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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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: 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.

Ireland - Population was 5343805.00 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 February of 2025. Historically, Ireland - Population reached a record high of 5343805.00 persons in December of 2024 and a record low of 4570881.00 persons in December of 2011.

Ireland: Population size, in millions: The latest value from 2023 is 5.26 million, an increase from 5.13 million in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 40.69 million, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1960 to 2023 is 3.76 million. The minimum value, 2.82 million, was reached in 1961 while the maximum of 5.26 million was recorded in 2023.

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.

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.

Ireland: Refugee population: The latest value from 2023 is 113902 refugees, an increase from 81256 refugees in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 233913 refugees, based on data from 159 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1984 to 2023 is 8950 refugees. The minimum value, 69 refugees, was reached in 1996 while the maximum of 113902 refugees was recorded in 2023.

Ireland: Population size, in number of people: The latest value from is people, unavailable from people in . In comparison, the world average is 0 people, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from to is people. The minimum value, people, was reached in while the maximum of people was recorded in .

WorldPop produces different types of gridded population count datasets, depending on the methods used and end application. An overview of the data can be found in Tatem et al, and a description of the modelling methods used found in Stevens et al. The 'Global per country 2000-2020' datasets represent the outputs from a project focused on construction of consistent 100m resolution population count datasets for all countries of the World for each year 2000-2020. These efforts necessarily involved some shortcuts for consistency. The 'individual countries' datasets represent older efforts to map populations for each country separately, using a set of tailored geospatial inputs and differing methods and time periods. The 'whole continent' datasets are mosaics of the individual countries datasets

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

Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) in Ireland was reported at 18.39 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population ages 0-14, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates for the number of usual residents in Northern Ireland. The dataset also shows the population density, as well as the size of the geographical area. The estimates and area boundaries 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.

To find out how Data Zones and Super Data Zones have been developed, and how other Northern Ireland geographies can be approximated, please read the notes here

The quality assurance report can be found here

Usually resident population by ethnic or cultural background by Local Authorities. (Census 2022 Theme 2 Table 2 )Census 2022 table 2.2 is the population usually resident in Ireland by ethnic or cultural background. Details include population by ethnicity or cultural background. Census 2022 theme 2 is Migration, Ethnicity, Religion and Foreign Languages. The country is divided into 31 administrative counties/cities. Outside Dublin, there are 23 administrative counties and four cities: Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. There are four local authority areas in Dublin: Dublin City and the three administrative counties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. The Local Government Reform Act 2014 Section 9 provided for the amalgamation of the city and county councils in Limerick, Waterford, and North Tipperary and South Tipperary County Councils.Coordinate reference system: Irish Transverse Mercator (EPSG 2157). These boundaries are based on 20m generalised boundaries sourced from Tailte Éireann Open Data Portal. This dataset is provided by Tailte Éireann, Administrative Counties 2019

Ireland: Population size, in millions: The latest value from is million, unavailable from million in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 million, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from to is million. The minimum value, million, was reached in while the maximum of million was recorded in .

Area < 0.4 km2 or population >100 but < 5000 inhabitants. All municipalities and other built-up areas estimated to be important by their number of inhabitants and/or their outstanding localisation. Those built-up areas, which have less than 100 inhabitants but are main villages or cities of the regional/local administrative units, are included. The NAMN1 attribute stores the name of the populated place in the official primary language spoken in that populated place and administratively relevant.This dataset is provided by Tailte Éireann