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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 62.3 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.22% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Ireland vs United States: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland United States
2100 5,468,791 415,429,771
2099 5,493,162 414,829,167
2098 5,516,999 414,231,720
2097 5,540,157 413,576,381
2096 5,562,811 412,927,393
2095 5,583,505 412,225,379
2094 5,603,538 411,498,749
2093 5,623,266 410,785,729
2092 5,642,437 410,051,921
2091 5,661,268 409,320,183
2090 5,680,076 408,613,732
2089 5,697,512 407,885,645
2088 5,714,108 407,129,733
2087 5,729,431 406,421,298
2086 5,743,405 405,715,343
2085 5,757,666 405,059,379
2084 5,771,610 404,343,130
2083 5,785,324 403,612,785
2082 5,798,037 402,871,293
2081 5,809,262 402,054,554
2080 5,821,598 401,319,194
2079 5,836,731 400,554,914
2078 5,851,937 399,737,968
2077 5,867,627 398,906,565
2076 5,883,876 398,035,750
2075 5,900,200 397,109,170
2074 5,917,659 396,226,412
2073 5,934,975 395,307,725
2072 5,952,211 394,393,561
2071 5,969,279 393,415,363
2070 5,986,770 392,469,727
2069 6,003,570 391,479,981
2068 6,019,937 390,517,695
2067 6,035,810 389,543,856
2066 6,051,604 388,597,719
2065 6,066,791 387,685,327
2064 6,081,606 386,805,026
2063 6,094,455 385,911,917
2062 6,106,325 385,032,627
2061 6,118,587 384,170,837
2060 6,131,482 383,361,269
2059 6,143,979 382,542,030
2058 6,153,447 381,704,804
2057 6,161,059 380,907,023
2056 6,164,047 380,159,777
2055 6,168,611 379,430,756
2054 6,169,455 378,682,851
2053 6,169,673 377,878,421
2052 6,167,591 377,073,303
2051 6,164,894 376,229,840
2050 6,159,756 375,373,155
2049 6,151,623 374,493,150
2048 6,140,272 373,590,762
2047 6,128,245 372,626,259
2046 6,115,454 371,644,809
2045 6,099,562 370,602,914
2044 6,081,384 369,518,897
2043 6,062,477 368,375,680
2042 6,041,683 367,158,772
2041 6,017,573 365,937,822
2040 5,992,311 364,671,837
2039 5,967,604 363,367,337
2038 5,940,474 361,997,023
2037 5,912,327 360,606,236
2036 5,884,159 359,193,245
2035 5,855,902 357,750,686
2034 5,825,178 356,266,726
2033 5,792,751 354,775,032
2032 5,757,842 353,259,037
2031 5,721,671 351,721,511
2030 5,684,420 350,155,042
2029 5,644,008 348,564,667
2028 5,600,083 346,906,294
2027 5,553,725 345,257,605
2026 5,505,248 343,565,426
2025 5,452,752 341,784,857
2024 5,395,790 340,110,988
2023 5,311,538 334,914,895
2022 5,212,836 333,271,411
2021 5,110,585 331,893,745
2020 5,039,747 331,526,933
2019 4,976,456 328,329,953
2018 4,898,022 326,838,199
2017 4,827,445 325,122,128
2016 4,762,722 323,071,755
2015 4,701,957 320,738,994
2014 4,657,740 318,386,329
2013 4,623,816 316,059,947
2012 4,599,533 313,877,662
2011 4,580,084 311,583,481
2010 4,560,155 309,327,143
2009 4,535,375 306,771,529
2008 4,489,544 304,093,966
2007 4,398,942 301,231,207
2006 4,273,591 298,379,912
2005 4,159,914 295,516,599
2004 4,070,262 292,805,298
2003 3,996,521 290,107,933
2002 3,931,947 287,625,193
2001 3,866,243 284,968,955
2000 3,805,174 282,162,411
1999 3,754,786 279,294,713
1998 3,712,696 276,115,288
1997 3,674,171 272,911,760
1996 3,637,510 269,667,391
1995 3,608,841 266,557,091
1994 3,590,386 263,435,673
1993 3,576,261 260,255,352
1992 3,558,430 256,894,189
1991 3,534,235 253,492,503
1990 3,513,974 250,131,894
1989 3,511,009 246,819,222
1988 3,524,949 244,499,004
1987 3,540,057 242,288,936
1986 3,539,690 240,132,831
1985 3,538,082 237,923,734
1984 3,532,423 235,824,908
