Animal populations by NUTS 2 region in Ireland
Ireland: Animal populations by NUTS 2 region was 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
6,284 Thousand heads (animals)
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
7th
of 47 countries
All-time high
6,952 Thousand heads (animals)
in 1998
All-time low
5,633 Thousand heads (animals)
in 1987
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Animal populations by NUTS 2 region in Ireland, 1977–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand heads (animals).
Analysis
In 2025, animal populations by nuts 2 region in Ireland stood at 6,284 Thousand heads (animals).
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, animal populations by nuts 2 region in Ireland peaked at 6,952 Thousand heads (animals) in 1998 and was at its lowest, 5,633 Thousand heads (animals), in 1987.
Ireland ranks 7th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Animal populations by NUTS 2 region in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand heads (animals) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 6,244 Thousand heads (animals) | — |
| 1978 | 6,130 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 6,169 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 5,826 Thousand heads (animals) | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 5,762 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 5,795 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 5,831 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 5,861 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 5,813 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 5,670 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 5,633 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 5,699 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 5,969 Thousand heads (animals) | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 6,100 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 6,158 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 6,265 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 6,308 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 6,410 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 6,451 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 6,661 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 6,882 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 6,952 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 6,558 Thousand heads (animals) | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 6,330 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 6,408 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 6,333 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 6,223 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 6,212 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 6,390 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 6,340 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 6,248 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 6,304 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 6,232 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 5,918 Thousand heads (animals) | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 5,925 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 6,253 Thousand heads (animals) | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 6,309 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 6,243 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 6,422 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 6,613 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 6,674 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 6,593 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 6,560 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 6,529 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 6,649 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 6,552 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 6,526 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6,308 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 883 Thousand heads (animals), 7.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,367 Thousand heads (animals), 4.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6,181 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,130 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,244 Thousand heads (animals) | 3 |
| 1980s | 5,786 Thousand heads (animals) | 5,633 Thousand heads (animals) | 5,969 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,474 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,100 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,952 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,302 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,212 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,408 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,351 Thousand heads (animals) | 5,918 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,674 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,475 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,649 Thousand heads (animals) | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 4 United Kingdom 9,459 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 4 United Kingdom 9,459 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 6 Spain 6,300 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 8 Poland 6,143 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 8 Poland 6,143 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 10 Italy 5,815 Thousand heads (animals) compare
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is animal populations by nuts 2 region in Ireland?
- Animal populations by nuts 2 region in Ireland was 6,284 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest animal populations by nuts 2 region recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6,952 Thousand heads (animals) in 1998.
- What is the lowest animal populations by nuts 2 region recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,633 Thousand heads (animals) in 1987.
- How does Ireland rank for animal populations by nuts 2 region?
- Ireland ranks 7th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is animal populations by nuts 2 region rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Animal populations by NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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