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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.86 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Ireland vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Syria
2100 5,468,791 44,620,090
2099 5,493,162 44,690,260
2098 5,516,999 44,750,249
2097 5,540,157 44,813,148
2096 5,562,811 44,867,740
2095 5,583,505 44,895,489
2094 5,603,538 44,945,231
2093 5,623,266 44,974,311
2092 5,642,437 45,003,795
2091 5,661,268 45,016,478
2090 5,680,076 45,048,083
2089 5,697,512 45,047,102
2088 5,714,108 45,041,864
2087 5,729,431 45,049,516
2086 5,743,405 45,068,928
2085 5,757,666 45,034,847
2084 5,771,610 44,999,929
2083 5,785,324 44,971,600
2082 5,798,037 44,910,859
2081 5,809,262 44,843,908
2080 5,821,598 44,744,718
2079 5,836,731 44,687,371
2078 5,851,937 44,649,760
2077 5,867,627 44,604,175
2076 5,883,876 44,520,132
2075 5,900,200 44,426,423
2074 5,917,659 44,328,795
2073 5,934,975 44,221,016
2072 5,952,211 44,084,262
2071 5,969,279 43,939,848
2070 5,986,770 43,795,999
2069 6,003,570 43,648,130
2068 6,019,937 43,465,442
2067 6,035,810 43,271,173
2066 6,051,604 43,060,752
2065 6,066,791 42,810,442
2064 6,081,606 42,559,554
2063 6,094,455 42,311,907
2062 6,106,325 42,062,193
2061 6,118,587 41,808,082
2060 6,131,482 41,522,274
2059 6,143,979 41,208,825
2058 6,153,447 40,925,728
2057 6,161,059 40,643,453
2056 6,164,047 40,332,578
2055 6,168,611 40,026,632
2054 6,169,455 39,691,425
2053 6,169,673 39,348,020
2052 6,167,591 39,045,268
2051 6,164,894 38,733,827
2050 6,159,756 38,410,423
2049 6,151,623 38,089,455
2048 6,140,272 37,784,449
2047 6,128,245 37,492,636
2046 6,115,454 37,181,526
2045 6,099,562 36,843,579
2044 6,081,384 36,526,509
2043 6,062,477 36,188,225
2042 6,041,683 35,825,419
2041 6,017,573 35,447,414
2040 5,992,311 35,042,107
2039 5,967,604 34,626,945
2038 5,940,474 34,183,740
2037 5,912,327 33,703,682
2036 5,884,159 33,223,843
2035 5,855,902 32,696,648
2034 5,825,178 32,148,814
2033 5,792,751 31,562,427
2032 5,757,842 30,967,322
2031 5,721,671 30,329,874
2030 5,684,420 29,672,629
2029 5,644,008 28,949,535
2028 5,600,083 28,217,748
2027 5,553,725 27,428,807
2026 5,505,248 26,607,148
2025 5,452,752 25,689,551
2024 5,395,790 24,672,760
2023 5,311,538 23,594,623
2022 5,212,836 22,462,173
2021 5,110,585 21,628,839
2020 5,039,747 21,049,429
2019 4,976,456 20,353,534
2018 4,898,022 19,577,845
2017 4,827,445 19,224,668
2016 4,762,722 19,193,834
2015 4,701,957 19,424,618
2014 4,657,740 20,273,659
2013 4,623,816 21,666,917
2012 4,599,533 22,759,763
2011 4,580,084 22,878,098
2010 4,560,155 22,482,421
2009 4,535,375 21,976,969
2008 4,489,544 21,636,564
2007 4,398,942 20,884,125
2006 4,273,591 19,637,022
2005 4,159,914 18,814,091
2004 4,070,262 18,336,875
2003 3,996,521 17,889,296
2002 3,931,947 17,468,332
2001 3,866,243 17,051,338
2000 3,805,174 16,637,888
1999 3,754,786 16,228,061
1998 3,712,696 15,820,413
1997 3,674,171 15,417,542
1996 3,637,510 15,018,104
1995 3,608,841 14,616,801
1994 3,590,386 14,208,583
1993 3,576,261 13,795,686
