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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 16,950,795 people in Zimbabwe in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 17,443,108 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.14 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs +1.62% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (38% growth).

Ireland vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Zimbabwe
2100 5,500,499 37,486,352
2099 5,525,011 37,415,690
2098 5,548,986 37,331,540
2097 5,572,279 37,238,819
2096 5,595,064 37,146,184
2095 5,615,877 37,035,388
2094 5,636,027 36,915,996
2093 5,655,870 36,814,133
2092 5,675,151 36,691,740
2091 5,694,092 36,570,481
2090 5,713,009 36,428,812
2089 5,730,546 36,284,166
2088 5,747,238 36,144,627
2087 5,762,650 35,980,805
2086 5,776,705 35,811,286
2085 5,791,049 35,640,228
2084 5,805,074 35,459,328
2083 5,818,867 35,271,139
2082 5,831,653 35,081,992
2081 5,842,944 34,876,198
2080 5,855,351 34,662,013
2079 5,870,572 34,442,751
2078 5,885,866 34,220,306
2077 5,901,647 33,985,899
2076 5,917,991 33,742,198
2075 5,934,408 33,498,815
2074 5,951,970 33,247,764
2073 5,969,385 32,981,390
2072 5,986,721 32,708,937
2071 6,003,888 32,448,602
2070 6,021,481 32,183,952
2069 6,038,378 31,909,601
2068 6,054,840 31,633,783
2067 6,070,805 31,348,096
2066 6,086,691 31,065,618
2065 6,101,966 30,769,538
2064 6,116,867 30,482,622
2063 6,129,790 30,178,760
2062 6,141,729 29,870,308
2061 6,154,062 29,559,670
2060 6,167,032 29,254,998
2059 6,179,602 28,947,636
2058 6,189,124 28,634,199
2057 6,196,781 28,309,796
2056 6,199,786 27,993,176
2055 6,204,376 27,661,321
2054 6,205,225 27,334,325
2053 6,205,444 26,989,310
2052 6,203,350 26,645,898
2051 6,200,637 26,289,905
2050 6,195,469 25,937,176
2049 6,187,289 25,587,491
2048 6,175,872 25,230,302
2047 6,163,776 24,876,838
2046 6,150,911 24,515,600
2045 6,134,927 24,149,762
2044 6,116,643 23,785,181
2043 6,097,627 23,404,024
2042 6,076,713 23,037,316
2041 6,052,462 22,649,943
2040 6,027,054 22,275,480
2039 6,002,204 21,904,908
2038 5,974,917 21,532,024
2037 5,946,606 21,161,527
2036 5,918,275 20,792,863
2035 5,889,854 20,415,452
2034 5,858,952 20,049,783
2033 5,826,337 19,678,070
2032 5,791,225 19,313,685
2031 5,754,845 18,960,968
2030 5,717,377 18,615,376
2029 5,676,731 18,271,657
2028 5,632,552 17,935,044
2027 5,585,925 17,602,533
2026 5,537,167 17,274,728
2025 5,484,367 16,950,795
2024 5,395,790 16,634,373
2023 5,311,538 16,340,822
2022 5,212,836 16,069,056
2021 5,110,585 15,797,210
2020 5,039,747 15,526,888
2019 4,976,456 15,271,368
2018 4,898,022 15,034,452
2017 4,827,445 14,812,482
2016 4,762,722 14,600,294
2015 4,701,957 14,399,013
2014 4,657,740 14,207,359
2013 4,623,816 14,013,808
2012 4,599,533 13,817,887
2011 4,580,084 13,595,424
2010 4,560,155 13,356,548
2009 4,535,375 13,142,790
2008 4,489,544 12,959,149
2007 4,398,942 12,804,058
2006 4,273,591 12,636,445
2005 4,159,914 12,483,432
2004 4,070,262 12,365,896
2003 3,996,521 12,232,323
2002 3,931,947 12,087,653
2001 3,866,243 11,971,901
2000 3,805,174 11,892,055
1999 3,754,786 11,783,458
1998 3,712,696 11,594,297
1997 3,674,171 11,369,827
1996 3,637,510 11,158,360
1995 3,608,841 10,974,599
1994 3,590,386 10,873,148
1993 3,576,261 10,860,288
1992 3,558,430 10,702,700
1991 3,534,235 10,404,816
1990 3,513,974 10,137,281
