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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 12.7 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Ireland vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland United Kingdom
2100 5,468,791 74,700,585
2099 5,493,162 74,831,175
2098 5,516,999 74,950,267
2097 5,540,157 75,064,397
2096 5,562,811 75,176,691
2095 5,583,505 75,287,063
2094 5,603,538 75,383,856
2093 5,623,266 75,482,205
2092 5,642,437 75,575,769
2091 5,661,268 75,666,091
2090 5,680,076 75,753,129
2089 5,697,512 75,835,723
2088 5,714,108 75,907,614
2087 5,729,431 75,978,712
2086 5,743,405 76,046,742
2085 5,757,666 76,105,680
2084 5,771,610 76,156,223
2083 5,785,324 76,205,894
2082 5,798,037 76,246,844
2081 5,809,262 76,274,040
2080 5,821,598 76,306,205
2079 5,836,731 76,334,949
2078 5,851,937 76,353,484
2077 5,867,627 76,371,123
2076 5,883,876 76,373,520
2075 5,900,200 76,386,071
2074 5,917,659 76,397,426
2073 5,934,975 76,406,554
2072 5,952,211 76,398,941
2071 5,969,279 76,388,223
2070 5,986,770 76,378,505
2069 6,003,570 76,371,827
2068 6,019,937 76,370,973
2067 6,035,810 76,363,548
2066 6,051,604 76,356,638
2065 6,066,791 76,355,841
2064 6,081,606 76,352,770
2063 6,094,455 76,353,175
2062 6,106,325 76,346,535
2061 6,118,587 76,344,206
2060 6,131,482 76,344,725
2059 6,143,979 76,345,215
2058 6,153,447 76,326,961
2057 6,161,059 76,307,006
2056 6,164,047 76,274,247
2055 6,168,611 76,235,304
2054 6,169,455 76,167,710
2053 6,169,673 76,094,051
2052 6,167,591 76,001,979
2051 6,164,894 75,895,690
2050 6,159,756 75,777,445
2049 6,151,623 75,646,044
2048 6,140,272 75,499,380
2047 6,128,245 75,338,951
2046 6,115,454 75,171,300
2045 6,099,562 74,993,186
2044 6,081,384 74,807,530
2043 6,062,477 74,607,485
2042 6,041,683 74,407,783
2041 6,017,573 74,203,292
2040 5,992,311 73,994,525
2039 5,967,604 73,782,112
2038 5,940,474 73,559,085
2037 5,912,327 73,335,723
2036 5,884,159 73,101,646
2035 5,855,902 72,850,722
2034 5,825,178 72,597,177
2033 5,792,751 72,322,802
2032 5,757,842 72,046,316
2031 5,721,671 71,757,868
2030 5,684,420 71,442,811
2029 5,644,008 71,123,782
2028 5,600,083 70,783,199
2027 5,553,725 70,421,923
2026 5,505,248 70,055,911
2025 5,452,752 69,658,188
2024 5,395,790 69,226,000
2023 5,311,538 68,492,000
2022 5,212,836 67,604,000
2021 5,110,585 66,984,000
2020 5,039,747 66,744,000
2019 4,976,456 66,631,000
2018 4,898,022 66,289,000
2017 4,827,445 65,966,000
2016 4,762,722 65,607,000
2015 4,701,957 65,088,000
2014 4,657,740 64,620,000
2013 4,623,816 64,139,000
2012 4,599,533 63,711,000
2011 4,580,084 63,258,810
2010 4,560,155 62,766,365
2009 4,535,375 62,276,270
2008 4,489,544 61,806,995
2007 4,398,942 61,322,463
2006 4,273,591 60,846,820
2005 4,159,914 60,401,206
2004 4,070,262 59,987,905
2003 3,996,521 59,647,577
2002 3,931,947 59,370,479
2001 3,866,243 59,119,673
2000 3,805,174 58,892,514
1999 3,754,786 58,682,466
1998 3,712,696 58,487,141
1997 3,674,171 58,316,954
1996 3,637,510 58,166,950
1995 3,608,841 58,019,030
1994 3,590,386 57,865,745
