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Population in Ireland compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 5,896 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Ireland vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Vatican
2100 5,468,791 2,521
2099 5,493,162 2,506
2098 5,516,999 2,497
2097 5,540,157 2,482
2096 5,562,811 2,469
2095 5,583,505 2,452
2094 5,603,538 2,435
2093 5,623,266 2,421
2092 5,642,437 2,400
2091 5,661,268 2,384
2090 5,680,076 2,359
2089 5,697,512 2,337
2088 5,714,108 2,319
2087 5,729,431 2,291
2086 5,743,405 2,269
2085 5,757,666 2,248
2084 5,771,610 2,217
2083 5,785,324 2,183
2082 5,798,037 2,159
2081 5,809,262 2,129
2080 5,821,598 2,105
2079 5,836,731 2,089
2078 5,851,937 2,068
2077 5,867,627 2,050
2076 5,883,876 2,025
2075 5,900,200 2,001
2074 5,917,659 1,970
2073 5,934,975 1,944
2072 5,952,211 1,912
2071 5,969,279 1,866
2070 5,986,770 1,829
2069 6,003,570 1,795
2068 6,019,937 1,777
2067 6,035,810 1,755
2066 6,051,604 1,729
2065 6,066,791 1,701
2064 6,081,606 1,679
2063 6,094,455 1,651
2062 6,106,325 1,623
2061 6,118,587 1,595
2060 6,131,482 1,556
2059 6,143,979 1,530
2058 6,153,447 1,512
2057 6,161,059 1,493
2056 6,164,047 1,469
2055 6,168,611 1,441
2054 6,169,455 1,419
2053 6,169,673 1,382
2052 6,167,591 1,358
2051 6,164,894 1,335
2050 6,159,756 1,311
2049 6,151,623 1,283
2048 6,140,272 1,256
2047 6,128,245 1,237
2046 6,115,454 1,215
2045 6,099,562 1,192
2044 6,081,384 1,174
2043 6,062,477 1,152
2042 6,041,683 1,135
2041 6,017,573 1,105
2040 5,992,311 1,070
2039 5,967,604 1,033
2038 5,940,474 1,001
2037 5,912,327 996
2036 5,884,159 1,001
2035 5,855,902 988
2034 5,825,178 988
2033 5,792,751 974
2032 5,757,842 964
2031 5,721,671 977
2030 5,684,420 979
2029 5,644,008 985
2028 5,600,083 983
2027 5,553,725 946
2026 5,505,248 933
2025 5,452,752 927
2024 5,395,790 910
2023 5,311,538 927
2022 5,212,836 951
2021 5,110,585 972
2020 5,039,747 987
2019 4,976,456 1,000
2018 4,898,022 -
2017 4,827,445 1,000
2016 4,762,722 -
2015 4,701,957 1,000
2014 4,657,740 842
2013 4,623,816 839
2012 4,599,533 836
2011 4,580,084 832
2010 4,560,155 829
2009 4,535,375 826
2008 4,489,544 824
2007 4,398,942 821
2006 4,273,591 932
2005 4,159,914 921
2004 4,070,262 921
2003 3,996,521 911
2002 3,931,947 900
2001 3,866,243 890
2000 3,805,174 880
1999 3,754,786 -
1998 3,712,696 -
1997 3,674,171 -
1996 3,637,510 -
1995 3,608,841 -
1994 3,590,386 -
1993 3,576,261 -
1992 3,558,430 -
1991 3,534,235 -
1990 3,513,974 -
1989 3,511,009 -
1988 3,524,949 -
1987 3,540,057 -
1986 3,539,690 -
1985 3,538,082 -
1984 3,532,423 -
1983 3,510,600 -
1982 3,485,800 -
1981 3,453,000 -
1980 3,412,800 -
1979 3,373,750 -
1978 3,329,100 -
1977 3,282,200 -
1976 3,238,050 -
1975 3,189,550 -
1974 3,137,500 -
1973 3,085,950 -
1972 3,036,850 -
1971 2,992,050 -
1970 2,957,250 -
1969 2,932,650 -
1968 2,915,550 -
1967 2,902,450 -
1966 2,888,800 -
1965 2,877,300 -
1964 2,866,550 -
1963 2,852,650 -
1962 2,836,050 -
1961 2,824,400 -
1960 2,828,600 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Vatican
2100 -0.44% 0.59%
2099 -0.43% 0.37%
2098 -0.42% 0.6%
2097 -0.41% 0.53%
2096 -0.37% 0.68%
2095 -0.36% 0.69%
2094 -0.35% 0.61%
2093 -0.34% 0.85%
2092 -0.33% 0.7%
2091 -0.33% 1.02%
2090 -0.31% 0.95%
2089 -0.29% 0.8%
2088 -0.27% 1.21%
2087 -0.24% 0.98%
2086 -0.25% 0.91%
2085 -0.24% 1.42%
2084 -0.24% 1.53%
2083 -0.22% 1.12%
2082 -0.19% 1.39%
2081 -0.21% 1.15%
2080 -0.26% 0.8%
2079 -0.26% 0.99%
2078 -0.27% 0.9%
2077 -0.28% 1.19%
2076 -0.28% 1.2%
2075 -0.3% 1.6%
2074 -0.29% 1.34%
2073 -0.29% 1.65%
2072 -0.29% 2.49%
2071 -0.29% 2.03%
2070 -0.28% 1.86%
2069 -0.27% 1.04%
2068 -0.26% 1.27%
2067 -0.26% 1.5%
2066 -0.25% 1.64%
2065 -0.24% 1.33%
2064 -0.21% 1.69%
2063 -0.19% 1.71%
2062 -0.2% 1.74%
2061 -0.21% 2.5%
2060 -0.2% 1.7%
2059 -0.15% 1.23%
2058 -0.12% 1.24%
