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Population in Ireland compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 4.02 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Ireland vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sri Lanka
2100 5,468,791 20,270,496
2099 5,493,162 20,383,669
2098 5,516,999 20,498,567
2097 5,540,157 20,611,123
2096 5,562,811 20,723,560
2095 5,583,505 20,834,629
2094 5,603,538 20,943,809
2093 5,623,266 21,052,131
2092 5,642,437 21,158,833
2091 5,661,268 21,263,961
2090 5,680,076 21,371,263
2089 5,697,512 21,475,426
2088 5,714,108 21,577,177
2087 5,729,431 21,677,510
2086 5,743,405 21,777,420
2085 5,757,666 21,876,464
2084 5,771,610 21,970,336
2083 5,785,324 22,062,801
2082 5,798,037 22,151,745
2081 5,809,262 22,240,834
2080 5,821,598 22,326,555
2079 5,836,731 22,411,438
2078 5,851,937 22,489,772
2077 5,867,627 22,565,028
2076 5,883,876 22,637,463
2075 5,900,200 22,707,112
2074 5,917,659 22,778,489
2073 5,934,975 22,844,703
2072 5,952,211 22,905,707
2071 5,969,279 22,964,866
2070 5,986,770 23,022,515
2069 6,003,570 23,076,310
2068 6,019,937 23,129,541
2067 6,035,810 23,184,596
2066 6,051,604 23,234,419
2065 6,066,791 23,285,901
2064 6,081,606 23,331,390
2063 6,094,455 23,372,184
2062 6,106,325 23,409,522
2061 6,118,587 23,441,893
2060 6,131,482 23,474,032
2059 6,143,979 23,502,132
2058 6,153,447 23,528,076
2057 6,161,059 23,550,580
2056 6,164,047 23,570,923
2055 6,168,611 23,582,432
2054 6,169,455 23,591,414
2053 6,169,673 23,601,371
2052 6,167,591 23,605,361
2051 6,164,894 23,606,194
2050 6,159,756 23,603,330
2049 6,151,623 23,597,604
2048 6,140,272 23,587,307
2047 6,128,245 23,570,881
2046 6,115,454 23,547,409
2045 6,099,562 23,515,133
2044 6,081,384 23,483,546
2043 6,062,477 23,446,242
2042 6,041,683 23,404,983
2041 6,017,573 23,357,358
2040 5,992,311 23,306,148
2039 5,967,604 23,248,341
2038 5,940,474 23,187,512
2037 5,912,327 23,120,775
2036 5,884,159 23,053,427
2035 5,855,902 22,981,808
2034 5,825,178 22,906,587
2033 5,792,751 22,826,414
2032 5,757,842 22,742,267
2031 5,721,671 22,655,907
2030 5,684,420 22,564,038
2029 5,644,008 22,470,759
2028 5,600,083 22,370,999
2027 5,553,725 22,266,017
2026 5,505,248 22,155,543
2025 5,452,752 22,039,908
2024 5,395,790 21,916,000
2023 5,311,538 22,037,000
2022 5,212,836 22,181,000
2021 5,110,585 22,156,000
2020 5,039,747 21,919,000
2019 4,976,456 21,803,000
2018 4,898,022 21,670,000
2017 4,827,445 21,453,000
2016 4,762,722 21,209,000
2015 4,701,957 20,970,000
2014 4,657,740 20,778,000
2013 4,623,816 20,585,000
2012 4,599,533 21,169,458
2011 4,580,084 21,009,048
2010 4,560,155 20,879,089
2009 4,535,375 20,756,435
2008 4,489,544 20,629,378
2007 4,398,942 20,492,545
2006 4,273,591 20,352,411
2005 4,159,914 20,216,524
2004 4,070,262 20,087,605
2003 3,996,521 19,951,521
2002 3,931,947 19,805,752
2001 3,866,243 19,600,362
2000 3,805,174 19,293,054
1999 3,754,786 18,944,731
1998 3,712,696 18,596,003
1997 3,674,171 18,248,200
1996 3,637,510 17,905,018
1995 3,608,841 17,564,068
1994 3,590,386 17,275,773
1993 3,576,261 17,025,918