1983 3,510,600 233,792,014
1982 3,485,800 231,664,432
1981 3,453,000 229,465,744
1980 3,412,800 226,542,250
1979 3,373,750 225,055,487
1978 3,329,100 222,584,545
1977 3,282,200 220,239,425
1976 3,238,050 218,035,164
1975 3,189,550 215,973,199
1974 3,137,500 213,853,928
1973 3,085,950 211,908,788
1972 3,036,850 209,896,021
1971 2,992,050 207,660,677
1970 2,957,250 205,052,174
1969 2,932,650 202,676,946
1968 2,915,550 200,706,052
1967 2,902,450 198,712,056
1966 2,888,800 196,560,338
1965 2,877,300 194,302,963
1964 2,866,550 191,888,791
1963 2,852,650 189,241,798
1962 2,836,050 186,537,737
1961 2,824,400 183,691,481
1960 2,828,600 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland United States
2100 -0.44% 0.14%
2099 -0.43% 0.14%
2098 -0.42% 0.16%
2097 -0.41% 0.16%
2096 -0.37% 0.17%
2095 -0.36% 0.18%
2094 -0.35% 0.17%
2093 -0.34% 0.18%
2092 -0.33% 0.18%
2091 -0.33% 0.17%
2090 -0.31% 0.18%
2089 -0.29% 0.19%
2088 -0.27% 0.17%
2087 -0.24% 0.17%
2086 -0.25% 0.16%
2085 -0.24% 0.18%
2084 -0.24% 0.18%
2083 -0.22% 0.18%
2082 -0.19% 0.2%
2081 -0.21% 0.18%
2080 -0.26% 0.19%
2079 -0.26% 0.2%
2078 -0.27% 0.21%
2077 -0.28% 0.22%
2076 -0.28% 0.23%
2075 -0.3% 0.22%
2074 -0.29% 0.23%
2073 -0.29% 0.23%
2072 -0.29% 0.25%
2071 -0.29% 0.24%
2070 -0.28% 0.25%
2069 -0.27% 0.25%
2068 -0.26% 0.25%
2067 -0.26% 0.24%
2066 -0.25% 0.24%
2065 -0.24% 0.23%
2064 -0.21% 0.23%
2063 -0.19% 0.23%
2062 -0.2% 0.22%
2061 -0.21% 0.21%
2060 -0.2% 0.21%
2059 -0.15% 0.22%
2058 -0.12% 0.21%
2057 -0.05% 0.2%
2056 -0.07% 0.19%
2055 -0.01% 0.2%
2054 -0.004% 0.21%
2053 0.03% 0.21%
2052 0.04% 0.22%
2051 0.08% 0.23%
2050 0.13% 0.23%
2049 0.18% 0.24%
2048 0.2% 0.26%
2047 0.21% 0.26%
2046 0.26% 0.28%
2045 0.3% 0.29%
2044 0.31% 0.31%
2043 0.34% 0.33%
2042 0.4% 0.33%
2041 0.42% 0.35%
2040 0.41% 0.36%
2039 0.46% 0.38%
2038 0.48% 0.39%
2037 0.48% 0.39%
2036 0.48% 0.4%
2035 0.53% 0.42%
2034 0.56% 0.42%
2033 0.61% 0.43%
2032 0.63% 0.44%
2031 0.66% 0.45%
2030 0.72% 0.46%
2029 0.78% 0.48%
2028 0.83% 0.48%
2027 0.88% 0.49%
2026 0.96% 0.52%
2025 1.06% 0.49%
2024 1.59% 1.55%
2023 1.89% 0.49%
2022 2% 0.42%
2021 1.41% 0.11%
2020 1.27% 0.97%
2019 1.6% 0.46%
2018 1.46% 0.53%
2017 1.36% 0.63%
2016 1.29% 0.73%
2015 0.95% 0.74%
2014 0.73% 0.74%
2013 0.53% 0.7%
2012 0.42% 0.74%
2011 0.44% 0.73%
2010 0.55% 0.83%
2009 1.02% 0.88%
2008 2.06% 0.95%
2007 2.93% 0.96%
2006 2.73% 0.97%
2005 2.2% 0.93%
2004 1.85% 0.93%
2003 1.64% 0.86%
2002 1.7% 0.93%
2001 1.6% 0.99%
2000 1.34% 1.03%
1999 1.13% 1.15%
1998 1.05% 1.17%
1997 1.01% 1.2%
1996 0.79% 1.17%
1995 0.51% 1.18%
1994 0.39% 1.22%
1993 0.5% 1.31%
1992 0.68% 1.34%
1991 0.58% 1.34%
1990 0.08% 1.34%
1989 -0.4% 0.95%
1988 -0.43% 0.91%
1987 0.01% 0.9%
1986 0.05% 0.93%
1985 0.16% 0.89%
1984 0.62% 0.87%
1983 0.71% 0.92%
1982 0.95% 0.96%
1981 1.18% 1.29%
1980 1.16% 0.66%
1979 1.34% 1.11%
1978 1.43% 1.06%
1977 1.36% 1.01%
1976 1.52% 0.95%
1975 1.66% 0.99%
1974 1.67% 0.92%
1973 1.62% 0.96%
1972 1.5% 1.08%
1971 1.18% 1.27%
1970 0.84% 1.17%
1969 0.59% 0.98%
1968 0.45% 1%
1967 0.47% 1.09%
1966 0.4% 1.16%
1965 0.38% 1.26%
1964 0.49% 1.4%
1963 0.59% 1.45%
1962 0.41% 1.55%
1961 -0.15% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Ireland United States
Current population
5518360
344023146
Population rank 121/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 4.15%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +231 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 134/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change +35,417 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 27/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 1,230,663