1989 3,511,009 9,864,798
1988 3,524,949 9,583,094
1987 3,540,057 9,284,644
1986 3,539,690 8,982,578
1985 3,538,082 8,686,813
1984 3,532,423 8,391,488
1983 3,510,600 8,098,404
1982 3,485,800 7,796,496
1981 3,453,000 7,498,635
1980 3,412,800 7,041,303
1979 3,373,750 6,647,556
1978 3,329,100 6,543,575
1977 3,282,200 6,449,512
1976 3,238,050 6,287,105
1975 3,189,550 6,098,658
1974 3,137,500 5,908,328
1973 3,085,950 5,720,404
1972 3,036,850 5,542,445
1971 2,992,050 5,374,712
1970 2,957,250 5,215,918
1969 2,932,650 5,058,181
1968 2,915,550 4,900,440
1967 2,902,450 4,748,307
1966 2,888,800 4,601,217
1965 2,877,300 4,458,462
1964 2,866,550 4,320,006
1963 2,852,650 4,185,877
1962 2,836,050 4,055,959
1961 2,824,400 3,930,401
1960 2,828,600 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,842,814 people (a 19.5% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 48.7% to 25,937,176 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Zimbabwe
2100 -0.44% 0.19%
2099 -0.43% 0.23%
2098 -0.42% 0.25%
2097 -0.41% 0.25%
2096 -0.37% 0.3%
2095 -0.36% 0.32%
2094 -0.35% 0.28%
2093 -0.34% 0.33%
2092 -0.33% 0.33%
2091 -0.33% 0.39%
2090 -0.31% 0.4%
2089 -0.29% 0.39%
2088 -0.27% 0.46%
2087 -0.24% 0.47%
2086 -0.25% 0.48%
2085 -0.24% 0.51%
2084 -0.24% 0.53%
2083 -0.22% 0.54%
2082 -0.19% 0.59%
2081 -0.21% 0.62%
2080 -0.26% 0.64%
2079 -0.26% 0.65%
2078 -0.27% 0.69%
2077 -0.28% 0.72%
2076 -0.28% 0.73%
2075 -0.3% 0.76%
2074 -0.29% 0.81%
2073 -0.29% 0.83%
2072 -0.29% 0.8%
2071 -0.29% 0.82%
2070 -0.28% 0.86%
2069 -0.27% 0.87%
2068 -0.26% 0.91%
2067 -0.26% 0.91%
2066 -0.25% 0.96%
2065 -0.24% 0.94%
2064 -0.21% 1.01%
2063 -0.19% 1.03%
2062 -0.2% 1.05%
2061 -0.21% 1.04%
2060 -0.2% 1.06%
2059 -0.15% 1.09%
2058 -0.12% 1.15%
2057 -0.05% 1.13%
2056 -0.07% 1.2%
2055 -0.01% 1.2%
2054 -0.004% 1.28%
2053 0.03% 1.29%
2052 0.04% 1.35%
2051 0.08% 1.36%
2050 0.13% 1.37%
2049 0.18% 1.42%
2048 0.2% 1.42%
2047 0.21% 1.47%
2046 0.26% 1.51%
2045 0.3% 1.53%
2044 0.31% 1.63%
2043 0.34% 1.59%
2042 0.4% 1.71%
2041 0.42% 1.68%
2040 0.41% 1.69%
2039 0.46% 1.73%
2038 0.48% 1.75%
2037 0.48% 1.77%
2036 0.48% 1.85%
2035 0.53% 1.82%
2034 0.56% 1.89%
2033 0.61% 1.89%
2032 0.63% 1.86%
2031 0.66% 1.86%
2030 0.72% 1.88%
2029 0.78% 1.88%
2028 0.83% 1.89%
2027 0.88% 1.9%
2026 0.96% 1.91%
2025 1.64% 1.9%
2024 1.59% 1.8%
2023 1.89% 1.69%
2022 2% 1.72%
2021 1.41% 1.74%
2020 1.27% 1.67%
2019 1.6% 1.58%
2018 1.46% 1.5%
2017 1.36% 1.45%
2016 1.29% 1.4%
2015 0.95% 1.35%
2014 0.73% 1.38%
2013 0.53% 1.42%
2012 0.42% 1.64%
2011 0.44% 1.79%
2010 0.55% 1.63%
2009 1.02% 1.42%
2008 2.06% 1.21%
2007 2.93% 1.33%
2006 2.73% 1.23%
2005 2.2% 0.95%
2004 1.85% 1.09%
2003 1.64% 1.2%
2002 1.7% 0.97%
2001 1.6% 0.67%
2000 1.34% 0.92%
1999 1.13% 1.63%
1998 1.05% 1.97%
1997 1.01% 1.9%
1996 0.79% 1.67%
1995 0.51% 0.93%
1994 0.39% 0.12%
1993 0.5% 1.47%
1992 0.68% 2.86%
1991 0.58% 2.64%
1990 0.08% 2.76%
1989 -0.4% 2.94%
1988 -0.43% 3.21%
1987 0.01% 3.36%
1986 0.05% 3.4%
1985 0.16% 3.52%
1984 0.62% 3.62%
1983 0.71% 3.87%
1982 0.95% 3.97%
1981 1.18% 6.49%
1980 1.16% 5.92%
1979 1.34% 1.59%
1978 1.43% 1.46%
1977 1.36% 2.58%
1976 1.52% 3.09%
1975 1.66% 3.22%
1974 1.67% 3.29%
1973 1.62% 3.21%
1972 1.5% 3.12%
1971 1.18% 3.04%
1970 0.84% 3.12%
1969 0.59% 3.22%
1968 0.45% 3.2%
1967 0.47% 3.2%
1966 0.4% 3.2%
1965 0.38% 3.2%
1964 0.49% 3.2%
1963 0.59% 3.2%
1962 0.41% 3.19%
1961 -0.15% 3.18%