1992 3,558,430 16,739,284
1991 3,534,235 16,475,354
1990 3,513,974 16,352,458
1989 3,511,009 16,248,557
1988 3,524,949 16,078,621
1987 3,540,057 15,916,576
1986 3,539,690 15,731,256
1985 3,538,082 15,544,154
1984 3,532,423 15,441,860
1983 3,510,600 15,388,794
1982 3,485,800 15,286,567
1981 3,453,000 15,099,414
1980 3,412,800 14,847,974
1979 3,373,750 14,579,614
1978 3,329,100 14,310,128
1977 3,282,200 14,049,371
1976 3,238,050 13,796,770
1975 3,189,550 13,548,984
1974 3,137,500 13,305,693
1973 3,085,950 13,060,916
1972 3,036,850 12,809,205
1971 2,992,050 12,551,910
1970 2,957,250 12,287,110
1969 2,932,650 12,013,858
1968 2,915,550 11,736,088
1967 2,902,450 11,457,328
1966 2,888,800 11,183,928
1965 2,877,300 10,916,965
1964 2,866,550 10,653,397
1963 2,852,650 10,395,040
1962 2,836,050 10,143,754
1961 2,824,400 9,899,372
1960 2,828,600 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Sri Lanka
2100 -0.44% -0.56%
2099 -0.43% -0.56%
2098 -0.42% -0.55%
2097 -0.41% -0.54%
2096 -0.37% -0.53%
2095 -0.36% -0.52%
2094 -0.35% -0.51%
2093 -0.34% -0.5%
2092 -0.33% -0.49%
2091 -0.33% -0.5%
2090 -0.31% -0.49%
2089 -0.29% -0.47%
2088 -0.27% -0.46%
2087 -0.24% -0.46%
2086 -0.25% -0.45%
2085 -0.24% -0.43%
2084 -0.24% -0.42%
2083 -0.22% -0.4%
2082 -0.19% -0.4%
2081 -0.21% -0.38%
2080 -0.26% -0.38%
2079 -0.26% -0.35%
2078 -0.27% -0.33%
2077 -0.28% -0.32%
2076 -0.28% -0.31%
2075 -0.3% -0.31%
2074 -0.29% -0.29%
2073 -0.29% -0.27%
2072 -0.29% -0.26%
2071 -0.29% -0.25%
2070 -0.28% -0.23%
2069 -0.27% -0.23%
2068 -0.26% -0.24%
2067 -0.26% -0.21%
2066 -0.25% -0.22%
2065 -0.24% -0.19%
2064 -0.21% -0.17%
2063 -0.19% -0.16%
2062 -0.2% -0.14%
2061 -0.21% -0.14%
2060 -0.2% -0.12%
2059 -0.15% -0.11%
2058 -0.12% -0.1%
2057 -0.05% -0.09%
2056 -0.07% -0.05%
2055 -0.01% -0.04%
2054 -0.004% -0.04%
2053 0.03% -0.02%
2052 0.04% -0.004%
2051 0.08% 0.01%
2050 0.13% 0.02%
2049 0.18% 0.04%
2048 0.2% 0.07%
2047 0.21% 0.1%
2046 0.26% 0.14%
2045 0.3% 0.13%
2044 0.31% 0.16%
2043 0.34% 0.18%
2042 0.4% 0.2%
2041 0.42% 0.22%
2040 0.41% 0.25%
2039 0.46% 0.26%
2038 0.48% 0.29%
2037 0.48% 0.29%
2036 0.48% 0.31%
2035 0.53% 0.33%
2034 0.56% 0.35%
2033 0.61% 0.37%
2032 0.63% 0.38%
2031 0.66% 0.41%
2030 0.72% 0.42%
2029 0.78% 0.45%
2028 0.83% 0.47%
2027 0.88% 0.5%
2026 0.96% 0.52%
2025 1.06% 0.57%
2024 1.59% -0.55%
2023 1.89% -0.65%
2022 2% 0.11%
2021 1.41% 1.08%
2020 1.27% 0.53%
2019 1.6% 0.61%
2018 1.46% 1.01%
2017 1.36% 1.15%
2016 1.29% 1.14%
2015 0.95% 0.92%
2014 0.73% 0.94%
2013 0.53% -2.76%
2012 0.42% 0.76%
2011 0.44% 0.62%
2010 0.55% 0.59%
2009 1.02% 0.62%
2008 2.06% 0.67%
2007 2.93% 0.69%
2006 2.73% 0.67%
2005 2.2% 0.64%
2004 1.85% 0.68%
2003 1.64% 0.74%
2002 1.7% 1.05%
2001 1.6% 1.59%
2000 1.34% 1.84%
1999 1.13% 1.88%
1998 1.05% 1.91%
1997 1.01% 1.92%
1996 0.79% 1.94%
1995 0.51% 1.67%
1994 0.39% 1.47%
1993 0.5% 1.71%
1992 0.68% 1.6%
1991 0.58% 0.75%
1990 0.08% 0.64%
1989 -0.4% 1.06%
1988 -0.43% 1.02%
1987 0.01% 1.18%
1986 0.05% 1.2%
1985 0.16% 0.66%
1984 0.62% 0.34%
1983 0.71% 0.67%
1982 0.95% 1.24%
1981 1.18% 1.69%
1980 1.16% 1.84%
1979 1.34% 1.88%
