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Population in Ireland compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 4.11 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.41% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Ireland vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Zambia
2100 5,468,791 65,217,429
2099 5,493,162 64,871,545
2098 5,516,999 64,515,891
2097 5,540,157 64,148,736
2096 5,562,811 63,777,313
2095 5,583,505 63,393,169
2094 5,603,538 62,992,652
2093 5,623,266 62,590,327
2092 5,642,437 62,175,930
2091 5,661,268 61,750,591
2090 5,680,076 61,321,399
2089 5,697,512 60,880,148
2088 5,714,108 60,434,676
2087 5,729,431 59,970,107
2086 5,743,405 59,499,234
2085 5,757,666 59,023,040
2084 5,771,610 58,535,857
2083 5,785,324 58,040,512
2082 5,798,037 57,538,672
2081 5,809,262 57,027,491
2080 5,821,598 56,506,421
2079 5,836,731 55,983,242
2078 5,851,937 55,449,777
2077 5,867,627 54,906,771
2076 5,883,876 54,361,075
2075 5,900,200 53,806,856
2074 5,917,659 53,246,777
2073 5,934,975 52,677,348
2072 5,952,211 52,101,139
2071 5,969,279 51,519,691
2070 5,986,770 50,931,614
2069 6,003,570 50,334,700
2068 6,019,937 49,737,479
2067 6,035,810 49,135,488
2066 6,051,604 48,530,443
2065 6,066,791 47,918,592
2064 6,081,606 47,299,740
2063 6,094,455 46,677,439
2062 6,106,325 46,048,819
2061 6,118,587 45,416,657
2060 6,131,482 44,777,347
2059 6,143,979 44,137,306
2058 6,153,447 43,494,451
2057 6,161,059 42,851,923
2056 6,164,047 42,206,898
2055 6,168,611 41,558,284
2054 6,169,455 40,906,492
2053 6,169,673 40,255,629
2052 6,167,591 39,603,888
2051 6,164,894 38,949,958
2050 6,159,756 38,294,607
2049 6,151,623 37,634,194
2048 6,140,272 36,971,309
2047 6,128,245 36,309,749
2046 6,115,454 35,645,868
2045 6,099,562 34,981,812
2044 6,081,384 34,316,981
2043 6,062,477 33,652,420
2042 6,041,683 32,990,657
2041 6,017,573 32,329,447
2040 5,992,311 31,664,262
2039 5,967,604 31,001,305
2038 5,940,474 30,335,662
2037 5,912,327 29,668,561
2036 5,884,159 29,000,264
2035 5,855,902 28,333,498
2034 5,825,178 27,671,195
2033 5,792,751 27,011,974
2032 5,757,842 26,356,580
2031 5,721,671 25,702,812
2030 5,684,420 25,055,216
2029 5,644,008 24,414,405
2028 5,600,083 23,780,809
2027 5,553,725 23,151,479
2026 5,505,248 22,529,742
2025 5,452,752 21,918,187
2024 5,395,790 21,314,956
2023 5,311,538 20,723,965
2022 5,212,836 20,152,938
2021 5,110,585 19,603,607
2020 5,039,747 19,059,395
2019 4,976,456 18,513,839
2018 4,898,022 17,973,569
2017 4,827,445 17,441,320
2016 4,762,722 16,914,423
2015 4,701,957 16,399,089
2014 4,657,740 15,895,315
2013 4,623,816 15,398,997
2012 4,599,533 14,913,629
2011 4,580,084 14,437,796
2010 4,560,155 13,965,594
2009 4,535,375 13,490,389
2008 4,489,544 13,021,324
2007 4,398,942 12,565,085
2006 4,273,591 12,129,553
2005 4,159,914 11,718,819
2004 4,070,262 11,338,198
2003 3,996,521 10,983,595
2002 3,931,947 10,647,949
2001 3,866,243 10,325,185
2000 3,805,174 10,017,631
1999 3,754,786 9,740,005
1998 3,712,696 9,482,408
1997 3,674,171 9,237,063
1996 3,637,510 9,004,053
1995 3,608,841 8,785,763
