34,128 13,828 371,882 -218
1974 34,199 13,482 396,182 105,838
1973 34,562 13,164 374,381 8,624
1972 34,316 12,858 391,030 7,935
1971 35,606 5,851 369,625 7,363
1970 30,756 -8,892 378,723 -60,580
1969 29,326 -10,250 367,851 -49,956
1968 27,697 -11,132 387,423 -46,088
1967 29,895 -11,708 402,001 -42,344
1966 26,866 -11,858 397,084 -41,467
1965 30,500 -14,016 405,819 -42,476
1964 31,532 -15,640 429,885 -41,461
1963 29,667 -16,615 394,338 -44,446
1962 28,077 -17,438 384,690 -45,211
1961 25,137 -22,237 396,537 -46,517
1960 28,286 -38,492 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.