1993 3,576,261 57,718,614
1992 3,558,430 57,580,402
1991 3,534,235 57,424,897
1990 3,513,974 57,247,586
1989 3,511,009 57,076,711
1988 3,524,949 56,928,327
1987 3,540,057 56,802,050
1986 3,539,690 56,681,396
1985 3,538,082 56,550,268
1984 3,532,423 56,422,072
1983 3,510,600 56,332,848
1982 3,485,800 56,313,641
1981 3,453,000 56,333,829
1980 3,412,800 56,314,216
1979 3,373,750 56,246,951
1978 3,329,100 56,196,504
1977 3,282,200 56,193,492
1976 3,238,050 56,211,968
1975 3,189,550 56,225,800
1974 3,137,500 56,229,974
1973 3,085,950 56,194,527
1972 3,036,850 56,086,065
1971 2,992,050 55,896,223
1970 2,957,250 55,663,250
1969 2,932,650 55,441,750
1968 2,915,550 55,211,700
1967 2,902,450 54,943,600
1966 2,888,800 54,648,500
1965 2,877,300 54,348,050
1964 2,866,550 54,000,000
1963 2,852,650 53,650,000
1962 2,836,050 53,250,000
1961 2,824,400 52,800,000
1960 2,828,600 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland United Kingdom
2100 -0.44% -0.17%
2099 -0.43% -0.16%
2098 -0.42% -0.15%
2097 -0.41% -0.15%
2096 -0.37% -0.15%
2095 -0.36% -0.13%
2094 -0.35% -0.13%
2093 -0.34% -0.12%
2092 -0.33% -0.12%
2091 -0.33% -0.11%
2090 -0.31% -0.11%
2089 -0.29% -0.09%
2088 -0.27% -0.09%
2087 -0.24% -0.09%
2086 -0.25% -0.08%
2085 -0.24% -0.07%
2084 -0.24% -0.07%
2083 -0.22% -0.05%
2082 -0.19% -0.04%
2081 -0.21% -0.04%
2080 -0.26% -0.04%
2079 -0.26% -0.02%
2078 -0.27% -0.02%
2077 -0.28% -0.003%
2076 -0.28% -0.02%
2075 -0.3% -0.01%
2074 -0.29% -0.01%
2073 -0.29% 0.01%
2072 -0.29% 0.01%
2071 -0.29% 0.01%
2070 -0.28% 0.009%
2069 -0.27% 0.001%
2068 -0.26% 0.01%
2067 -0.26% 0.009%
2066 -0.25% 0.001%
2065 -0.24% 0.004%
2064 -0.21% -0%
2063 -0.19% 0.009%
2062 -0.2% 0.003%
2061 -0.21% -0.001%
2060 -0.2% -0.001%
2059 -0.15% 0.02%
2058 -0.12% 0.03%
2057 -0.05% 0.04%
2056 -0.07% 0.05%
2055 -0.01% 0.09%
2054 -0.004% 0.1%
2053 0.03% 0.12%
2052 0.04% 0.14%
2051 0.08% 0.16%
2050 0.13% 0.17%
2049 0.18% 0.19%
2048 0.2% 0.21%
2047 0.21% 0.22%
2046 0.26% 0.24%
2045 0.3% 0.25%
2044 0.31% 0.27%
2043 0.34% 0.27%
2042 0.4% 0.28%
2041 0.42% 0.28%
2040 0.41% 0.29%
2039 0.46% 0.3%
2038 0.48% 0.3%
2037 0.48% 0.32%
2036 0.48% 0.34%
2035 0.53% 0.35%
2034 0.56% 0.38%
2033 0.61% 0.38%
2032 0.63% 0.4%
2031 0.66% 0.44%
2030 0.72% 0.45%
2029 0.78% 0.48%
2028 0.83% 0.51%
2027 0.88% 0.52%
2026 0.96% 0.57%
2025 1.06% 0.62%
2024 1.59% 1.07%
2023 1.89% 1.31%
2022 2% 0.93%
2021 1.41% 0.36%
2020 1.27% 0.17%
2019 1.6% 0.52%
2018 1.46% 0.49%
2017 1.36% 0.55%
2016 1.29% 0.8%
2015 0.95% 0.72%
2014 0.73% 0.75%
2013 0.53% 0.67%
2012 0.42% 0.71%
2011 0.44% 0.78%
2010 0.55% 0.79%
2009 1.02% 0.76%
2008 2.06% 0.79%
2007 2.93% 0.78%
2006 2.73% 0.74%
2005 2.2% 0.69%
2004 1.85% 0.57%
2003 1.64% 0.47%
2002 1.7% 0.42%
2001 1.6% 0.39%
2000 1.34% 0.36%
1999 1.13% 0.33%
1998 1.05% 0.29%
1997 1.01% 0.26%
1996 0.79% 0.25%
1995 0.51% 0.26%
1994 0.39% 0.25%
1993 0.5% 0.24%
1992 0.68% 0.27%
1991 0.58% 0.31%
1990 0.08% 0.3%
1989 -0.4% 0.26%
1988 -0.43% 0.22%
1987 0.01% 0.21%
1986 0.05% 0.23%
1985 0.16% 0.23%
1984 0.62% 0.16%
1983 0.71% 0.03%
1982 0.95% -0.04%
1981 1.18% 0.03%
