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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,395,790 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,518,360 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 3.15 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 121st 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 +1.41% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.52M (29.1% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Ireland vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Zimbabwe
2100 5,468,791 37,483,053
2099 5,493,162 37,412,398
2098 5,516,999 37,328,255
2097 5,540,157 37,235,542
2096 5,562,811 37,142,915
2095 5,583,505 37,032,129
2094 5,603,538 36,912,747
2093 5,623,266 36,810,893
2092 5,642,437 36,688,511
2091 5,661,268 36,567,262
2090 5,680,076 36,425,606
2089 5,697,512 36,280,973
2088 5,714,108 36,141,446
2087 5,729,431 35,977,638
2086 5,743,405 35,808,135
2085 5,757,666 35,637,092
2084 5,771,610 35,456,207
2083 5,785,324 35,268,035
2082 5,798,037 35,078,904
2081 5,809,262 34,873,129
2080 5,821,598 34,658,962
2079 5,836,731 34,439,720
2078 5,851,937 34,217,295
2077 5,867,627 33,982,909
2076 5,883,876 33,739,228
2075 5,900,200 33,495,867
2074 5,917,659 33,244,838
2073 5,934,975 32,978,488
2072 5,952,211 32,706,059
2071 5,969,279 32,445,747
2070 5,986,770 32,181,119
2069 6,003,570 31,906,793
2068 6,019,937 31,631,000
2067 6,035,810 31,345,338
2066 6,051,604 31,062,884
2065 6,066,791 30,766,830
2064 6,081,606 30,479,939
2063 6,094,455 30,176,104
2062 6,106,325 29,867,679
2061 6,118,587 29,557,068
2060 6,131,482 29,252,423
2059 6,143,979 28,945,088
2058 6,153,447 28,631,679
2057 6,161,059 28,307,305
2056 6,164,047 27,990,713
2055 6,168,611 27,658,887
2054 6,169,455 27,331,920
2053 6,169,673 26,986,935
2052 6,167,591 26,643,553
2051 6,164,894 26,287,592
2050 6,159,756 25,934,893
2049 6,151,623 25,585,239
2048 6,140,272 25,228,082
2047 6,128,245 24,874,649
2046 6,115,454 24,513,443
2045 6,099,562 24,147,637
2044 6,081,384 23,783,088
2043 6,062,477 23,401,965
2042 6,041,683 23,035,288
2041 6,017,573 22,647,950
2040 5,992,311 22,273,520
2039 5,967,604 21,902,980
2038 5,940,474 21,530,130
2037 5,912,327 21,159,664
2036 5,884,159 20,791,034
2035 5,855,902 20,413,656
2034 5,825,178 20,048,019
2033 5,792,751 19,676,339
2032 5,757,842 19,311,985
2031 5,721,671 18,959,300
2030 5,684,420 18,613,738
2029 5,644,008 18,270,049
2028 5,600,083 17,933,466
2027 5,553,725 17,600,984
2026 5,505,248 17,273,208
2025 5,452,752 16,949,303
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is still 121st 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 11.6% to 6,159,756 people with a rank change from 121st to 119th. The population of Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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 1.06% 1.89%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ireland grew by 1.59%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Ireland Zimbabwe
Current population
5518360
17361868
Population rank 121/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.21%
One net population change
6.24 minutes
1.79 minutes
One birth every
9.61 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +231 +804
Annual growth/decline +84,252 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +1.59% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 68/197 60/197
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 - 39,059 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 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 (1960–2024, 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/zimbabwe | 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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