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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.94 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Ireland vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sri Lanka
2100 5,500,499 20,009,380
2099 5,525,011 20,121,095
2098 5,548,986 20,234,513
2097 5,572,279 20,345,619
2096 5,595,064 20,456,607
2095 5,615,877 20,566,246
2094 5,636,027 20,674,019
2093 5,655,870 20,780,946
2092 5,675,151 20,886,274
2091 5,694,092 20,990,047
2090 5,713,009 21,095,968
2089 5,730,546 21,198,788
2088 5,747,238 21,299,229
2087 5,762,650 21,398,269
2086 5,776,705 21,496,892
2085 5,791,049 21,594,661
2084 5,805,074 21,687,323
2083 5,818,867 21,778,597
2082 5,831,653 21,866,395
2081 5,842,944 21,954,337
2080 5,855,351 22,038,953
2079 5,870,572 22,122,744
2078 5,885,866 22,200,069
2077 5,901,647 22,274,355
2076 5,917,991 22,345,857
2075 5,934,408 22,414,609
2074 5,951,970 22,485,066
2073 5,969,385 22,550,427
2072 5,986,721 22,610,645
2071 6,003,888 22,669,042
2070 6,021,481 22,725,948
2069 6,038,378 22,779,050
2068 6,054,840 22,831,596
2067 6,070,805 22,885,941
2066 6,086,691 22,935,123
2065 6,101,966 22,985,942
2064 6,116,867 23,030,844
2063 6,129,790 23,071,114
2062 6,141,729 23,107,970
2061 6,154,062 23,139,924
2060 6,167,032 23,171,649
2059 6,179,602 23,199,387
2058 6,189,124 23,224,997
2057 6,196,781 23,247,211
2056 6,199,786 23,267,292
2055 6,204,376 23,278,653
2054 6,205,225 23,287,520
2053 6,205,444 23,297,347
2052 6,203,350 23,301,287
2051 6,200,637 23,302,108
2050 6,195,469 23,299,282
2049 6,187,289 23,293,630
2048 6,175,872 23,283,465
2047 6,163,776 23,267,251
2046 6,150,911 23,244,081
2045 6,134,927 23,212,221
2044 6,116,643 23,181,041
2043 6,097,627 23,144,217
2042 6,076,713 23,103,489
2041 6,052,462 23,056,478
2040 6,027,054 23,005,928
2039 6,002,204 22,948,866
2038 5,974,917 22,888,821
2037 5,946,606 22,822,943
2036 5,918,275 22,756,462
2035 5,889,854 22,685,766
2034 5,858,952 22,611,514
2033 5,826,337 22,532,374
2032 5,791,225 22,449,310
2031 5,754,845 22,364,063
2030 5,717,377 22,273,377
2029 5,676,731 22,181,300
2028 5,632,552 22,082,826
2027 5,585,925 21,979,196
2026 5,537,167 21,870,145
2025 5,484,367 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 23.3M 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 1.64% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sri Lanka
Current population
5562212
21926160
Population rank 122/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.26%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
3.29 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 -438
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 190/197
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 18,885 39,059 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 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 (1960–2025, 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/sri-lanka | 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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