Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland
Ireland: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 1.57 million people in 2050. ▼ Falling
Latest (2050)
1.57 million people
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
105th
of 238 countries
All-time high
6.31 million people
in 1840
All-time low
300,000 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2050, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland stood at 1.57 million people.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland peaked at 6.31 million people in 1840 and was at its lowest, 300,000 people, in 1000.
That places Ireland 105th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 300,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 400,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1200 | 600,000 people | +50.0% |
| 1300 | 800,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1400 | 600,000 people | -25.0% |
| 1500 | 800,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1600 | 1.25 million people | +56.2% |
| 1700 | 2.42 million people | +93.2% |
| 1710 | 2.91 million people | +20.3% |
| 1720 | 2.96 million people | +1.8% |
| 1730 | 3.01 million people | +1.8% |
| 1740 | 3.07 million people | +1.8% |
| 1750 | 3.12 million people | +1.7% |
| 1760 | 3.09 million people | -1.0% |
| 1770 | 3.06 million people | -1.0% |
| 1780 | 3.38 million people | +10.7% |
| 1790 | 3.99 million people | +17.9% |
| 1800 | 4.24 million people | +6.4% |
| 1810 | 4.81 million people | +13.3% |
| 1820 | 5.58 million people | +16.1% |
| 1830 | 6.04 million people | +8.1% |
| 1840 | 6.31 million people | +4.6% |
| 1850 | 5.10 million people | -19.3% |
| 1860 | 4.23 million people | -17.1% |
| 1870 | 3.85 million people | -8.8% |
| 1880 | 3.62 million people | -6.0% |
| 1890 | 3.21 million people | -11.3% |
| 1900 | 2.98 million people | -7.4% |
| 1910 | 2.86 million people | -4.1% |
| 1920 | 2.78 million people | -2.8% |
| 1930 | 1.82 million people | -34.5% |
| 1940 | 1.79 million people | -1.4% |
| 1950 | 1.72 million people | -4.2% |
| 1951 | 1.72 million people | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 1.71 million people | -0.6% |
| 1953 | 1.69 million people | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 1.67 million people | -1.1% |
| 1955 | 1.65 million people | -1.1% |
| 1956 | 1.63 million people | -1.1% |
| 1957 | 1.61 million people | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 1.60 million people | -1.1% |
| 1959 | 1.58 million people | -1.2% |
| 1960 | 1.56 million people | -1.2% |
| 1961 | 1.54 million people | -1.0% |
| 1962 | 1.53 million people | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 1.51 million people | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 1.49 million people | -1.2% |
| 1965 | 1.48 million people | -1.1% |
| 1966 | 1.46 million people | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 1.45 million people | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 1.44 million people | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 1.43 million people | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 1.43 million people | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 1.43 million people | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 1.43 million people | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 1.44 million people | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 1.45 million people | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 1.46 million people | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 1.48 million people | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 1.49 million people | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 1.50 million people | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 1.51 million people | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 1.52 million people | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 1.53 million people | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 1.53 million people | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 1.54 million people | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.54 million people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 1.54 million people | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 1.54 million people | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.54 million people | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 1.53 million people | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 1.52 million people | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 1.51 million people | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 1.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 1.52 million people | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.52 million people | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 1.52 million people | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 1.53 million people | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 1.53 million people | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.54 million people | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 1.55 million people | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.57 million people | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 1.59 million people | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.60 million people | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 1.62 million people | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.64 million people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million people | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 1.73 million people | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 1.74 million people | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 1.74 million people | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 1.74 million people | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.74 million people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.74 million people | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 1.75 million people | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.76 million people | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 1.77 million people | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 1.78 million people | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 1.80 million people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 1.81 million people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1.82 million people | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 1.83 million people | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 1.85 million people | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 1.86 million people | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 1.87 million people | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 1.88 million people | +0.3% |
