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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.94 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • 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 +1.41% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Ireland vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Sweden
2100 5,468,791 11,357,586
2099 5,493,162 11,361,443
2098 5,516,999 11,365,725
2097 5,540,157 11,366,889
2096 5,562,811 11,368,572
2095 5,583,505 11,371,525
2094 5,603,538 11,374,169
2093 5,623,266 11,376,054
2092 5,642,437 11,378,099
2091 5,661,268 11,379,549
2090 5,680,076 11,381,475
2089 5,697,512 11,384,408
2088 5,714,108 11,387,073
2087 5,729,431 11,390,874
2086 5,743,405 11,398,223
2085 5,757,666 11,403,279
2084 5,771,610 11,408,050
2083 5,785,324 11,411,588
2082 5,798,037 11,416,796
2081 5,809,262 11,418,438
2080 5,821,598 11,420,629
2079 5,836,731 11,420,158
2078 5,851,937 11,418,032
2077 5,867,627 11,415,948
2076 5,883,876 11,412,112
2075 5,900,200 11,407,978
2074 5,917,659 11,404,682
2073 5,934,975 11,401,754
2072 5,952,211 11,398,056
2071 5,969,279 11,393,134
2070 5,986,770 11,389,416
2069 6,003,570 11,385,560
2068 6,019,937 11,384,165
2067 6,035,810 11,383,331
2066 6,051,604 11,383,335
2065 6,066,791 11,382,611
2064 6,081,606 11,381,643
2063 6,094,455 11,381,489
2062 6,106,325 11,382,109
2061 6,118,587 11,379,849
2060 6,131,482 11,378,661
2059 6,143,979 11,376,317
2058 6,153,447 11,372,527
2057 6,161,059 11,367,109
2056 6,164,047 11,361,843
2055 6,168,611 11,354,884
2054 6,169,455 11,347,343
2053 6,169,673 11,336,678
2052 6,167,591 11,322,876
2051 6,164,894 11,306,983
2050 6,159,756 11,287,973
2049 6,151,623 11,268,461
2048 6,140,272 11,247,615
2047 6,128,245 11,225,655
2046 6,115,454 11,202,749
2045 6,099,562 11,178,920
2044 6,081,384 11,153,887
2043 6,062,477 11,128,417
2042 6,041,683 11,102,505
2041 6,017,573 11,078,898
2040 5,992,311 11,054,498
2039 5,967,604 11,031,322
2038 5,940,474 11,008,943
2037 5,912,327 10,987,323
2036 5,884,159 10,964,438
2035 5,855,902 10,941,953
2034 5,825,178 10,919,289
2033 5,792,751 10,895,104
2032 5,757,842 10,869,796
2031 5,721,671 10,844,434
2030 5,684,420 10,815,888
2029 5,644,008 10,784,274
2028 5,600,083 10,749,191
2027 5,553,725 10,710,226
2026 5,505,248 10,668,870
2025 5,452,752 10,621,495
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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 1.06% 0.49%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Ireland Sweden
Current population
5518360
10680056
Population rank 121/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.13%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
15.9 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +91
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 149/197
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 - 39,059 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 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 (1960–2024, 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/sweden | 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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