As of 2022, there were approximately 3.89 million people in the Republic of Ireland who identified as being White Irish, with a further 502,000 who had any other white background. Asian or Asian Irish was the third-largest ethnic group in this year, at over 94,430.

In 2024, there were 435,000 people aged between 40 and 44 in the Republic of Ireland, the most common age group among those provided in this year.

The total population in Ireland was estimated at 5.3 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Ireland Population - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Chart and table of Ireland population from 1950 to 2025. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100.

In 2024, the population of the Republic of Ireland was approximately 5.38 million, compared with 5.28 million in 2023.

Ireland IE: Population: Total data was reported at 4,813,608.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 4,755,335.000 Person for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 3,536,158.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,813,608.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 2,824,400.000 Person in 1961. Ireland IE: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

Population growth (annual %) in Ireland was reported at 2.7099 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Ireland (POPTOTIEA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2023 about Ireland and population.

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. Please make sure you have read our Mapping Populations overview page before choosing and downloading a dataset.


Bespoke methods used to produce datasets for specific individual countries are available through the WorldPop Open Population Repository (WOPR) link below. These are 100m resolution gridded population estimates using customized methods ("bottom-up" and/or "top-down") developed for the latest data available from each country. They can also be visualised and explored through the woprVision App.
The remaining datasets in the links below are produced using the "top-down" method, with either the unconstrained or constrained top-down disaggregation method used. Please make sure you read the Top-down estimation modelling overview page to decide on which datasets best meet your needs. Datasets are available to download in Geotiff and ASCII XYZ format at a resolution of 3 and 30 arc-seconds (approximately 100m and 1km at the equator, respectively):

- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020.
- Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019)
-Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020 UN adjusted ( 1km resolution ): Consistent 1km resolution population count datasets created using unconstrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).
-Unconstrained global mosaics 2000-2020 ( 1km resolution ): Mosaiced 1km resolution versions of the "Unconstrained individual countries 2000-2020" datasets.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020.
-Constrained individual countries 2020 UN adjusted ( 100m resolution ): Consistent 100m resolution population count datasets created using constrained top-down methods for all countries of the World for 2020 and adjusted to match United Nations national population estimates (UN 2019).

Older datasets produced for specific individual countries and continents, using a set of tailored geospatial inputs and differing "top-down" methods and time periods are still available for download here: Individual countries and Whole Continent.

Data for earlier dates is available directly from WorldPop.

WorldPop (www.worldpop.org - School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton; Department of Geography and Geosciences, University of Louisville; Departement de Geographie, Universite de Namur) and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University (2018). Global High Resolution Population Denominators Project - Funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1134076). https://dx.doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/WP00645

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify households in Northern Ireland by the diversity in ethnic group of household members in different relationships. The estimates are as at census day, 21 March 2021.

The census collected information on the usually resident population of Northern Ireland on census day (21 March 2021). Initial contact letters or questionnaire packs were delivered to every household and communal establishment, and residents were asked to complete online or return the questionnaire with information as correct on census day. Special arrangements were made to enumerate special groups such as students, members of the Travellers Community, HM Forces personnel etc. The Census Coverage Survey (an independent doorstep survey) followed between 12 May and 29 June 2021 and was used to adjust the census counts for under-enumeration.

These high-resolution maps estimate not only the number of people living within 30-meter grid tiles, but also provide insights on demographics at unprecedentedly high resolutions. These maps aren’t built using Facebook data and instead rely on combining the power of machine vision AI with satellite imagery and census information.

Ireland IE: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data was reported at 3.511 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.357 % for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.726 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.511 % in 2017 and a record low of 2.376 % in 1999. Ireland IE: Population: Male: Ages 70-74: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 70 to 74 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Ireland IE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data was reported at 9.000 Person in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.000 Person for 2014. Ireland IE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data is updated yearly, averaging 7.000 Person from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2015, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.000 Person in 2005 and a record low of 1.000 Person in 1997. Ireland IE: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

Ireland: Population density, people per square km: The latest value from 2021 is 73 people per square km, an increase from 72 people per square km in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 456 people per square km, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1961 to 2021 is 54 people per square km. The minimum value, 41 people per square km, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 73 people per square km was recorded in 2021.

Population ages 15-19, male (% of male population) in Ireland was reported at 6.8951 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population ages 15-19, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Ireland IE: Population: as % of Total: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 64.435 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 64.718 % for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: as % of Total: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 60.633 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.200 % in 2005 and a record low of 57.892 % in 1963. Ireland IE: Population: as % of Total: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Ireland: Population growth, percent: The latest value from 2023 is 2.6 percent, an increase from 1.85 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.15 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1961 to 2023 is 0.99 percent. The minimum value, -0.43 percent, was reached in 1988 while the maximum of 2.89 percent was recorded in 2007.

Population, female in Ireland was reported at 2680077 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Ireland IE: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 1,560,410.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,548,558.000 Person for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,059,294.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,560,410.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 811,201.000 Person in 1961. Ireland IE: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) in Ireland was reported at 19.02 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population ages 0-14 (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.