1978 1.43% 1.86%
1977 1.36% 1.83%
1976 1.52% 1.83%
1975 1.66% 1.83%
1974 1.67% 1.87%
1973 1.62% 1.97%
1972 1.5% 2.05%
1971 1.18% 2.16%
1970 0.84% 2.27%
1969 0.59% 2.37%
1968 0.45% 2.43%
1967 0.47% 2.44%
1966 0.4% 2.45%
1965 0.38% 2.47%
1964 0.49% 2.49%
1963 0.59% 2.48%
1962 0.41% 2.47%
1961 -0.15% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sri Lanka
Current population
5518360
22185425
Population rank 121/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 -332
Annual growth/decline +84,252 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 188/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -30,724
Net migration rank 27/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -30,724
2024 - 39,059 - -27,245
2023 19,652 43,873 66,111 -28,011
2022 19,287 93,535 95,378 -27,435
2021 26,064 27,419 121,858 -29,586
2020 23,687 15,746 170,968 -29,875
2019 28,365 29,663 172,243 -28,426
2018 29,878 33,387 183,610 -28,607
2017 31,379 28,883 187,993 -22,324
2016 33,339 18,967 194,232 -18,388
2015 35,265 13,376 201,815 -29,797
2014 37,728 448 211,541 -33,672
2013 39,302 -12,309 221,021 -37,754
2012 42,775 -22,411 229,138 -41,955
2011 45,801 -26,529 224,461 -90,839
2010 47,426 -26,974 224,325 -98,060
2009 47,168 -18,524 200,175 -81,130
2008 46,691 18,979 232,225 -97,144
2007 43,109 76,465 248,287 -109,695
2006 36,752 94,513 248,706 -107,045
2005 33,279 63,983 248,683 -118,594
2004 33,376 49,102 212,527 -84,795
2003 32,372 32,220 252,008 -107,573
2002 31,062 34,286 252,840 -105,718
2001 27,837 39,220 244,377 19,273
2000 23,592 31,298 227,060 123,894
1999 21,402 23,592 206,876 138,799
1998 22,277 16,615 201,059 150,724
1997 21,311 17,425 208,193 135,636
1996 18,915 9,959 215,290 127,236
1995 16,601 10,019 221,957 117,416
1994 17,234 -3,118 228,904 8,323
1993 17,166 -3,762 226,257 36,232
1992 20,283 1,335 222,230 88,542
1991 21,206 4,944 218,117 -1,047
1990 21,787 -8,203 224,454 -195,736
1989 20,012 -28,752 212,401 -33,305
1988 22,912 -44,020 219,184 -58,415
1987 26,904 -38,426 226,414 -63,105
1986 27,963 -21,139 233,782 -26,460
1985 29,013 -16,178 247,836 -80,950
1984 31,791 -15,549 263,175 -225,450
1983 34,053 -15,043 277,768 -209,362
1982 38,344 -14,464 300,030 -163,987
1981 39,364 -10,834 328,096 -89,824
1980 40,612 -2,876 328,155 -63,541
1979 38,798 1,486 329,791 -57,683
1978 36,288 15,543 317,055 -50,189
1977 35,448 14,505 300,038 -45,383
1976 33,676 14,200 291,816 -41,258
1975 34,128 13,828 282,496 -37,475
1974 34,199 13,482 275,521 -33,979
1973 34,562 13,164 278,577 -30,582
1972 34,316 12,858 282,494 -27,071
1971 35,606 5,851 281,200 -22,021
1970 30,756 -8,892 286,719 -16,299
1969 29,326 -10,250 286,218 -10,152
1968 27,697 -11,132 286,642 -7,163
1967 29,895 -11,708 284,738 -6,696
1966 26,866 -11,858 275,549 -6,794
1965 30,500 -14,016 272,422 -7,249
1964 31,532 -15,640 269,584 -7,614
1963 29,667 -16,615 262,880 -8,118
1962 28,077 -17,438 256,719 -8,909
1961 25,137 -22,237 251,087 -10,144
1960 28,286 -38,492 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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