Ireland Population Clock
Ireland has an estimated population of about 5.48 million, which makes it the 109th most populous of the 115 countries tracked here.
Its population is growing steadily, at 1.63% a year.
The capital is Dublin.
The counter below is a live estimate interpolated from the World Bank's latest annual figures — not a real-time measurement. It links to its source, base year and method via the ⓘ next to it.
Statistics
Population trend
Population 2016–2025 (World Bank)
How Ireland's population is changing
Ireland records about 150 births and 98 deaths a day. That is a natural increase of roughly 52 people per day, or about 18,993 a year before migration is counted.
Net migration runs at about 35,417 over the reported period, with more people arriving than leaving. That is equivalent to about 186% of its natural change.
If the current rate held indefinitely, Ireland would take roughly 43 years to double in size — a projection of today's rate, not a forecast.
Over the 9 years from 2016 to 2025, the population rose from 4.76 million to 5.48 million — a gain of 721,645, or 15.2%.
Where people live in Ireland
With about 77 people per square kilometre, Ireland is moderately populated, roughly 1.2× the world average of 62. That ranks 68th of the 115 countries here. Its closest comparisons on density are Tunisia and Serbia.
Ireland covers about 68,890 km² of land, which is what turns a population of 5.48 million into that density figure.
About 64.6% of people live in urban areas, making Ireland majority urban, above the world average of 57.8%. That works out to roughly 3.54 million town and city dwellers and 1.94 million living rurally.
Age, fertility and life expectancy in Ireland
Ireland has an ageing population: about 18.1% are under 15 and 16.2% are 65 or older.
The total fertility rate is about 1.47 births per woman, below the ~2.1 replacement level, so without net immigration the population would eventually decline. The world figure is about 2.19.
Life expectancy at birth is about 83.0 years, roughly 9.5 years above the global average of 73.5.
Ireland at a glance
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5.48 million | 2025 |
| World rank by population | #109 | 2025 |
| Annual growth rate | 1.63% | 2025 |
| Population density | 77 /km² | 2023 |
| Land area | 68,890 km² | 2023 |
| Urban population | 64.6% | 2025 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.0 years | 2024 |
| Fertility rate | 1.47 births per woman | 2024 |
| Population under 15 | 18.1% | 2025 |
| Population 65 and over | 16.2% | 2025 |
| Net migration | 35,417 | 2025 |
| Births per day | 150 | 2025 |
| Deaths per day | 98 | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ireland?
Is Ireland's population growing or shrinking?
How densely populated is Ireland?
Where do these Ireland figures come from?
Current local time in Ireland
Methodology & sources
Data: World Bank (CC BY 4.0), base year 2025. The live counter animates the latest annual growth rate per second; it is an estimate, not a real-time measurement. No figures are invented — every number traces back to the World Bank indicators listed above.
Source: World Bank