2057 -0.05% 1.64%
2056 -0.07% 1.93%
2055 -0.01% 1.57%
2054 -0.004% 2.68%
2053 0.03% 1.78%
2052 0.04% 1.67%
2051 0.08% 1.84%
2050 0.13% 2.17%
2049 0.18% 2.22%
2048 0.2% 1.5%
2047 0.21% 1.83%
2046 0.26% 1.87%
2045 0.3% 1.58%
2044 0.31% 1.93%
2043 0.34% 1.47%
2042 0.4% 2.68%
2041 0.42% 3.29%
2040 0.41% 3.59%
2039 0.46% 3.15%
2038 0.48% 0.56%
2037 0.48% -0.56%
2036 0.48% 1.31%
2035 0.53% 0%
2034 0.56% 1.52%
2033 0.61% 0.96%
2032 0.63% -1.33%
2031 0.66% -0.19%
2030 0.72% -0.56%
2029 0.78% 0.19%
2028 0.83% 3.92%
2027 0.88% 1.39%
2026 0.96% 0.6%
2025 1.06% 1.83%
2024 1.59% -1.8%
2023 1.89% -2.53%
2022 2% -2.1%
2021 1.41% -1.5%
2020 1.27% -1.3%
2019 1.6% 0%
2018 1.46% 0%
2017 1.36% 0%
2016 1.29% 0%
2015 0.95% 18.8%
2014 0.73% 0.36%
2013 0.53% 0.36%
2012 0.42% 0.48%
2011 0.44% 0.36%
2010 0.55% 0.36%
2009 1.02% 0.24%
2008 2.06% 0.37%
2007 2.93% -11.9%
2006 2.73% 1.19%
2005 2.2% 0%
2004 1.85% 1.1%
2003 1.64% 1.22%
2002 1.7% 1.12%
2001 1.6% 1.14%
2000 1.34% -
1999 1.13% -
1998 1.05% -
1997 1.01% -
1996 0.79% -
1995 0.51% -
1994 0.39% -
1993 0.5% -
1992 0.68% -
1991 0.58% -
1990 0.08% -
1989 -0.4% -
1988 -0.43% -
1987 0.01% -
1986 0.05% -
1985 0.16% -
1984 0.62% -
1983 0.71% -
1982 0.95% -
1981 1.18% -
1980 1.16% -
1979 1.34% -
1978 1.43% -
1977 1.36% -
1976 1.52% -
1975 1.66% -
1974 1.67% -
1973 1.62% -
1972 1.5% -
1971 1.18% -
1970 0.84% -
1969 0.59% -
1968 0.45% -
1967 0.47% -
1966 0.4% -
1965 0.38% -
1964 0.49% -
1963 0.59% -
1962 0.41% -
1961 -0.15% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Ireland Vatican
Current population
5518360
936
Population rank 121/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.00001%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1 month
One birth every
9.61 minutes
n/a
One death every
15 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +231 +0
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +0%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 163/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +35,417 n/a
Net migration rank 27/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -
2024 - 39,059 - -
2023 19,652 43,873 - -
2022 19,287 93,535 - -
2021 26,064 27,419 - -
2020 23,687 15,746 - -
2019 28,365 29,663 - -
2018 29,878 33,387 - -
2017 31,379 28,883 - -
2016 33,339 18,967 - -
2015 35,265 13,376 - -
2014 37,728 448 - -
2013 39,302 -12,309 - -
2012 42,775 -22,411 - -
2011 45,801 -26,529 - -
2010 47,426 -26,974 - -
2009 47,168 -18,524 - -
2008 46,691 18,979 - -
2007 43,109 76,465 - -
2006 36,752 94,513 - -
2005 33,279 63,983 - -
2004 33,376 49,102 - -
2003 32,372 32,220 - -
2002 31,062 34,286 - -
2001 27,837 39,220 - -
2000 23,592 31,298 - -
1999 21,402 23,592 - -
1998 22,277 16,615 - -
1997 21,311 17,425 - -
1996 18,915 9,959 - -
1995 16,601 10,019 - -
1994 17,234 -3,118 - -
1993 17,166 -3,762 - -
1992 20,283 1,335 - -
1991 21,206 4,944 - -
1990 21,787 -8,203 - -
1989 20,012 -28,752 - -
1988 22,912 -44,020 - -
1987 26,904 -38,426 - -
1986 27,963 -21,139 - -
1985 29,013 -16,178 - -
1984 31,791 -15,549 - -
1983 34,053 -15,043 - -
1982 38,344 -14,464 - -
1981 39,364 -10,834 - -
1980 40,612 -2,876 - -
1979 38,798 1,486 - -
1978 36,288 15,543 - -
1977 35,448 14,505 - -
1976 33,676 14,200 - -
1975 34,128 13,828 - -
1974 34,199 13,482 - -
1973 34,562 13,164 - -
1972 34,316 12,858 - -
1971 35,606 5,851 - -
1970 30,756 -8,892 - -
1969 29,326 -10,250 - -
1968 27,697 -11,132 - -
1967 29,895 -11,708 - -
1966 26,866 -11,858 - -
1965 30,500 -14,016 - -
1964 31,532 -15,640 - -
1963 29,667 -16,615 - -
1962 28,077 -17,438 - -
1961 25,137 -22,237 - -
1960 28,286 -38,492 - -

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/vatican | CC BY

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Ireland and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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