Ireland Population 2024
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland is a country in north-western Europe. It shares its only land border with Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom.
According to the Central Statistics Office, Ireland’s population as of 2021 is 50,11,500 (5 million) and as per the UN World Population Prospects report, the estimated population of Ireland in 2024 is 50,20,203 (5 million)
Table of Content
- Demography
- Religion in Ireland
- Ireland Historical Population
- Top Cities by Population
- Irish Ancestry in America
Irealand Demography
| Ireland | 2024 Population |
| Total Population | 50,20,203 |
| Global Rank | 124 |
| Land Area | 68,883 sq. km (26,596 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 118 |
| Pop. Density | 186 people per mi2 (72/sq. km) |
| Urban Population | 63.0 % |
| Fertility Rate | 1.84 |
| Infant mortality rate | 1.9 |
| Median Age | 38.2 Years |
| Life Expectancy | 82.81 years |
| Capital City | Dublin |
Source: Central Statistics Office
Religion in Ireland
Christianity is the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland, with 84% of the population following Christianity. Among Christians, Catholics Churches have the largest adherents. In the 2016 census, 78.3% (3.5 million) of the population identified as Catholic followed by the Church of Ireland (2.70%) and Orthodox Christians (1.30%)
10.10% of the population follows No Religion or Irreligious. Among Other religions, Islam has 1.30% followers and other minority faiths include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, etc.
Religions in the Republic of Ireland
| Religion / Affiliations | Percentage |
| Christians – | 84% |
| – Catholic Church | – 77.80% |
| – Church of Ireland | – 2.70% |
| – Orthodox Christians | – 1.30% |
| – Other Christians | – 1.60% |
| None | 10.10% |
| Islam | 1.30% |
| Other religions | 2.60% |
| Unspecified | 2.60% |
Source: Estimates
Ireland Historical Population
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Ireland experienced a major population boom & peaked at 8 million. Due to the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, the population Declined to 5 million. The population continued a slow decline well into the 20th century, with the Republic recording a low of 2.8 million in the 1961 census. After the 1960s Population again started to grow & now it reached 5 million. Irish national accounts for 87.1% & 12.9% of the population are Non-Irish.
Let’s have a look at the Population Trends from 1900 to 2020
| Year | Population | Absolute Change | Percentage Change |
| 1900 | 3,231,000 | – | – |
| 1910 | 3,132,000 | -99,000 | -3.06% |
| 1920 | 3,102,000 | -30,000 | -0.96% |
| 1930 | 2,927,000 | -175,000 | -5.64% |
| 1940 | 2,958,000 | 31,000 | 1.06% |
| 1950 | 2,969,000 | 11,000 | 0.37% |
| 1960 | 2,832,000 | -137,000 | -4.61% |
| 1970 | 2,950,000 | 118,000 | 4.17% |
| 1980 | 3,401,000 | 451,000 | 15.29% |
| 1990 | 3,506,000 | 105,000 | 3.09% |
| 2000 | 3,790,000 | 284,000 | 8.10% |
| 2010 | 4,470,000 | 680,000 | 17.94% |
| 2020 | 4,977,400 | 507,400 | 11.35% |
Source: Central Statistics Office
Top Cities in Ireland by Population
| # | City | Population |
| 1 | Dublin | 11,73,179 |
| 2 | Cork | 2,08,669 |
| 3 | Limerick | 94,192 |
| 4 | Galway | 79,934 |
| 5 | Waterford | 53,504 |
| 6 | Drogheda | 40,956 |
| 7 | Swords | 39,248 |
| 8 | Dundalk | 39,004 |
| 9 | Bray | 32,600 |
| 10 | Navan | 30,173 |
| 11 | Kilkenny | 26,512 |
| 12 | Ennis | 25,276 |
| 13 | Carlow | 24,272 |
| 14 | Tralee | 23,691 |
| 15 | Newbridge | 22,742 |
| 16 | Portlaoise | 22,050 |
| 17 | Balbriggan | 21,722 |
| 18 | Naas | 21,393 |
| 19 | Athlone | 21,349 |
| 20 | Mullingar | 20,928 |
Irish Diaspora
People of Irish ancestry form an important group in several countries in North and South America. With an estimated size of approximately 40 million, It forms an important group in the United States (11% of the Population), Canada (14% of the population), Argentina (3% of the population), Chile, Uruguay, and Mexico.
read more about Irish Ancestry in America
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