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Population in Ireland compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 2.12 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Ireland vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland UAE
2100 5,468,791 26,368,750
2099 5,493,162 26,130,374
2098 5,516,999 25,894,010
2097 5,540,157 25,660,062
2096 5,562,811 25,427,961
2095 5,583,505 25,197,670
2094 5,603,538 24,968,891
2093 5,623,266 24,741,434
2092 5,642,437 24,515,086
2091 5,661,268 24,289,496
2090 5,680,076 24,064,404
2089 5,697,512 23,839,033
2088 5,714,108 23,613,963
2087 5,729,431 23,388,786
2086 5,743,405 23,163,641
2085 5,757,666 22,938,169
2084 5,771,610 22,711,804
2083 5,785,324 22,484,154
2082 5,798,037 22,255,625
2081 5,809,262 22,026,183
2080 5,821,598 21,796,073
2079 5,836,731 21,565,118
2078 5,851,937 21,333,574
2077 5,867,627 21,101,274
2076 5,883,876 20,868,733
2075 5,900,200 20,636,203
2074 5,917,659 20,404,044
2073 5,934,975 20,171,659
2072 5,952,211 19,940,853
2071 5,969,279 19,710,934
2070 5,986,770 19,483,026
2069 6,003,570 19,256,572
2068 6,019,937 19,032,681
2067 6,035,810 18,811,331
2066 6,051,604 18,593,017
2065 6,066,791 18,377,364
2064 6,081,606 18,164,584
2063 6,094,455 17,955,352
2062 6,106,325 17,749,596
2061 6,118,587 17,547,827
2060 6,131,482 17,349,620
2059 6,143,979 17,153,273
2058 6,153,447 16,959,263
2057 6,161,059 16,767,893
2056 6,164,047 16,579,195
2055 6,168,611 16,392,558
2054 6,169,455 16,207,309
2053 6,169,673 16,024,789
2052 6,167,591 15,844,357
2051 6,164,894 15,665,362
2050 6,159,756 15,487,008
2049 6,151,623 15,309,031
2048 6,140,272 15,132,784
2047 6,128,245 14,958,209
2046 6,115,454 14,788,046
2045 6,099,562 14,620,902
2044 6,081,384 14,454,466
2043 6,062,477 14,289,021
2042 6,041,683 14,124,515
2041 6,017,573 13,961,010
2040 5,992,311 13,798,651
2039 5,967,604 13,637,499
2038 5,940,474 13,477,450
2037 5,912,327 13,319,346
2036 5,884,159 13,163,073
2035 5,855,902 13,009,160
2034 5,825,178 12,857,729
2033 5,792,751 12,709,520
2032 5,757,842 12,564,906
2031 5,721,671 12,424,286
2030 5,684,420 12,288,186
2029 5,644,008 12,148,661
2028 5,600,083 11,999,549
2027 5,553,725 11,831,082
2026 5,505,248 11,632,806
2025 5,452,752 11,367,504
2024 5,395,790 10,986,400
2023 5,311,538 10,483,751
2022 5,212,836 10,074,977
2021 5,110,585 9,575,152
2020 5,039,747 9,401,038
2019 4,976,456 9,445,785
2018 4,898,022 9,346,701
2017 4,827,445 9,223,225
2016 4,762,722 8,935,095
2015 4,701,957 8,505,237
2014 4,657,740 8,059,440
2013 4,623,816 7,693,031
2012 4,599,533 7,391,448
2011 4,580,084 7,104,538
2010 4,560,155 6,869,838
2009 4,535,375 6,707,058
2008 4,489,544 6,302,664
2007 4,398,942 5,624,635
2006 4,273,591 5,009,100
2005 4,159,914 4,664,790
2004 4,070,262 4,428,967
2003 3,996,521 4,192,457
2002 3,931,947 3,956,826
2001 3,866,243 3,723,590
2000 3,805,174 3,493,575
1999 3,754,786 3,266,009
1998 3,712,696 3,040,421
1997 3,674,171 2,817,410
1996 3,637,510 2,597,564
