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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.92 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Ireland vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sweden
2100 5,500,499 11,330,987
2099 5,525,011 11,334,835
2098 5,548,986 11,339,107
2097 5,572,279 11,340,268
2096 5,595,064 11,341,947
2095 5,615,877 11,344,893
2094 5,636,027 11,347,531
2093 5,655,870 11,349,412
2092 5,675,151 11,351,452
2091 5,694,092 11,352,899
2090 5,713,009 11,354,820
2089 5,730,546 11,357,746
2088 5,747,238 11,360,405
2087 5,762,650 11,364,197
2086 5,776,705 11,371,529
2085 5,791,049 11,376,573
2084 5,805,074 11,381,332
2083 5,818,867 11,384,862
2082 5,831,653 11,390,058
2081 5,842,944 11,391,696
2080 5,855,351 11,393,882
2079 5,870,572 11,393,412
2078 5,885,866 11,391,291
2077 5,901,647 11,389,212
2076 5,917,991 11,385,385
2075 5,934,408 11,381,261
2074 5,951,970 11,377,973
2073 5,969,385 11,375,051
2072 5,986,721 11,371,362
2071 6,003,888 11,366,451
2070 6,021,481 11,362,742
2069 6,038,378 11,358,895
2068 6,054,840 11,357,504
2067 6,070,805 11,356,672
2066 6,086,691 11,356,676
2065 6,101,966 11,355,953
2064 6,116,867 11,354,988
2063 6,129,790 11,354,834
2062 6,141,729 11,355,452
2061 6,154,062 11,353,198
2060 6,167,032 11,352,013
2059 6,179,602 11,349,674
2058 6,189,124 11,345,893
2057 6,196,781 11,340,487
2056 6,199,786 11,335,234
2055 6,204,376 11,328,291
2054 6,205,225 11,320,768
2053 6,205,444 11,310,127
2052 6,203,350 11,296,358
2051 6,200,637 11,280,503
2050 6,195,469 11,261,537
2049 6,187,289 11,242,070
2048 6,175,872 11,221,274
2047 6,163,776 11,199,365
2046 6,150,911 11,176,512
2045 6,134,927 11,152,739
2044 6,116,643 11,127,765
2043 6,097,627 11,102,354
2042 6,076,713 11,076,504
2041 6,052,462 11,052,951
2040 6,027,054 11,028,609
2039 6,002,204 11,005,487
2038 5,974,917 10,983,160
2037 5,946,606 10,961,591
2036 5,918,275 10,938,759
2035 5,889,854 10,916,327
2034 5,858,952 10,893,717
2033 5,826,337 10,869,588
2032 5,791,225 10,844,339
2031 5,754,845 10,819,037
2030 5,717,377 10,790,557
2029 5,676,731 10,759,017
2028 5,632,552 10,724,017
2027 5,585,925 10,685,143
2026 5,537,167 10,643,884
2025 5,484,367 10,596,620
2024 5,395,790 10,569,709
2023 5,311,538 10,536,632
2022 5,212,836 10,486,941
2021 5,110,585 10,415,811
2020 5,039,747 10,353,442
2019 4,976,456 10,278,887
2018 4,898,022 10,175,214
2017 4,827,445 10,057,698
2016 4,762,722 9,923,085
2015 4,701,957 9,799,186
2014 4,657,740 9,696,110
2013 4,623,816 9,600,379
2012 4,599,533 9,519,374
2011 4,580,084 9,449,213
2010 4,560,155 9,378,126
2009 4,535,375 9,298,515
2008 4,489,544 9,219,637
2007 4,398,942 9,148,092
2006 4,273,591 9,080,505
2005 4,159,914 9,029,572
2004 4,070,262 8,993,531
2003 3,996,521 8,958,229
2002 3,931,947 8,924,958
2001 3,866,243 8,895,960
2000 3,805,174 8,872,109
1999 3,754,786 8,857,874
1998 3,712,696 8,850,974
1997 3,674,171 8,846,062
1996 3,637,510 8,840,998
1995 3,608,841 8,826,939
1994 3,590,386 8,780,745
1993 3,576,261 8,718,561
1992 3,558,430 8,668,067
1991 3,534,235 8,617,375
1990 3,513,974 8,558,835
