The total population of Ireland was about 5.42 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the total population rose by approximately 1.99 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The total population will steadily rise by around 290 thousand people over the period from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a clear upward trend.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

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

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.

Ireland population growth rate for 2023 was 2.60%, a 0.75% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Ireland population growth rate for 2022 was <strong>1.85%</strong>, a <strong>0.9% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Ireland population growth rate for 2021 was <strong>0.95%</strong>, a <strong>0.08% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Ireland population growth rate for 2020 was <strong>1.03%</strong>, a <strong>0.34% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>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.

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 July of 2025.

This statistic displays the age distribution of Ireland in 2015, with forecasts for 2025 and 2035. In 2015, the largest Irish age cohort were those aged between 15 and 34, at over 1 million people. By 2035, the number of people aged 15-34 is forecasted to fall down to 690 thousand people, while there are anticipated to be 1 million people aged over 65 in this year.

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.

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.

Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Dublin, Ireland metro area from 1950 to 2025.

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 June of 2025.

There were 664 000 Linkedin users in Ireland in January 2025, which accounted for 12.9% of its entire population. People aged 25 to 34 were the largest user group (240 000).

There were 571 000 Linkedin users in Ireland in February 2025, which accounted for 11.1% of its entire population. People aged 35 to 54 were the largest user group (220 000).

As of January 2025, there were 4.06 million Facebook users in Ireland, accounting for 79 percent of the country's population. In Ireland, users aged 25 to 34 years made up the largest share of Facebook's audience, making up 24.1 percent of users. Additionally, the majority of Facebook users in Ireland were women.

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.

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 July of 2025.

There were 734 000 Linkedin users in Ireland in May 2025, which accounted for 14.2% of its entire population. People aged 25 to 34 were the largest user group (260 000).

There were 685 000 Linkedin users in Ireland in April 2025, which accounted for 13.3% of its entire population. People aged 35 to 54 were the largest user group (240 000).

There were 4 063 400 Facebook users in Ireland in May 2025, which accounted for 78.7% of its entire population. The majority of them were women - 55.1%. People aged 25 to 34 were the largest user group (977 700). The highest difference between men and women occurs within people aged 18 to 24, where women lead by 360 600.

Population, male (% of total population) in Ireland was reported at 49.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Ireland - Population, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

As of January 2025, there were 4,063,400 users of Facebook in Ireland, accounting for 79 percent of the total population. Overall, women were more likely to use Facebook than men, as 55.1 percent of the network's audience was female. Additionally, Facebook found popularity with users aged 25 to 34 years, who made up 24.1 percent of its user base.