1992 3,558,430 13,385,571
1991 3,534,235 12,980,821
1990 3,513,974 12,579,208
1989 3,511,009 12,179,060
1988 3,524,949 11,782,264
1987 3,540,057 11,388,923
1986 3,539,690 11,002,844
1985 3,538,082 10,625,672
1984 3,532,423 10,258,398
1983 3,510,600 9,904,809
1982 3,485,800 9,572,511
1981 3,453,000 9,260,189
1980 3,412,800 8,957,663
1979 3,373,750 8,661,909
1978 3,329,100 8,372,759
1977 3,282,200 8,090,501
1976 3,238,050 7,817,320
1975 3,189,550 7,554,364
1974 3,137,500 7,302,160
1973 3,085,950 7,060,321
1972 3,036,850 6,826,024
1971 2,992,050 6,598,094
1970 2,957,250 6,380,609
1969 2,932,650 6,175,166
1968 2,915,550 5,978,742
1967 2,902,450 5,790,198
1966 2,888,800 5,609,047
1965 2,877,300 5,435,267
1964 2,866,550 5,269,087
1963 2,852,650 5,110,467
1962 2,836,050 4,959,340
1961 2,824,400 4,815,466
1960 2,828,600 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Syria
2100 -0.44% -0.16%
2099 -0.43% -0.13%
2098 -0.42% -0.14%
2097 -0.41% -0.12%
2096 -0.37% -0.06%
2095 -0.36% -0.11%
2094 -0.35% -0.06%
2093 -0.34% -0.07%
2092 -0.33% -0.03%
2091 -0.33% -0.07%
2090 -0.31% 0.002%
2089 -0.29% 0.01%
2088 -0.27% -0.02%
2087 -0.24% -0.04%
2086 -0.25% 0.08%
2085 -0.24% 0.08%
2084 -0.24% 0.06%
2083 -0.22% 0.14%
2082 -0.19% 0.15%
2081 -0.21% 0.22%
2080 -0.26% 0.13%
2079 -0.26% 0.08%
2078 -0.27% 0.1%
2077 -0.28% 0.19%
2076 -0.28% 0.21%
2075 -0.3% 0.22%
2074 -0.29% 0.24%
2073 -0.29% 0.31%
2072 -0.29% 0.33%
2071 -0.29% 0.33%
2070 -0.28% 0.34%
2069 -0.27% 0.42%
2068 -0.26% 0.45%
2067 -0.26% 0.49%
2066 -0.25% 0.58%
2065 -0.24% 0.59%
2064 -0.21% 0.59%
2063 -0.19% 0.59%
2062 -0.2% 0.61%
2061 -0.21% 0.69%
2060 -0.2% 0.76%
2059 -0.15% 0.69%
2058 -0.12% 0.69%
2057 -0.05% 0.77%
2056 -0.07% 0.76%
2055 -0.01% 0.84%
2054 -0.004% 0.87%
2053 0.03% 0.78%
2052 0.04% 0.8%
2051 0.08% 0.84%
2050 0.13% 0.84%
2049 0.18% 0.81%
2048 0.2% 0.78%
2047 0.21% 0.84%
2046 0.26% 0.92%
2045 0.3% 0.87%
2044 0.31% 0.93%
2043 0.34% 1.01%
2042 0.4% 1.07%
2041 0.42% 1.16%
2040 0.41% 1.2%
2039 0.46% 1.3%
2038 0.48% 1.42%
2037 0.48% 1.44%
2036 0.48% 1.61%
2035 0.53% 1.7%
2034 0.56% 1.86%
2033 0.61% 1.92%
2032 0.63% 2.1%
2031 0.66% 2.21%
2030 0.72% 2.5%
2029 0.78% 2.59%
2028 0.83% 2.88%
2027 0.88% 3.09%
2026 0.96% 3.57%
2025 1.06% 4.12%
2024 1.59% 4.57%
2023 1.89% 5.04%
2022 2% 3.85%
2021 1.41% 2.75%
2020 1.27% 3.42%
2019 1.6% 3.96%
2018 1.46% 1.84%
2017 1.36% 0.16%
2016 1.29% -1.19%
2015 0.95% -4.19%
2014 0.73% -6.43%
2013 0.53% -4.8%
2012 0.42% -0.52%
2011 0.44% 1.76%
2010 0.55% 2.3%
2009 1.02% 1.57%
2008 2.06% 3.6%
2007 2.93% 6.35%
2006 2.73% 4.37%
2005 2.2% 2.6%
2004 1.85% 2.5%
2003 1.64% 2.41%
2002 1.7% 2.45%
2001 1.6% 2.48%
2000 1.34% 2.53%
1999 1.13% 2.58%
1998 1.05% 2.61%
1997 1.01% 2.66%
1996 0.79% 2.75%
1995 0.51% 2.87%
1994 0.39% 2.99%
1993 0.5% 3.06%
1992 0.68% 3.12%
1991 0.58% 3.19%
1990 0.08% 3.29%
1989 -0.4% 3.37%
1988 -0.43% 3.45%
1987 0.01% 3.51%
1986 0.05% 3.55%
1985 0.16% 3.58%
1984 0.62% 3.57%
1983 0.71% 3.47%
1982 0.95% 3.37%
1981 1.18% 3.38%
1980 1.16% 3.41%
1979 1.34% 3.45%
1978 1.43% 3.49%
1977 1.36% 3.49%
1976 1.52% 3.48%