1994 3,590,386 8,576,269
1993 3,576,261 8,373,921
1992 3,558,430 8,176,680
1991 3,534,235 7,981,650
1990 3,513,974 7,786,169
1989 3,511,009 7,589,216
1988 3,524,949 7,391,440
1987 3,540,057 7,191,282
1986 3,539,690 6,986,471
1985 3,538,082 6,780,953
1984 3,532,423 6,580,490
1983 3,510,600 6,381,038
1982 3,485,800 6,178,637
1981 3,453,000 5,983,289
1980 3,412,800 5,802,833
1979 3,373,750 5,631,728
1978 3,329,100 5,465,374
1977 3,282,200 5,302,480
1976 3,238,050 5,143,842
1975 3,189,550 4,990,086
1974 3,137,500 4,842,746
1973 3,085,950 4,702,693
1972 3,036,850 4,569,309
1971 2,992,050 4,442,525
1970 2,957,250 4,321,718
1969 2,932,650 4,197,116
1968 2,915,550 4,065,593
1967 2,902,450 3,936,343
1966 2,888,800 3,812,003
1965 2,877,300 3,692,086
1964 2,866,550 3,577,017
1963 2,852,650 3,465,907
1962 2,836,050 3,358,099
1961 2,824,400 3,254,086
1960 2,828,600 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Zambia
2100 -0.44% 0.53%
2099 -0.43% 0.55%
2098 -0.42% 0.57%
2097 -0.41% 0.58%
2096 -0.37% 0.61%
2095 -0.36% 0.64%
2094 -0.35% 0.64%
2093 -0.34% 0.67%
2092 -0.33% 0.69%
2091 -0.33% 0.7%
2090 -0.31% 0.72%
2089 -0.29% 0.74%
2088 -0.27% 0.77%
2087 -0.24% 0.79%
2086 -0.25% 0.81%
2085 -0.24% 0.83%
2084 -0.24% 0.85%
2083 -0.22% 0.87%
2082 -0.19% 0.9%
2081 -0.21% 0.92%
2080 -0.26% 0.93%
2079 -0.26% 0.96%
2078 -0.27% 0.99%
2077 -0.28% 1%
2076 -0.28% 1.03%
2075 -0.3% 1.05%
2074 -0.29% 1.08%
2073 -0.29% 1.11%
2072 -0.29% 1.13%
2071 -0.29% 1.15%
2070 -0.28% 1.19%
2069 -0.27% 1.2%
2068 -0.26% 1.23%
2067 -0.26% 1.25%
2066 -0.25% 1.28%
2065 -0.24% 1.31%
2064 -0.21% 1.33%
2063 -0.19% 1.37%
2062 -0.2% 1.39%
2061 -0.21% 1.43%
2060 -0.2% 1.45%
2059 -0.15% 1.48%
2058 -0.12% 1.5%
2057 -0.05% 1.53%
2056 -0.07% 1.56%
2055 -0.01% 1.59%
2054 -0.004% 1.62%
2053 0.03% 1.65%
2052 0.04% 1.68%
2051 0.08% 1.71%
2050 0.13% 1.75%
2049 0.18% 1.79%
2048 0.2% 1.82%
2047 0.21% 1.86%
2046 0.26% 1.9%
2045 0.3% 1.94%
2044 0.31% 1.97%
2043 0.34% 2.01%
2042 0.4% 2.05%
2041 0.42% 2.1%
2040 0.41% 2.14%
2039 0.46% 2.19%
2038 0.48% 2.25%
2037 0.48% 2.3%
2036 0.48% 2.35%
2035 0.53% 2.39%
2034 0.56% 2.44%
2033 0.61% 2.49%
2032 0.63% 2.54%
2031 0.66% 2.58%
2030 0.72% 2.62%
2029 0.78% 2.66%
2028 0.83% 2.72%
2027 0.88% 2.76%
2026 0.96% 2.79%
2025 1.06% 2.83%
2024 1.59% 2.85%
2023 1.89% 2.83%
2022 2% 2.8%
2021 1.41% 2.86%
2020 1.27% 2.95%
2019 1.6% 3.01%
2018 1.46% 3.05%
2017 1.36% 3.12%
2016 1.29% 3.14%
2015 0.95% 3.17%
2014 0.73% 3.22%
2013 0.53% 3.25%
2012 0.42% 3.3%
2011 0.44% 3.38%
2010 0.55% 3.52%
2009 1.02% 3.6%
2008 2.06% 3.63%
2007 2.93% 3.59%
2006 2.73% 3.5%
2005 2.2% 3.36%
2004 1.85% 3.23%
2003 1.64% 3.15%
2002 1.7% 3.13%
2001 1.6% 3.07%
2000 1.34% 2.85%
1999 1.13% 2.72%
1998 1.05% 2.66%
1997 1.01% 2.59%
1996 0.79% 2.48%
1995 0.51% 2.44%
1994 0.39% 2.42%
1993 0.5% 2.41%
1992 0.68% 2.44%
1991 0.58% 2.51%
1990 0.08% 2.6%
1989 -0.4% 2.68%
1988 -0.43% 2.78%
1987 0.01% 2.93%
1986 0.05% 3.03%
1985 0.16% 3.05%
1984 0.62% 3.13%
1983 0.71% 3.28%
1982 0.95% 3.26%
1981 1.18% 3.11%
1980 1.16% 3.04%
1979 1.34% 3.04%
1978 1.43% 3.07%
1977 1.36% 3.08%
1976 1.52% 3.08%
