Population by age group in Ireland
Ireland: Population by age group was 806,826 people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
806,826 people
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
87th
of 236 countries
All-time high
806,826 people
in 2023
All-time low
316,082 people
in 1959
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population by age group in Ireland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age group in Ireland is 806,826 people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age group in Ireland peaked at 806,826 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 316,082 people, in 1959.
Ireland ranks 87th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Population by age group in Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 319,215 people | — |
| 1951 | 317,424 people | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 316,097 people | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 317,183 people | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 317,737 people | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 317,280 people | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 317,503 people | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 317,679 people | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 316,761 people | -0.3% |
| 1959 | 316,082 people | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 317,010 people | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 318,286 people | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 318,272 people | -0.0% |
| 1963 | 318,026 people | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 318,963 people | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 322,083 people | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 324,224 people | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 325,264 people | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 326,779 people | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 327,801 people | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 329,514 people | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 332,197 people | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 333,815 people | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 334,587 people | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 336,480 people | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 340,568 people | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 346,033 people | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 351,887 people | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 358,053 people | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 363,279 people | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 367,270 people | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 370,474 people | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 372,624 people | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 374,266 people | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 377,583 people | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 381,980 people | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 385,829 people | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 389,853 people | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 394,232 people | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 397,831 people | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 400,689 people | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 403,523 people | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 406,092 people | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 407,664 people | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 409,226 people | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 411,433 people | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 413,796 people | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 416,782 people | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 419,870 people | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 422,222 people | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 425,293 people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 430,192 people | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 435,962 people | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 442,400 people | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 450,289 people | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 457,439 people | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 463,868 people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 473,339 people | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 486,427 people | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 501,829 people | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 518,456 people | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 536,282 people | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 555,460 people | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 575,309 people | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 595,667 people | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 616,135 people | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 636,209 people | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 657,258 people | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 679,455 people | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 702,202 people | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 724,949 people | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 746,216 people | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 774,051 people | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 806,826 people | +4.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 806,826 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 285,676 people, 2.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 806,826 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 941,948 people, 86% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 317,296 people | 316,082 people | 319,215 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 321,671 people | 317,010 people | 327,801 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 342,641 people | 329,514 people | 363,279 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 381,194 people | 367,270 people | 397,831 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 411,130 people | 400,689 people | 422,222 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 456,704 people | 425,293 people | 501,829 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 607,243 people | 518,456 people | 702,202 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 763,010 people | 724,949 people | 806,826 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 84 Guatemala 858,102 people compare
- 85 Dominican Republic 857,676 people compare
- 86 Azerbaijan 826,482 people compare
- 88 Cote d'Ivoire 800,143 people compare
- 89 Cameroon 787,243 people compare
- 90 Puerto Rico 783,335 people compare
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 population by age group in Ireland?
- Population by age group in Ireland was 806,826 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by age group recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 806,826 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population by age group recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 316,082 people in 1959.
- How does Ireland rank for population by age group?
- Ireland ranks 87th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population by age group rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Population by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown. This only includes people aged 65+.