Total population (thousands) in Ireland
Ireland: Total population (thousands) was 5,283 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
5,283 thousands
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
123rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
5,283 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
2,950 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Ireland, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 5,283 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Ireland peaked at 5,283 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,950 thousands, in 1970.
That places Ireland 123rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,950 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 2,972 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 3,014 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 3,061 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 3,108 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 3,156 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 3,204 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 3,253 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 3,303 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 3,355 thousands | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 3,396 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 3,434 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 3,463 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 3,488 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 3,507 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 3,524 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 3,538 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 3,546 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 3,535 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 3,515 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 3,507 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 3,521 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 3,548 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 3,569 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 3,583 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 3,597 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 3,624 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 3,653 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 3,692 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 3,731 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 3,775 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 3,830 thousands | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 3,896 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 3,961 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4,025 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 4,107 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 4,204 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 4,334 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 4,453 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 4,519 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 4,549 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 4,570 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 4,590 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 4,611 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4,639 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 4,678 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 4,727 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 4,780 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 4,841 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 4,904 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 4,963 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 5,003 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 5,054 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 5,166 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 5,227 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 5,283 thousands | +1.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 5,283 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 1.7× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 5,283 thousands is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,353 thousands, 83% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,138 thousands | 2,950 thousands | 3,355 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,495 thousands | 3,396 thousands | 3,546 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,602 thousands | 3,507 thousands | 3,731 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,110 thousands | 3,775 thousands | 4,519 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,689 thousands | 4,549 thousands | 4,904 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,116 thousands | 4,963 thousands | 5,283 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 120 Slovakia 5,494 thousands compare
- 121 Central African Republic 5,421 thousands compare
- 122 Oman 5,398 thousands compare
- 124 Mauritania 5,242 thousands compare
- 125 New Zealand 5,234 thousands compare
- 126 Costa Rica 5,142 thousands compare
More population data for Ireland
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total population in Ireland?
- Total population in Ireland was 5,283 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5,283 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,950 thousands in 1970.
- How does Ireland rank for total population?
- Ireland ranks 123rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release