1975 1.66% 3.04%
1974 1.67% 2.98%
1973 1.62% 2.92%
1972 1.5% 2.85%
1971 1.18% 2.8%
1970 0.84% 2.97%
1969 0.59% 3.24%
1968 0.45% 3.28%
1967 0.47% 3.26%
1966 0.4% 3.25%
1965 0.38% 3.22%
1964 0.49% 3.21%
1963 0.59% 3.21%
1962 0.41% 3.2%
1961 -0.15% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Ireland Zambia
Current population
5518360
22697916
Population rank 121/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.27%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
9.61 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
15 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 21/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +35,417 +6,562
Net migration rank 27/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - 6,562
2024 - 39,059 - 7,381
2023 19,652 43,873 577,660 9,521
2022 19,287 93,535 563,456 -8,566
2021 26,064 27,419 535,629 8,143
2020 23,687 15,746 536,484 8,156
2019 28,365 29,663 528,089 18,385
2018 29,878 33,387 515,644 18,431
2017 31,379 28,883 504,630 25,789
2016 33,339 18,967 497,521 25,860
2015 35,265 13,376 491,021 16,261
2014 37,728 448 483,663 16,574
2013 39,302 -12,309 476,846 15,542
2012 42,775 -22,411 469,406 8,958
2011 45,801 -26,529 459,743 13,569
2010 47,426 -26,974 448,337 22,761
2009 47,168 -18,524 434,458 44,867
2008 46,691 18,979 419,560 39,249
2007 43,109 76,465 403,729 49,945
2006 36,752 94,513 387,891 29,517
2005 33,279 63,983 368,756 35,316
2004 33,376 49,102 349,352 7,819
2003 32,372 32,220 331,189 20,845
2002 31,062 34,286 316,041 3,206
2001 27,837 39,220 302,682 23,582
2000 23,592 31,298 293,186 -4,338
1999 21,402 23,592 283,297 -16,888
1998 22,277 16,615 275,568 -26,796
1997 21,311 17,425 268,198 -26,276
1996 18,915 9,959 262,468 -38,358
1995 16,601 10,019 257,897 -45,423
1994 17,234 -3,118 252,023 -45,504
1993 17,166 -3,762 245,917 -47,739
1992 20,283 1,335 239,953 -43,656
1991 21,206 4,944 237,957 -44,203
1990 21,787 -8,203 235,835 -38,619
1989 20,012 -28,752 233,429 -36,736
1988 22,912 -44,020 230,118 -31,270
1987 26,904 -38,426 227,813 -26,338
1986 27,963 -21,139 224,768 -16,610
1985 29,013 -16,178 221,351 -18,474
1984 31,791 -15,549 216,695 -18,652
1983 34,053 -15,043 212,712 -11,849
1982 38,344 -14,464 207,621 -3,676
1981 39,364 -10,834 202,822 -16,072
1980 40,612 -2,876 198,817 -24,664
1979 38,798 1,486 197,578 -29,515
1978 36,288 15,543 194,933 -30,284
1977 35,448 14,505 191,557 -30,423
1976 33,676 14,200 186,762 -30,612
1975 34,128 13,828 182,258 -30,886
1974 34,199 13,482 174,484 -31,178
1973 34,562 13,164 168,258 -31,472
1972 34,316 12,858 161,648 -31,672
1971 35,606 5,851 155,249 -31,651
1970 30,756 -8,892 149,380 -31,370
1969 29,326 -10,250 142,660 -11,469
1968 27,697 -11,132 137,315 -5,447
1967 29,895 -11,708 131,938 -5,298
1966 26,866 -11,858 127,164 -5,129
1965 30,500 -14,016 122,814 -5,023
1964 31,532 -15,640 117,197 -4,851
1963 29,667 -16,615 114,555 -4,676
1962 28,077 -17,438 110,173 -4,428
1961 25,137 -22,237 106,318 -4,043
1960 28,286 -38,492 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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