The island of Ireland is split into 32 different counties, and from 1800 until 1921 the whole island was a part of the United Kingdome of Great Britain and Ireland (although Britain had been a controlling presence on the island for considerably longer than this). In 1921 the island was split into two separate states, where the six counties with the highest population of Protestants formed part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other 26 counties became the Independent Republic of Ireland. From 1821 until 1841, the population of these 26 counties was growing steadily, until the Great Famine from 1845 to 1849 swept across the island, particularly devastating the west and south.

The famine was caused by a Europe-wide potato blight that contributed to mass starvation and death throughout the continent, although it's impact on Ireland was much harsher than anywhere else. The potato blight affected Ireland so severely as the majority of potatoes in Ireland were of a single variety which allowed the disease to spread much faster than in other countries. People in the west and south of Ireland were particularly dependent on potatoes, and these areas were affected more heavily than the north and west, where flax and cereals were the staple. As the potato blight spread, the population became increasingly reliant on dairy and grain products, however a lot of these resources were relocated by the British military to combat food shortages in Britain. Due to disproportional dependency on potatoes, and mismanagement by the British government, over one million people died and a further one million emigrated. The Great Famine lasted from just 1845 to 1849, but it's legacy caused almost a century of population decline, and to this day, the population of Ireland has never exceeded it's pre-famine levels.

The population decline continued well into the twentieth century, during which time the Republic of Ireland achieved independence from the British Empire. After centuries of fighting and rebellion against British rule, Irish nationalists finally gained some independence from Britain in 1921, establishing an Irish Republic in the 26 counties. There was a lot of conflict in Ireland in the early 1900s, through the War of Independence and Irish Civil War, however the population of the Republic began growing again from the 1960s onwards as the quality of life improved and the emigration rate declined. The population was at it's lowest from 1926 to 1971, where it remained at just under three million, but in the following fifty years the population has grown by over two million people.

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

The total population in Ireland was estimated at 5.4 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.

In 1821, Ireland's population was just over 6.8 million people. During this time, the entire island was a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, after both islands were united by the Acts of Union in 1800. From the graph we can see that the population enjoyed steady growth between 1821 and 1841, and it rose by almost 1.4 million people in this time. However the Great Famine, which lasted from 1845 to 1849, had a devastating impact on the population, causing it to drop from 8.18 million in 1841 to 6.55 million in 1851. The Great Hunger The famine was caused by a Europe-wide potato blight that contributed to mass starvation and death throughout the continent, although it's impact on Ireland was much harsher than anywhere else. The potato blight affected Ireland so severely as the majority of potatoes in Ireland were of a single variety which allowed the disease to spread much faster than in other countries. As the potato blight spread, the population became increasingly dependent on dairy and grain products, however a lot of these resources were relocated by the British military to combat food shortages in Britain. Due to disproportional dependency on potatoes, and mismanagement by the British government, over one million people died and a further one million emigrated. The Great Famine lasted from just 1845 to 1849, but it's legacy caused almost a century of population decline, and to this day, the population of Ireland has never exceeded it's pre-famine levels. Road to recovery The population decline continued well into the twentieth century, during which time the Republic of Ireland achieved independence from the British Empire. After centuries of fighting and rebellion against British rule, Irish nationalists finally gained independence from Britain in 1921, although the six counties with the largest Protestant populations formed Northern Ireland, which is still a part of the United Kingdom today. In spite of the conflict that overshadowed Ireland for much of the twentieth century, which claimed the lives of thousands of people (particularly during the Northern Irish Troubles), and despite Ireland's high emigration rate, the population began growing again in the second half of the 1900s. The population was at it's lowest from 1926 to 1961, where it remained around 4.3 million, but in the following half-century the population grew by over two million people, reaching 6.4 million in 2011, although this number is still lower than in 1821. Gender stats The difference between the male and female populations throughout Ireland's recent history has also remained relatively low. The largest difference occurred in 1831, where there are 170,000 more women than men, although these figures do not include military personnel which would reduce the difference significantly. The gap then remains under 60,000 throughout the twentieth century.

Population, female (% of total population) in Ireland was reported at 50.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

Ireland IE: Population: Growth data was reported at 1.218 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.129 % for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 0.813 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.891 % in 2007 and a record low of -0.428 % in 1988. Ireland IE: Population: Growth 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. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (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.; Weighted average;

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 July of 2025.

Ireland - Population was 5351681.00 persons in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Ireland - Population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on May of 2025. Historically, Ireland - Population reached a record high of 5351681.00 persons in December of 2024 and a record low of 4570881.00 persons in December of 2011.

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.

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.

Ireland IE: Population: Female: Ages 70-74: % of Female Population data was reported at 3.674 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.507 % for 2016. Ireland IE: Population: Female: Ages 70-74: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 3.178 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.674 % in 2017 and a record low of 2.705 % in 2003. Ireland IE: Population: Female: Ages 70-74: % of Female 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. Female population between the ages 70 to 74 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Ireland (LFWA64TTIEQ647S) from Q2 1999 to Q4 2024 about Ireland, working-age, 15 to 64 years, and population.

Historical chart and dataset showing total population for Ireland by year from 1950 to 2025.

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.

Ireland - Population as a % of EU population was 1.20% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Ireland - Population as a % of EU population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on June of 2025. Historically, Ireland - Population as a % of EU population reached a record high of 1.20% in December of 2024 and a record low of 1.00% in December of 2014.

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

Ireland: Percent of world population: The latest value from 2023 is 0.07 percent, an increase from 0.06 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.51 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1960 to 2023 is 0.07 percent. The minimum value, 0.06 percent, was reached in 1993 while the maximum of 0.09 percent was recorded in 1960.

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.

Historical chart and dataset showing Ireland population density by year from 1961 to 2022.