2024 - 39,059 - 1,286,132
2023 19,652 43,873 502,372 1,322,668
2022 19,287 93,535 399,926 1,319,009
2021 26,064 27,419 199,137 674,787
2020 23,687 15,746 208,862 329,769
2019 28,365 29,663 887,476 1,774,500
2018 29,878 33,387 955,022 1,764,961
2017 31,379 28,883 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 33,339 18,967 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 35,265 13,376 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 37,728 448 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 39,302 -12,309 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 42,775 -22,411 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 45,801 -26,529 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 47,426 -26,974 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 47,168 -18,524 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 46,691 18,979 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 43,109 76,465 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 36,752 94,513 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 33,279 63,983 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 33,376 49,102 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 32,372 32,220 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 31,062 34,286 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 27,837 39,220 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 23,592 31,298 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 21,402 23,592 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 22,277 16,615 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 21,311 17,425 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 18,915 9,959 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 16,601 10,019 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 17,234 -3,118 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 17,166 -3,762 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 20,283 1,335 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 21,206 4,944 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 21,787 -8,203 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 20,012 -28,752 1,875,826 400,998
1988 22,912 -44,020 1,735,943 460,778
1987 26,904 -38,426 1,720,252 480,815
1986 27,963 -21,139 1,656,917 493,082
1985 29,013 -16,178 1,689,258 598,777
1984 31,791 -15,549 1,627,192 622,793
1983 34,053 -15,043 1,636,544 662,840
1982 38,344 -14,464 1,714,317 600,149
1981 39,364 -10,834 1,652,153 583,070
1980 40,612 -2,876 1,608,450 595,916
1979 38,798 1,486 1,597,894 503,559
1978 36,288 15,543 1,402,283 556,521
1977 35,448 14,505 1,431,556 577,060
1976 33,676 14,200 1,264,604 635,590
1975 34,128 13,828 1,252,644 655,078
1974 34,199 13,482 1,218,968 706,978
1973 34,562 13,164 1,165,499 783,163
1972 34,316 12,858 1,301,355 833,543
1971 35,606 5,851 1,640,519 833,549
1970 30,756 -8,892 1,824,965 744,902
1969 29,326 -10,250 1,702,487 523,740
1968 27,697 -11,132 1,565,507 594,514
1967 29,895 -11,708 1,669,181 585,410
1966 26,866 -11,858 1,749,387 637,692
1965 30,500 -14,016 1,943,030 644,902
1964 31,532 -15,640 2,245,099 618,635
1963 29,667 -16,615 2,289,826 639,495
1962 28,077 -17,438 2,406,337 625,617
1961 25,137 -22,237 2,571,681 580,333
1960 28,286 -38,492 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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