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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 12.6 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd 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 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Ireland vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland United Kingdom
2100 5,500,499 74,517,005
2099 5,525,011 74,647,273
2098 5,548,986 74,766,073
2097 5,572,279 74,879,923
2096 5,595,064 74,991,940
2095 5,615,877 75,102,041
2094 5,636,027 75,198,597
2093 5,655,870 75,296,704
2092 5,675,151 75,390,038
2091 5,694,092 75,480,137
2090 5,713,009 75,566,962
2089 5,730,546 75,649,353
2088 5,747,238 75,721,067
2087 5,762,650 75,791,990
2086 5,776,705 75,859,854
2085 5,791,049 75,918,647
2084 5,805,074 75,969,065
2083 5,818,867 76,018,614
2082 5,831,653 76,059,464
2081 5,842,944 76,086,593
2080 5,855,351 76,118,679
2079 5,870,572 76,147,352
2078 5,885,866 76,165,841
2077 5,901,647 76,183,437
2076 5,917,991 76,185,828
2075 5,934,408 76,198,349
2074 5,951,970 76,209,676
2073 5,969,385 76,218,781
2072 5,986,721 76,211,187
2071 6,003,888 76,200,495
2070 6,021,481 76,190,801
2069 6,038,378 76,184,140
2068 6,054,840 76,183,288
2067 6,070,805 76,175,881
2066 6,086,691 76,168,987
2065 6,101,966 76,168,193
2064 6,116,867 76,165,129
2063 6,129,790 76,165,534
2062 6,141,729 76,158,910
2061 6,154,062 76,156,587
2060 6,167,032 76,157,104
2059 6,179,602 76,157,593
2058 6,189,124 76,139,384
2057 6,196,781 76,119,478
2056 6,199,786 76,086,799
2055 6,204,376 76,047,952
2054 6,205,225 75,980,524
2053 6,205,444 75,907,047
2052 6,203,350 75,815,200
2051 6,200,637 75,709,173
2050 6,195,469 75,591,218
2049 6,187,289 75,460,140
2048 6,175,872 75,313,837
2047 6,163,776 75,153,802
2046 6,150,911 74,986,563
2045 6,134,927 74,808,886
2044 6,116,643 74,623,687
2043 6,097,627 74,424,133
2042 6,076,713 74,224,922
2041 6,052,462 74,020,934
2040 6,027,054 73,812,680
2039 6,002,204 73,600,788
2038 5,974,917 73,378,310
2037 5,946,606 73,155,497
2036 5,918,275 72,921,995
2035 5,889,854 72,671,687
2034 5,858,952 72,418,766
2033 5,826,337 72,145,065
2032 5,791,225 71,869,259
2031 5,754,845 71,581,519
2030 5,717,377 71,267,237
2029 5,676,731 70,948,992
2028 5,632,552 70,609,246
2027 5,585,925 70,248,858
2026 5,537,167 69,883,746
2025 5,484,367 69,487,000
2024 5,395,790 69,281,000
2023 5,311,538 68,526,000
2022 5,212,836 67,636,000
2021 5,110,585 66,978,000
2020 5,039,747 66,740,000
2019 4,976,456 66,628,000
2018 4,898,022 66,287,000
2017 4,827,445 65,964,000
2016 4,762,722 65,606,000
2015 4,701,957 65,087,000
2014 4,657,740 64,619,000
2013 4,623,816 64,138,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd 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 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 76.2M 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 1.64% 0.3%
2024 1.59% 1.1%
2023 1.89% 1.32%
2022 2% 0.98%
2021 1.41% 0.36%
2020 1.27% 0.17%
2019 1.6% 0.51%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Ireland United Kingdom
Current population
5562212
70071289
Population rank 122/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.84%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
2.56 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline +243 +564
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 145/197
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 18,885 39,059 13,233 417,114
2023 19,652 43,873 34,606 445,523
2022 19,287 93,535 39,770 487,029
2021 26,064 27,419 30,609 462,967
2020 23,687 15,746 -4,272 144,221
2019 28,365 29,663 108,338 232,727
2018 29,878 33,387 119,317 259,744
2017 31,379 28,883 145,121 272,311
2016 33,339 18,967 177,136 324,649
2015 35,265 13,376 175,735 347,839
2014 37,728 448 206,781 306,091
2013 39,302 -12,309 198,827 237,272
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 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 (1960–2025, 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/united-kingdom | 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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