1995 3,608,841 2,434,662
1994 3,590,386 2,328,188
1993 3,576,261 2,222,093
1992 3,558,430 2,114,730
1991 3,534,235 2,006,626
1990 3,513,974 1,898,220
1989 3,511,009 1,789,851
1988 3,524,949 1,681,788
1987 3,540,057 1,574,244
1986 3,539,690 1,467,383
1985 3,538,082 1,377,911
1984 3,532,423 1,305,996
1983 3,510,600 1,235,305
1982 3,485,800 1,166,370
1981 3,453,000 1,099,855
1980 3,412,800 1,015,700
1979 3,373,750 912,010
1978 3,329,100 809,274
1977 3,282,200 710,209
1976 3,238,050 615,866
1975 3,189,550 542,856
1974 3,137,500 489,087
1973 3,085,950 436,399
1972 3,036,850 385,014
1971 2,992,050 335,027
1970 2,957,250 286,536
1969 2,932,650 239,660
1968 2,915,550 199,416
1967 2,902,450 179,700
1966 2,888,800 173,976
1965 2,877,300 167,103
1964 2,866,550 159,692
1963 2,852,650 152,211
1962 2,836,050 144,946
1961 2,824,400 137,989
1960 2,828,600 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland UAE
2100 -0.44% 0.91%
2099 -0.43% 0.91%
2098 -0.42% 0.91%
2097 -0.41% 0.91%
2096 -0.37% 0.91%
2095 -0.36% 0.92%
2094 -0.35% 0.92%
2093 -0.34% 0.92%
2092 -0.33% 0.93%
2091 -0.33% 0.94%
2090 -0.31% 0.95%
2089 -0.29% 0.95%
2088 -0.27% 0.96%
2087 -0.24% 0.97%
2086 -0.25% 0.98%
2085 -0.24% 1%
2084 -0.24% 1.01%
2083 -0.22% 1.03%
2082 -0.19% 1.04%
2081 -0.21% 1.06%
2080 -0.26% 1.07%
2079 -0.26% 1.09%
2078 -0.27% 1.1%
2077 -0.28% 1.11%
2076 -0.28% 1.13%
2075 -0.3% 1.14%
2074 -0.29% 1.15%
2073 -0.29% 1.16%
2072 -0.29% 1.17%
2071 -0.29% 1.17%
2070 -0.28% 1.18%
2069 -0.27% 1.18%
2068 -0.26% 1.18%
2067 -0.26% 1.17%
2066 -0.25% 1.17%
2065 -0.24% 1.17%
2064 -0.21% 1.17%
2063 -0.19% 1.16%
2062 -0.2% 1.15%
2061 -0.21% 1.14%
2060 -0.2% 1.14%
2059 -0.15% 1.14%
2058 -0.12% 1.14%
2057 -0.05% 1.14%
2056 -0.07% 1.14%
2055 -0.01% 1.14%
2054 -0.004% 1.14%
2053 0.03% 1.14%
2052 0.04% 1.14%
2051 0.08% 1.15%
2050 0.13% 1.16%
2049 0.18% 1.16%
2048 0.2% 1.17%
2047 0.21% 1.15%
2046 0.26% 1.14%
2045 0.3% 1.15%
2044 0.31% 1.16%
2043 0.34% 1.16%
2042 0.4% 1.17%
2041 0.42% 1.18%
2040 0.41% 1.18%
2039 0.46% 1.19%
2038 0.48% 1.19%
2037 0.48% 1.19%
2036 0.48% 1.18%
2035 0.53% 1.18%
2034 0.56% 1.17%
2033 0.61% 1.15%
2032 0.63% 1.13%
2031 0.66% 1.11%
2030 0.72% 1.15%
2029 0.78% 1.24%
2028 0.83% 1.42%
2027 0.88% 1.7%
2026 0.96% 2.33%
2025 1.06% 3.47%
2024 1.59% 4.79%
2023 1.89% 4.06%
2022 2% 5.22%
2021 1.41% 1.85%
2020 1.27% -0.47%
2019 1.6% 1.06%
2018 1.46% 1.34%
2017 1.36% 3.22%
2016 1.29% 5.05%
2015 0.95% 5.53%
2014 0.73% 4.76%
2013 0.53% 4.08%
2012 0.42% 4.04%
2011 0.44% 3.42%
2010 0.55% 2.43%
2009 1.02% 6.42%
2008 2.06% 12.1%
2007 2.93% 12.3%
2006 2.73% 7.38%
2005 2.2% 5.32%
2004 1.85% 5.64%
2003 1.64% 5.96%
2002 1.7% 6.26%
2001 1.6% 6.58%
2000 1.34% 6.97%
1999 1.13% 7.42%
1998 1.05% 7.92%
1997 1.01% 8.46%
1996 0.79% 6.69%
1995 0.51% 4.57%
1994 0.39% 4.77%
1993 0.5% 5.08%
1992 0.68% 5.39%
1991 0.58% 5.71%
1990 0.08% 6.05%
1989 -0.4% 6.43%
1988 -0.43% 6.83%
1987 0.01% 7.28%
1986 0.05% 6.49%
1985 0.16% 5.51%
1984 0.62% 5.72%
1983 0.71% 5.91%
1982 0.95% 6.05%