| 2026 | 1.88 million people | +0.2% |
| 2027 | 1.89 million people | +0.1% |
| 2028 | 1.89 million people | +0.0% |
| 2029 | 1.89 million people | -0.1% |
| 2030 | 1.88 million people | -0.2% |
| 2031 | 1.88 million people | -0.2% |
| 2032 | 1.87 million people | -0.3% |
| 2033 | 1.87 million people | -0.4% |
| 2034 | 1.86 million people | -0.4% |
| 2035 | 1.85 million people | -0.5% |
| 2036 | 1.84 million people | -0.6% |
| 2037 | 1.83 million people | -0.6% |
| 2038 | 1.81 million people | -0.7% |
| 2039 | 1.80 million people | -0.7% |
| 2040 | 1.79 million people | -0.8% |
| 2041 | 1.77 million people | -0.9% |
| 2042 | 1.75 million people | -0.9% |
| 2043 | 1.74 million people | -1.0% |
| 2044 | 1.72 million people | -1.1% |
| 2045 | 1.70 million people | -1.2% |
| 2046 | 1.67 million people | -1.3% |
| 2047 | 1.65 million people | -1.4% |
| 2048 | 1.63 million people | -1.5% |
| 2049 | 1.60 million people | -1.6% |
| 2050 | 1.57 million people | -1.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.57 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 306,014 people, 5.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.57 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.09 million people, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1700 | +93.2% | 1.25 million people | 2.42 million people |
| 1600 | +56.2% | 800,000 people | 1.25 million people |
| 1200 | +50.0% | 400,000 people | 600,000 people |
| 1930 | -34.5% | 2.78 million people | 1.82 million people |
| 1100 | +33.3% | 300,000 people | 400,000 people |
| 1300 | +33.3% | 600,000 people | 800,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 300,000 people | 300,000 people | 300,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 400,000 people | 400,000 people | 400,000 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 2.42 million people | 2.42 million people | 2.42 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 2.91 million people | 2.91 million people | 2.91 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 2.96 million people | 2.96 million people | 2.96 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 3.01 million people | 3.01 million people | 3.01 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 3.07 million people | 3.07 million people | 3.07 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 3.12 million people | 3.12 million people | 3.12 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 3.09 million people | 3.09 million people | 3.09 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.06 million people | 3.06 million people | 3.06 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.38 million people | 3.38 million people | 3.38 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.99 million people | 3.99 million people | 3.99 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 4.24 million people | 4.24 million people | 4.24 million people | 1 |
| 1810s | 4.81 million people | 4.81 million people | 4.81 million people | 1 |
| 1820s | 5.58 million people | 5.58 million people | 5.58 million people | 1 |
| 1830s | 6.04 million people | 6.04 million people | 6.04 million people | 1 |
| 1840s | 6.31 million people | 6.31 million people | 6.31 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 5.10 million people | 5.10 million people | 5.10 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 4.23 million people | 4.23 million people | 4.23 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 3.85 million people | 3.85 million people | 3.85 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 3.62 million people | 3.62 million people | 3.62 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 3.21 million people | 3.21 million people | 3.21 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.98 million people | 2.98 million people | 2.98 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.86 million people | 2.86 million people | 2.86 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.78 million people | 2.78 million people | 2.78 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.82 million people | 1.82 million people | 1.82 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.79 million people | 1.79 million people | 1.79 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.66 million people | 1.58 million people | 1.72 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.49 million people | 1.43 million people | 1.56 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.46 million people | 1.43 million people | 1.51 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.53 million people | 1.52 million people | 1.54 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 million people | 1.51 million people | 1.54 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.64 million people | 1.55 million people | 1.74 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.76 million people | 1.74 million people | 1.81 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.87 million people | 1.82 million people | 1.89 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 1.85 million people | 1.80 million people | 1.88 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 1.70 million people | 1.60 million people | 1.79 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1.57 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
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 urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Ireland was 1.57 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.31 million people in 1840.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 300,000 people in 1000.
- How does Ireland rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Ireland ranks 105th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.