Population of Ireland

As of August 2026, the population of Ireland is 5.4 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 47 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.92%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 35.7 years in 2016 to 39.2 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 82.9 years and population density is 78.4 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Ireland peaked in 2006, reaching around 3.06% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.88% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 130.46 thousand in 2006 to nearly 46.96 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Ireland, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 79.2 years in 2006 to 82.9 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 4 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Ireland

The cities of Ireland are mostly small, but 4 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Dublin, Leinster, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 1 million inhabitants. It is followed by South Dublin, Leinster with 301.1 thousand and Cork, Munster with 224 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Ireland: