What is population density in Ireland?

Population density in Ireland was 76.73 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest population density recorded in Ireland?

The highest recorded value was 86.76 people per km² in 2053.

What is the lowest population density recorded in Ireland?

The lowest recorded value was 41 people per km² in 1961.

How does Ireland rank for population density?

Ireland ranks 142nd out of 234 regions with data for 2100.

Is population density rising or falling in Ireland?

Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this Ireland data come from?

The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Population density in Ireland

Name: Population density in Ireland
Creator: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Ireland: Population density was 76.73 people per km² in 2100. ▲ Rising

Latest (2100)

76.73 people per km²

Change on year

down 0.4%

Rank

142nd

of 234 regions

All-time high

86.76 people per km²

in 2053

All-time low

41 people per km²

in 1961

Years of data

151

1950–2100

Population density in Ireland, 1950–2100

Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people per km².

Analysis

Ireland recorded 76.73 people per km² for population density in 2100.

The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, population density in Ireland peaked at 86.76 people per km² in 2053 and was at its lowest, 41 people per km², in 1961.

That places Ireland 142nd out of 234 regions with data for 2100, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 151 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1950s	42.07 people per km²	41.21 people per km²	42.7 people per km²	10
1960s	41.68 people per km²	41 people per km²	42.69 people per km²	10
1970s	45.87 people per km²	42.99 people per km²	49 people per km²	10
1980s	50.81 people per km²	49.58 people per km²	51.41 people per km²	10
1990s	52.49 people per km²	51.01 people per km²	54.48 people per km²	10
2000s	60.23 people per km²	55.2 people per km²	65.81 people per km²	10
2010s	68.36 people per km²	66.18 people per km²	71.61 people per km²	10
2020s	76.32 people per km²	72.33 people per km²	79.66 people per km²	10
2030s	82.26 people per km²	80.2 people per km²	84.1 people per km²	10
2040s	85.66 people per km²	84.45 people per km²	86.57 people per km²	10
2050s	86.64 people per km²	86.31 people per km²	86.76 people per km²	10
2060s	85.27 people per km²	84.31 people per km²	86.14 people per km²	10
2070s	83 people per km²	81.98 people per km²	84.07 people per km²	10
2080s	80.94 people per km²	80 people per km²	81.78 people per km²	10
2090s	78.47 people per km²	77.08 people per km²	79.75 people per km²	10
2100s	76.73 people per km²	76.73 people per km²	76.73 people per km²	1

Countries ranked near Ireland

139 Eswatini 77.96 people per km² compare
140 South Africa 77.75 people per km² compare
141 Ecuador 76.87 people per km² compare
143 Myanmar 76.09 people per km² compare
144 Costa Rica 73.96 people per km² compare
145 Sudan 73.28 people per km² compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More population data for Ireland

Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
World population growth -0.5% (2100)
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.47 births per woman (2024)
Refugees by country of asylum 124,730 people (2024)
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.47 births per woman (2024)
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.47 births per woman (2024)
Natural population growth rate 0.3% (2023)
Fertility rate: births per woman 1.6 live births per woman (2023)
Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 1.6 live births per woman (2023)

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is population density in Ireland?: Population density in Ireland was 76.73 people per km² in 2100, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest population density recorded in Ireland?: The highest recorded value was 86.76 people per km² in 2053.
What is the lowest population density recorded in Ireland?: The lowest recorded value was 41 people per km² in 1961.
How does Ireland rank for population density?: Ireland ranks 142nd out of 234 regions with data for 2100.
Is population density rising or falling in Ireland?: Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?: The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population density. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 151 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Population density
Unit: people per km²
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024); UN FAO (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 235 places, 68,610 data points, 1000–2100
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Population per square kilometer by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2100, based on data and estimates from different sources.