1980 1.16% 0.12%
1979 1.34% 0.09%
1978 1.43% 0.005%
1977 1.36% -0.03%
1976 1.52% -0.02%
1975 1.66% -0.007%
1974 1.67% 0.06%
1973 1.62% 0.19%
1972 1.5% 0.34%
1971 1.18% 0.42%
1970 0.84% 0.4%
1969 0.59% 0.42%
1968 0.45% 0.49%
1967 0.47% 0.54%
1966 0.4% 0.55%
1965 0.38% 0.64%
1964 0.49% 0.65%
1963 0.59% 0.75%
1962 0.41% 0.85%
1961 -0.15% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Ireland United Kingdom
Current population
5518360
70154914
Population rank 121/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.85%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 97/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 +389,911
Net migration rank 27/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 389,911
2024 - 39,059 - 417,114
2023 19,652 43,873 34,589 445,523
2022 19,287 93,535 39,751 487,029
2021 26,064 27,419 30,612 462,967
2020 23,687 15,746 -4,272 144,221
2019 28,365 29,663 108,342 232,727
2018 29,878 33,387 119,321 259,744
2017 31,379 28,883 145,125 272,311
2016 33,339 18,967 177,139 324,649
2015 35,265 13,376 175,738 347,839
2014 37,728 448 206,784 306,091
2013 39,302 -12,309 198,830 237,272
2012 42,775 -22,411 248,473 172,088
2011 45,801 -26,529 259,361 228,773
2010 47,426 -26,974 251,066 274,811
2009 47,168 -18,524 230,422 249,639
2008 46,691 18,979 216,325 263,390
2007 43,109 76,465 196,232 309,385
2006 36,752 94,513 176,455 288,923
2005 33,279 63,983 144,963 308,279
2004 33,376 49,102 131,974 276,077
2003 32,372 32,220 89,471 211,846
2002 31,062 34,286 65,308 203,577
2001 27,837 39,220 65,032 175,133
2000 23,592 31,298 70,671 153,917
1999 21,402 23,592 64,551 152,653
1998 22,277 16,615 87,730 125,541
1997 21,311 17,425 99,138 59,723
1996 18,915 9,959 98,884 54,964
1995 16,601 10,019 87,028 61,385
1994 17,234 -3,118 127,304 45,339
1993 17,166 -3,762 103,893 27,403
1992 20,283 1,335 149,709 17,846
1991 21,206 4,944 143,562 27,601
1990 21,787 -8,203 154,569 57,132
1989 20,012 -28,752 119,861 49,586
1988 22,912 -44,020 136,628 13,952
1987 26,904 -38,426 136,325 8,266
1986 27,963 -21,139 90,690 41,836
1985 29,013 -16,178 79,170 83,164
1984 31,791 -15,549 84,633 71,107
1983 34,053 -15,043 61,966 27,063
1982 38,344 -14,464 56,314 -61,152
1981 39,364 -10,834 73,234 -83,876
1980 40,612 -2,876 95,734 -25,187
1979 38,798 1,486 61,872 11,255
1978 36,288 15,543 16,859 3,783
1977 35,448 14,505 0 -21,636
1976 33,676 14,200 -5,621 -19,135
1975 34,128 13,828 33,735 -40,241
1974 34,199 13,482 67,476 -65,710
1973 34,562 13,164 112,389 -33,840
1972 34,316 12,858 162,650 -1,406
1971 35,606 5,851 257,123 1,175
1970 30,756 -8,892 244,918 -15,254
1969 29,326 -10,250 260,577 -60,655
1968 27,697 -11,132 292,622 -38,852
1967 29,895 -11,708 346,145 -39,659
1966 26,866 -11,858 333,356 -27,935
1965 30,500 -14,016 364,132 -24,955
1964 31,532 -15,640 405,000 -23,885
1963 29,667 -16,615 337,995 8,271
1962 28,077 -17,438 340,800 76,443
1961 25,137 -22,237 311,519 52,295
1960 28,286 -38,492 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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