1981 1.18% 8.29%
1980 1.16% 11.4%
1979 1.34% 12.7%
1978 1.43% 13.9%
1977 1.36% 15.3%
1976 1.52% 13.4%
1975 1.66% 11%
1974 1.67% 12.1%
1973 1.62% 13.3%
1972 1.5% 14.9%
1971 1.18% 16.9%
1970 0.84% 19.6%
1969 0.59% 20.2%
1968 0.45% 11%
1967 0.47% 3.29%
1966 0.4% 4.11%
1965 0.38% 4.64%
1964 0.49% 4.91%
1963 0.59% 5.01%
1962 0.41% 5.04%
1961 -0.15% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Ireland UAE
Current population
5518360
11686438
Population rank 121/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.14%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 3/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +158,634
Net migration rank 27/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 158,634
2024 - 39,059 - 278,439
2023 19,652 43,873 92,698 300,004
2022 19,287 93,535 81,758 322,773
2021 26,064 27,419 76,802 421,663
2020 23,687 15,746 87,871 92,541
2019 28,365 29,663 86,296 -125,186
2018 29,878 33,387 86,840 14,611
2017 31,379 28,883 89,382 34,155
2016 33,339 18,967 87,028 195,317
2015 35,265 13,376 85,044 342,468
2014 37,728 448 84,277 360,174
2013 39,302 -12,309 82,977 279,269
2012 42,775 -22,411 78,682 225,921
2011 45,801 -26,529 73,496 215,183
2010 47,426 -26,974 69,907 161,842
2009 47,168 -18,524 66,521 163,643
2008 46,691 18,979 55,426 523,207
2007 43,109 76,465 55,048 722,380
2006 36,752 94,513 54,338 399,306
2005 33,279 63,983 60,046 174,926
2004 33,376 49,102 60,344 176,319
2003 32,372 32,220 59,118 177,237
2002 31,062 34,286 55,922 178,988
2001 27,837 39,220 52,789 178,779
2000 23,592 31,298 49,993 178,469
1999 21,402 23,592 46,198 180,469
1998 22,277 16,615 41,176 183,329
1997 21,311 17,425 38,207 183,310
1996 18,915 9,959 37,886 180,296
1995 16,601 10,019 38,685 68,938
1994 17,234 -3,118 42,976 62,352
1993 17,166 -3,762 41,324 65,545
1992 20,283 1,335 42,119 65,739
1991 21,206 4,944 41,409 66,943
1990 21,787 -8,203 41,339 67,118
1989 20,012 -28,752 40,148 68,132
1988 22,912 -44,020 38,861 68,991
1987 26,904 -38,426 37,741 69,493
1986 27,963 -21,139 36,829 69,655
1985 29,013 -16,178 34,855 37,605
1984 31,791 -15,549 33,250 38,124
1983 34,053 -15,043 31,480 38,536
1982 38,344 -14,464 29,585 38,276
1981 39,364 -10,834 27,560 37,600
1980 40,612 -2,876 25,005 78,148
1979 38,798 1,486 21,987 82,238
1978 36,288 15,543 18,879 82,359
1977 35,448 14,505 15,787 81,111
1976 33,676 14,200 12,876 78,903
1975 34,128 13,828 11,859 42,380
1974 34,199 13,482 10,835 42,474
1973 34,562 13,164 9,822 42,243
1972 34,316 12,858 8,818 41,888
1971 35,606 5,851 7,839 41,425
1970 30,756 -8,892 6,922 40,792
1969 29,326 -10,250 6,138 39,902
1968 27,697 -11,132 5,588 28,866
1967 29,895 -11,708 5,264 -283
1966 26,866 -11,858 4,955 1,516
1965 30,500 -14,016 4,675 2,598
1964 31,532 -15,640 4,410 3,126
1963 29,667 -16,615 4,157 3,264
1962 28,077 -17,438 3,901 3,212
1961 25,137 -22,237 3,657 3,141
1960 28,286 -38,492 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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