Annual population growth in Ireland
Ireland: Annual population growth was 86,614 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
86,614
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
93rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
124,743
in 2007
All-time low
-15,793
in 1956
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Ireland, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in Ireland stood at 86,614.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 252.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Ireland peaked at 124,743 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -15,793, in 1956.
Ireland ranks 93rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 24,209 | — |
| 1952 | 4,598 | -81.0% |
| 1953 | -12,380 | -369.2% |
| 1954 | -13,909 | +12.4% |
| 1955 | -15,629 | +12.4% |
| 1956 | -15,793 | +1.0% |
| 1957 | -14,649 | -7.2% |
| 1958 | -15,099 | +3.1% |
| 1959 | -14,788 | -2.1% |
| 1960 | -11,525 | -22.1% |
| 1961 | -2,995 | -74.0% |
| 1962 | 6,800 | -327.0% |
| 1963 | 11,539 | +69.7% |
| 1964 | 14,134 | +22.5% |
| 1965 | 15,988 | +13.1% |
| 1966 | 15,727 | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 16,536 | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 17,369 | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 17,970 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 20,643 | +14.9% |
| 1971 | 31,717 | +53.6% |
| 1972 | 44,034 | +38.8% |
| 1973 | 47,283 | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 47,741 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 47,942 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 48,274 | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 49,363 | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 51,429 | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 46,621 | -9.3% |
| 1980 | 39,434 | -15.4% |
| 1981 | 33,585 | -14.8% |
| 1982 | 26,707 | -20.5% |
| 1983 | 22,082 | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 18,339 | -17.0% |
| 1985 | 15,322 | -16.5% |
| 1986 | 10,600 | -30.8% |
| 1987 | -1,493 | -114.1% |
| 1988 | -15,290 | +924.1% |
| 1989 | -14,022 | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 2,945 | -121.0% |
| 1991 | 20,243 | +587.4% |
| 1992 | 24,159 | +19.3% |
| 1993 | 17,701 | -26.7% |
| 1994 | 14,044 | -20.7% |
| 1995 | 20,533 | +46.2% |
| 1996 | 27,812 | +35.5% |
| 1997 | 33,780 | +21.5% |
| 1998 | 38,788 | +14.8% |
| 1999 | 41,863 | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 49,651 | +18.6% |
| 2001 | 60,392 | +21.6% |
| 2002 | 65,460 | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 64,494 | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 73,131 | +13.4% |
| 2005 | 89,217 | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 113,492 | +27.2% |
| 2007 | 124,743 | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 92,474 | -25.9% |
| 2009 | 47,758 | -48.4% |
| 2010 | 25,334 | -47.0% |
| 2011 | 20,519 | -19.0% |
| 2012 | 20,532 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 24,551 | +19.6% |
| 2014 | 33,550 | +36.7% |
| 2015 | 44,261 | +31.9% |
| 2016 | 51,009 | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 56,752 | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 62,301 | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 60,934 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 49,109 | -19.4% |
| 2021 | 45,826 | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 81,587 | +78.0% |
| 2023 | 86,614 | +6.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 86,614 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163, 27.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 86,614 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382, 5.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -924.1% | -1,493 | -15,290 |
| 1991 | +587.4% | 2,945 | 20,243 |
| 1953 | -369.2% | 4,598 | -12,380 |
| 1962 | +327.0% | -2,995 | 6,800 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -8,160 | -15,793 | 24,209 | 9 |
| 1960s | 10,154 | -11,525 | 17,970 | 10 |
| 1970s | 43,505 | 20,643 | 51,429 | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,526 | -15,290 | 39,434 | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,187 | 2,945 | 41,863 | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,081 | 47,758 | 124,743 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,974 | 20,519 | 62,301 | 10 |
| 2020s | 65,784 | 45,826 | 86,614 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
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)
- Population growth rate -0.455 (2100)
- Population density 76.73 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 217,052 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Ireland?
- Annual population growth in Ireland was 86,614 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 124,743 in 2007.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -15,793 in 1956.
- How does Ireland rank for annual population growth?
- Ireland ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 252.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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