1975 1.66% 3.45%
1974 1.67% 3.43%
1973 1.62% 3.43%
1972 1.5% 3.45%
1971 1.18% 3.41%
1970 0.84% 3.33%
1969 0.59% 3.29%
1968 0.45% 3.26%
1967 0.47% 3.23%
1966 0.4% 3.2%
1965 0.38% 3.15%
1964 0.49% 3.1%
1963 0.59% 3.05%
1962 0.41% 2.99%
1961 -0.15% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Ireland Syria
Current population
5518360
26829400
Population rank 121/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.32%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 6/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +421,693
Net migration rank 27/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 421,693
2024 - 39,059 - 546,494
2023 19,652 43,873 402,713 757,309
2022 19,287 93,535 369,750 735,142
2021 26,064 27,419 350,560 211,220
2020 23,687 15,746 327,992 269,050
2019 28,365 29,663 293,762 500,985
2018 29,878 33,387 242,530 514,102
2017 31,379 28,883 237,214 -287,501
2016 33,339 18,967 236,007 -124,063
2015 35,265 13,376 253,977 -827,496
2014 37,728 448 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 39,302 -12,309 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 42,775 -22,411 475,520 -999,267
2011 45,801 -26,529 543,950 -256,888
2010 47,426 -26,974 558,666 -54,359
2009 47,168 -18,524 559,314 -52,703
2008 46,691 18,979 576,593 -402,393
2007 43,109 76,465 529,162 801,514
2006 36,752 94,513 480,616 682,911
2005 33,279 63,983 468,960 13,382
2004 33,376 49,102 461,209 10,881
2003 32,372 32,220 457,000 -33,920
2002 31,062 34,286 453,967 -35,096
2001 27,837 39,220 451,503 -36,383
2000 23,592 31,298 446,211 -34,425
1999 21,402 23,592 439,261 -31,394
1998 22,277 16,615 433,447 -26,025
1997 21,311 17,425 429,887 -31,571
1996 18,915 9,959 430,765 -30,197
1995 16,601 10,019 430,172 -28,122
1994 17,234 -3,118 426,996 -12,630
1993 17,166 -3,762 420,244 -8,828
1992 20,283 1,335 412,878 -4,063
1991 21,206 4,944 410,830 -10,154
1990 21,787 -8,203 409,177 -6,620
1989 20,012 -28,752 406,111 -8,379
1988 22,912 -44,020 404,285 -8,426
1987 26,904 -38,426 399,159 -8,335
1986 27,963 -21,139 390,821 -9,485
1985 29,013 -16,178 379,231 -6,221
1984 31,791 -15,549 366,768 -5,245
1983 34,053 -15,043 355,375 -9,729
1982 38,344 -14,464 319,664 -721
1981 39,364 -10,834 330,237 -24,536
1980 40,612 -2,876 332,464 -33,114
1979 38,798 1,486 324,943 -32,793
1978 36,288 15,543 316,724 -30,567
1977 35,448 14,505 306,630 -28,275
1976 33,676 14,200 294,267 -26,268
1975 34,128 13,828 282,299 -24,389
1974 34,199 13,482 270,735 -24,242
1973 34,562 13,164 254,687 -17,502
1972 34,316 12,858 249,027 -17,610
1971 35,606 5,851 239,610 -15,167
1970 30,756 -8,892 230,117 -19,594
1969 29,326 -10,250 219,114 -18,749
1968 27,697 -11,132 209,454 -16,968
1967 29,895 -11,708 199,223 -14,618
1966 26,866 -11,858 191,122 -13,434
1965 30,500 -14,016 182,560 -12,704
1964 31,532 -15,640 174,549 -12,044
1963 29,667 -16,615 166,555 -11,817
1962 28,077 -17,438 159,155 -11,641
1961 25,137 -22,237 151,485 -11,237
1960 28,286 -38,492 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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