Annual change in population in Ireland
Ireland: Annual change in population was 86,614 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
86,614 people
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
93rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
124,743 people
in 2007
All-time low
-15,793 people
in 1956
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Ireland, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual change in population in Ireland stood at 86,614 people.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 252.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Ireland peaked at 124,743 people in 2007 and was at its lowest, -15,793 people, 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 change in population in Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 24,209 people | — |
| 1952 | 4,598 people | -81.0% |
| 1953 | -12,380 people | -369.2% |
| 1954 | -13,909 people | +12.4% |
| 1955 | -15,629 people | +12.4% |
| 1956 | -15,793 people | +1.0% |
| 1957 | -14,649 people | -7.2% |
| 1958 | -15,099 people | +3.1% |
| 1959 | -14,788 people | -2.1% |
| 1960 | -11,525 people | -22.1% |
| 1961 | -2,995 people | -74.0% |
| 1962 | 6,800 people | -327.0% |
| 1963 | 11,539 people | +69.7% |
| 1964 | 14,134 people | +22.5% |
| 1965 | 15,988 people | +13.1% |
| 1966 | 15,727 people | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 16,536 people | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 17,369 people | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 17,970 people | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 20,643 people | +14.9% |
| 1971 | 31,717 people | +53.6% |
| 1972 | 44,034 people | +38.8% |
| 1973 | 47,283 people | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 47,741 people | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 47,942 people | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 48,274 people | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 49,363 people | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 51,429 people | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 46,621 people | -9.3% |
| 1980 | 39,434 people | -15.4% |
| 1981 | 33,585 people | -14.8% |
| 1982 | 26,707 people | -20.5% |
| 1983 | 22,082 people | -17.3% |
| 1984 | 18,339 people | -17.0% |
| 1985 | 15,322 people | -16.5% |
| 1986 | 10,600 people | -30.8% |
| 1987 | -1,493 people | -114.1% |
| 1988 | -15,290 people | +924.1% |
| 1989 | -14,022 people | -8.3% |
| 1990 | 2,945 people | -121.0% |
| 1991 | 20,243 people | +587.4% |
| 1992 | 24,159 people | +19.3% |
| 1993 | 17,701 people | -26.7% |
| 1994 | 14,044 people | -20.7% |
| 1995 | 20,533 people | +46.2% |
| 1996 | 27,812 people | +35.5% |
| 1997 | 33,780 people | +21.5% |
| 1998 | 38,788 people | +14.8% |
| 1999 | 41,863 people | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 49,651 people | +18.6% |
| 2001 | 60,392 people | +21.6% |
| 2002 | 65,460 people | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 64,494 people | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 73,131 people | +13.4% |
| 2005 | 89,217 people | +22.0% |
| 2006 | 113,492 people | +27.2% |
| 2007 | 124,743 people | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 92,474 people | -25.9% |
| 2009 | 47,758 people | -48.4% |
| 2010 | 25,334 people | -47.0% |
| 2011 | 20,519 people | -19.0% |
| 2012 | 20,532 people | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 24,551 people | +19.6% |
| 2014 | 33,550 people | +36.7% |
| 2015 | 44,261 people | +31.9% |
| 2016 | 51,009 people | +15.2% |
| 2017 | 56,752 people | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 62,301 people | +9.8% |
| 2019 | 60,934 people | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 49,109 people | -19.4% |
| 2021 | 45,826 people | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 81,587 people | +78.0% |
| 2023 | 86,614 people | +6.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 86,614 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 27.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 86,614 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382 people, 5.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population 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 people | -15,290 people |
| 1991 | +587.4% | 2,945 people | 20,243 people |
| 1953 | -369.2% | 4,598 people | -12,380 people |
| 1962 | +327.0% | -2,995 people | 6,800 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | -8,160 people | -15,793 people | 24,209 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 10,154 people | -11,525 people | 17,970 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 43,505 people | 20,643 people | 51,429 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,526 people | -15,290 people | 39,434 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,187 people | 2,945 people | 41,863 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,081 people | 47,758 people | 124,743 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,974 people | 20,519 people | 62,301 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 65,784 people | 45,826 people | 86,614 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Ireland?
- Annual change in population in Ireland was 86,614 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 124,743 people in 2007.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -15,793 people in 1956.
- How does Ireland rank for annual change in population?
- Ireland ranks 93rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population 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 UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.