Population by age in Ireland
Ireland: Population by age was 5.44 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5.44 million
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
48th
of 74 countries
All-time high
5.44 million
in 2025
All-time low
3.51 million
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Population by age in Ireland, 1990–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population by age in Ireland is 5.44 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by age in Ireland peaked at 5.44 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.51 million, in 1990.
That places Ireland 48th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Population by age in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.51 million | — |
| 1991 | 3.52 million | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 3.55 million | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 3.57 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 3.58 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 3.60 million | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 3.62 million | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.65 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 3.69 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.73 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 3.78 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 3.83 million | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 3.90 million | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 3.96 million | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4.03 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 4.11 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 4.21 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 4.34 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 4.46 million | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 4.52 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 4.55 million | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 4.57 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 4.59 million | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.61 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 4.64 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 4.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.73 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 4.80 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 4.86 million | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 4.94 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 5.01 million | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 5.07 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 5.15 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 5.27 million | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 5.35 million | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 5.44 million | +1.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 5.44 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.99 million, 91% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 5.44 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.30 million, 75% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.60 million | 3.51 million | 3.73 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.11 million | 3.78 million | 4.52 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.70 million | 4.55 million | 4.94 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.22 million | 5.01 million | 5.44 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by age in Ireland?
- Population by age in Ireland was 5.44 million in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest population by age recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.44 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by age recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.51 million in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for population by age?
- Ireland ranks 48th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by age rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Population by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).