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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 8.87 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 +1.5% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Ireland vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Spain
2100 5,500,499 34,221,514
2099 5,525,011 34,400,373
2098 5,548,986 34,577,450
2097 5,572,279 34,751,199
2096 5,595,064 34,917,831
2095 5,615,877 35,087,012
2094 5,636,027 35,251,362
2093 5,655,870 35,415,082
2092 5,675,151 35,577,396
2091 5,694,092 35,741,351
2090 5,713,009 35,912,083
2089 5,730,546 36,086,009
2088 5,747,238 36,257,546
2087 5,762,650 36,424,826
2086 5,776,705 36,594,101
2085 5,791,049 36,771,456
2084 5,805,074 36,951,760
2083 5,818,867 37,138,777
2082 5,831,653 37,327,720
2081 5,842,944 37,527,142
2080 5,855,351 37,732,838
2079 5,870,572 37,949,144
2078 5,885,866 38,171,047
2077 5,901,647 38,405,329
2076 5,917,991 38,654,221
2075 5,934,408 38,913,733
2074 5,951,970 39,188,284
2073 5,969,385 39,469,767
2072 5,986,721 39,765,059
2071 6,003,888 40,062,070
2070 6,021,481 40,372,388
2069 6,038,378 40,682,818
2068 6,054,840 41,005,148
2067 6,070,805 41,326,772
2066 6,086,691 41,654,672
2065 6,101,966 41,983,104
2064 6,116,867 42,321,736
2063 6,129,790 42,655,212
2062 6,141,729 42,993,328
2061 6,154,062 43,328,037
2060 6,167,032 43,648,753
2059 6,179,602 43,967,376
2058 6,189,124 44,273,756
2057 6,196,781 44,579,723
2056 6,199,786 44,885,952
2055 6,204,376 45,164,935
2054 6,205,225 45,434,986
2053 6,205,444 45,702,038
2052 6,203,350 45,951,973
2051 6,200,637 46,179,119
2050 6,195,469 46,397,620
2049 6,187,289 46,616,167
2048 6,175,872 46,812,693
2047 6,163,776 47,002,591
2046 6,150,911 47,182,235
2045 6,134,927 47,354,908
2044 6,116,643 47,514,076
2043 6,097,627 47,657,627
2042 6,076,713 47,801,904
2041 6,052,462 47,936,819
2040 6,027,054 48,066,825
2039 6,002,204 48,190,225
2038 5,974,917 48,304,880
2037 5,946,606 48,418,168
2036 5,918,275 48,528,778
2035 5,889,854 48,633,960
2034 5,858,952 48,730,594
2033 5,826,337 48,823,356
2032 5,791,225 48,914,944
2031 5,754,845 49,008,735
2030 5,717,377 49,094,273
2029 5,676,731 49,163,780
2028 5,632,552 49,223,677
2027 5,585,925 49,274,441
2026 5,537,167 49,323,658
2025 5,484,367 49,355,143
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2025 at 49.4M people and is projected to decrease to 34.2M 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 1.64% 1.04%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

Ireland Spain
Current population
5562212
49323658
Population rank 122/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.59%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
1.04 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
1.66 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +1,387
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 98/197
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 18,885 39,059 -117,237 111,674
2023 19,652 43,873 -116,046 119,099
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/spain | 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 Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 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 (1960–2025, 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/spain | 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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