Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland
Ireland: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 64.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland stood at 64.6%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland peaked at 64.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 41.0%, in 1950.
That places Ireland 122nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.9% | 41.0% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 48.1% | 44.9% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 53.7% | 51.8% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.2% | 55.4% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 57.8% | 56.9% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.4% | 59.1% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 62.6% | 61.9% | 63.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.0% | 63.5% | 64.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 119 Montenegro 65.6% compare
- 120 Tuvalu 65.4% compare
- 121 Gambia, The 65.0% compare
- 123 Korea, Dem. People's Rep. 64.2% compare
- 124 Congo, Rep. 64.1% compare
- 125 South Africa 63.8% compare
More population data for Ireland
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.47 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.47 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 124,730 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.47 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.6 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.59 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Ireland was 64.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 64.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.0% in 1950.
- How does Ireland rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Ireland ranks 122nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.