1989 3,511,009 8,492,964
1988 3,524,949 8,436,489
1987 3,540,057 8,397,804
1986 3,539,690 8,369,829
1985 3,538,082 8,350,386
1984 3,532,423 8,336,605
1983 3,510,600 8,329,033
1982 3,485,800 8,325,263
1981 3,453,000 8,320,503
1980 3,412,800 8,310,531
1979 3,373,750 8,293,678
1978 3,329,100 8,275,599
1977 3,282,200 8,251,540
1976 3,238,050 8,222,286
1975 3,189,550 8,192,437
1974 3,137,500 8,159,955
1973 3,085,950 8,136,312
1972 3,036,850 8,122,300
1971 2,992,050 8,098,334
1970 2,957,250 8,042,801
1969 2,932,650 7,968,072
1968 2,915,550 7,912,273
1967 2,902,450 7,867,931
1966 2,888,800 7,807,797
1965 2,877,300 7,733,853
1964 2,866,550 7,661,354
1963 2,852,650 7,604,328
1962 2,836,050 7,561,588
1961 2,824,400 7,519,998
1960 2,828,600 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd 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 Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 11.4M people in 2080 for Sweden.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Sweden
2100 -0.44% -0.03%
2099 -0.43% -0.04%
2098 -0.42% -0.01%
2097 -0.41% -0.01%
2096 -0.37% -0.03%
2095 -0.36% -0.02%
2094 -0.35% -0.02%
2093 -0.34% -0.02%
2092 -0.33% -0.01%
2091 -0.33% -0.02%
2090 -0.31% -0.03%
2089 -0.29% -0.02%
2088 -0.27% -0.03%
2087 -0.24% -0.06%
2086 -0.25% -0.04%
2085 -0.24% -0.04%
2084 -0.24% -0.03%
2083 -0.22% -0.05%
2082 -0.19% -0.01%
2081 -0.21% -0.02%
2080 -0.26% 0.004%
2079 -0.26% 0.02%
2078 -0.27% 0.02%
2077 -0.28% 0.03%
2076 -0.28% 0.04%
2075 -0.3% 0.03%
2074 -0.29% 0.03%
2073 -0.29% 0.03%
2072 -0.29% 0.04%
2071 -0.29% 0.03%
2070 -0.28% 0.03%
2069 -0.27% 0.01%
2068 -0.26% 0.007%
2067 -0.26% -0%
2066 -0.25% 0.006%
2065 -0.24% 0.009%
2064 -0.21% 0.001%
2063 -0.19% -0.005%
2062 -0.2% 0.02%
2061 -0.21% 0.01%
2060 -0.2% 0.02%
2059 -0.15% 0.03%
2058 -0.12% 0.05%
2057 -0.05% 0.05%
2056 -0.07% 0.06%
2055 -0.01% 0.07%
2054 -0.004% 0.09%
2053 0.03% 0.12%
2052 0.04% 0.14%
2051 0.08% 0.17%
2050 0.13% 0.17%
2049 0.18% 0.19%
2048 0.2% 0.2%
2047 0.21% 0.2%
2046 0.26% 0.21%
2045 0.3% 0.22%
2044 0.31% 0.23%
2043 0.34% 0.23%
2042 0.4% 0.21%
2041 0.42% 0.22%
2040 0.41% 0.21%
2039 0.46% 0.2%
2038 0.48% 0.2%
2037 0.48% 0.21%
2036 0.48% 0.21%
2035 0.53% 0.21%
2034 0.56% 0.22%
2033 0.61% 0.23%
2032 0.63% 0.23%
2031 0.66% 0.26%
2030 0.72% 0.29%
2029 0.78% 0.33%
2028 0.83% 0.36%
2027 0.88% 0.39%
2026 0.96% 0.45%
2025 1.64% 0.25%
2024 1.59% 0.31%
2023 1.89% 0.47%
2022 2% 0.68%
2021 1.41% 0.6%
2020 1.27% 0.73%
2019 1.6% 1.02%
2018 1.46% 1.17%
2017 1.36% 1.36%
2016 1.29% 1.26%
2015 0.95% 1.06%
2014 0.73% 1%
2013 0.53% 0.85%
2012 0.42% 0.74%
2011 0.44% 0.76%
2010 0.55% 0.86%
2009 1.02% 0.86%
2008 2.06% 0.78%
2007 2.93% 0.74%
2006 2.73% 0.56%
2005 2.2% 0.4%
2004 1.85% 0.39%
2003 1.64% 0.37%
2002 1.7% 0.33%
2001 1.6% 0.27%
2000 1.34% 0.16%
1999 1.13% 0.08%
1998 1.05% 0.06%
1997 1.01% 0.06%
1996 0.79% 0.16%
1995 0.51% 0.53%
1994 0.39% 0.71%
1993 0.5% 0.58%
1992 0.68% 0.59%
1991 0.58% 0.68%
1990 0.08% 0.78%
1989 -0.4% 0.67%
1988 -0.43% 0.46%
1987 0.01% 0.33%
1986 0.05% 0.23%
1985 0.16% 0.17%
1984 0.62% 0.09%
1983 0.71% 0.05%
1982 0.95% 0.06%
1981 1.18% 0.12%
1980 1.16% 0.2%