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.9%.

Live population counters

Ireland Zimbabwe
Current population
5562212
17443108
Population rank 122/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.21%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
1.67 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
4.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 +867
Annual growth/decline +88,577 +316,422
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% +1.9%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 53/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -54,555
Net migration rank 27/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -54,555
2024 18,885 39,059 372,494 -60,528
2023 19,652 43,873 372,505 -97,380
2022 19,287 93,535 371,243 -102,828
2021 26,064 27,419 349,908 -74,623
2020 23,687 15,746 354,790 -89,440
2019 28,365 29,663 348,798 -103,107
2018 29,878 33,387 345,883 -117,758
2017 31,379 28,883 344,035 -128,241
2016 33,339 18,967 348,772 -140,181
2015 35,265 13,376 356,203 -162,220
2014 37,728 448 366,350 -177,029
2013 39,302 -12,309 374,757 -176,972
2012 42,775 -22,411 371,135 -177,061
2011 45,801 -26,529 359,572 -108,714
2010 47,426 -26,974 335,570 -108,671
2009 47,168 -18,524 309,316 -108,689
2008 46,691 18,979 280,527 -113,858
2007 43,109 76,465 261,805 -118,299
2006 36,752 94,513 248,963 -57,257
2005 33,279 63,983 248,545 -134,212
2004 33,376 49,102 248,307 -127,550
2003 32,372 32,220 243,057 -96,667
2002 31,062 34,286 244,170 -101,212
2001 27,837 39,220 227,909 -139,361
2000 23,592 31,298 236,343 -165,181
1999 21,402 23,592 232,393 -86,343
1998 22,277 16,615 225,614 6,645
1997 21,311 17,425 216,288 395
1996 18,915 9,959 205,269 978
1995 16,601 10,019 206,695 -45,428
1994 17,234 -3,118 216,343 -174,723
1993 17,166 -3,762 228,045 -243,947
1992 20,283 1,335 255,291 75,788
1991 21,206 4,944 260,943 3,749
1990 21,787 -8,203 265,444 4,948
1989 20,012 -28,752 270,838 3,736
1988 22,912 -44,020 277,498 11,327
1987 26,904 -38,426 286,766 21,308
1986 27,963 -21,139 289,894 6,154
1985 29,013 -16,178 290,756 4,718
1984 31,791 -15,549 290,052 5,124
1983 34,053 -15,043 286,545 4,456
1982 38,344 -14,464 279,934 32,899
1981 39,364 -10,834 271,361 11,523
1980 40,612 -2,876 241,179 390,593
1979 38,798 1,486 223,657 -67,937
1978 36,288 15,543 222,979 -170,727
1977 35,448 14,505 225,139 -89,270
1976 33,676 14,200 221,419 -32,495
1975 34,128 13,828 216,947 -28,988
1974 34,199 13,482 208,806 -16,105
1973 34,562 13,164 201,885 -18,733
1972 34,316 12,858 193,725 -20,959
1971 35,606 5,851 185,427 -22,719
1970 30,756 -8,892 178,979 -24,102
1969 29,326 -10,250 172,626 -12,028
1968 27,697 -11,132 166,865 -11,997
1967 29,895 -11,708 161,205 -11,814
1966 26,866 -11,858 156,014 -11,211
1965 30,500 -14,016 151,164 -10,465
1964 31,532 -15,640 145,848 -9,631
1963 29,667 -16,615 140,984 -8,936
1962 28,077 -17,438 136,317 -8,529
1961 25,137 -22,237 131,531 -8,204
1960 28,286 -38,492 126,959 -8,260

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 76.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,564,631 people) and 23.2% is from migration (a loss of 1,076,306 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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