1979 1.34% 0.22%
1978 1.43% 0.29%
1977 1.36% 0.36%
1976 1.52% 0.36%
1975 1.66% 0.4%
1974 1.67% 0.29%
1973 1.62% 0.17%
1972 1.5% 0.3%
1971 1.18% 0.69%
1970 0.84% 0.94%
1969 0.59% 0.71%
1968 0.45% 0.56%
1967 0.47% 0.77%
1966 0.4% 0.96%
1965 0.38% 0.95%
1964 0.49% 0.75%
1963 0.59% 0.57%
1962 0.41% 0.55%
1961 -0.15% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sweden
Current population
5562212
10665077
Population rank 122/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
19.6 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +74
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 148/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +47,079
Net migration rank 27/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 47,079
2024 18,885 39,059 7,399 50,115
2023 19,652 43,873 5,269 55,209
2022 19,287 93,535 10,487 58,955
2021 26,064 27,419 22,914 51,947
2020 23,687 15,746 14,495 37,302
2019 28,365 29,663 25,697 72,619
2018 29,878 33,387 23,403 87,517
2017 31,379 28,883 24,138 102,671
2016 33,339 18,967 25,800 119,234
2015 35,265 13,376 23,518 80,534
2014 37,728 448 26,179 77,654
2013 39,302 -12,309 23,041 66,760
2012 42,775 -22,411 20,943 52,879
2011 45,801 -26,529 21,733 46,049
2010 47,426 -26,974 25,320 51,175
2009 47,168 -18,524 21,387 63,638
2008 46,691 18,979 18,439 56,452
2007 43,109 76,465 15,552 54,907
2006 36,752 94,513 15,436 51,675
2005 33,279 63,983 9,030 27,030
2004 33,376 49,102 9,893 25,842
2003 32,372 32,220 6,271 29,161
2002 31,062 34,286 893 31,364
2001 27,837 39,220 -1,779 28,856
2000 23,592 31,298 -2,662 24,900
1999 21,402 23,592 -6,201 13,940
1998 22,277 16,615 -3,541 11,325
1997 21,311 17,425 -3,539 6,047
1996 18,915 9,959 1,768 5,773
1995 16,601 10,019 9,710 11,621
1994 17,234 -3,118 20,196 51,545
1993 17,166 -3,762 20,924 32,725
1992 20,283 1,335 28,605 20,507
1991 21,206 4,944 29,299 25,314
1990 21,787 -8,203 29,100 35,668
1989 20,012 -28,752 24,629 44,565
1988 22,912 -44,020 15,186 30,064
1987 26,904 -38,426 11,757 21,335
1986 27,963 -21,139 9,206 15,211
1985 29,013 -16,178 4,175 11,464
1984 31,791 -15,549 3,335 8,668
1983 34,053 -15,043 833 2,105
1982 38,344 -14,464 1,665 2,524
1981 39,364 -10,834 1,664 3,209
1980 40,612 -2,876 5,818 10,040
1979 38,798 1,486 4,976 13,895
1978 36,288 15,543 4,138 13,807
1977 35,448 14,505 7,426 23,528
1976 33,676 14,200 8,222 20,324
1975 34,128 13,828 14,746 16,564
1974 34,199 13,482 23,664 9,217
1973 34,562 13,164 24,409 -9,551
1972 34,316 12,858 28,428 -13,519
1971 35,606 5,851 31,583 2,334
1970 30,756 -8,892 30,563 47,242
1969 29,326 -10,250 23,904 48,824
1968 27,697 -11,132 30,858 8,545
1967 29,895 -11,708 41,700 11,075
1966 26,866 -11,858 45,286 24,920
1965 30,500 -14,016 44,857 32,444
1964 31,532 -15,640 45,968 23,581
1963 29,667 -16,615 35,741 11,009
1962 28,077 -17,438 30,246 9,627
1961 25,137 -22,237 30,832 14,401
1960 28,286 -38,492 27,693 1,080

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/sweden | 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 Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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