The population of Ireland in 2021 was approximately seven million with 1,903,100 in Northern Ireland and 5,123,536 in the Republic of Ireland. In the 2022 census the population of the Republic of Ireland eclipsed five million for the first time since the 1851 census. The population of Ireland in 2024 was approximately 7.2 million (5.35 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.91 million in Northern Ireland). Although these figures demonstrate significant growth over recent years, the population of Ireland remains below the record high of 8,175,124 in the 1841 census.

Between 1700 and 1840, Ireland experienced rapid population growth, rising from less than three million in 1700 to over eight million by the 1841 census.Ó Grada Cormac. The population of Ireland 1700–1900 : a survey. In: Annales de démographie historique, 1979. p. 283. In 1851, at the end of the Great Famine, the population of Ireland had dropped to 6.5 million people. The Famine and the resulting Irish diaspora had a dramatic effect on population; by 1891, Ireland's population had slipped under five million and by 1931, it had dropped to just over four million. It stayed around this level until the 1960s, when the population rose again.

Below are some statistics to illustrate the rise, fall and rise again of the population since 1841. The statistics also illustrate a massive population shift from the west to the east of the country and increasing urbanisation. The areas around Dublin and Belfast have seen population growth, while Connacht has become depopulated.

Historical population

Year Populationhttps://www.persee.fr/doc/adh_0066-2062_1979_num_1979_1_1425 Population figures from 1600 to 1926 from here unless otherwise noted.Figures from 1931 to the present include data from NISRA. %Change Av % per year 2022 7.1m 6.6 1.1 2016 6.66m 4.2 0.84 2011 6.39m 6.86 1.37 2006 5.98m 6.6 1.32 2001 5.6m 6.1 1.21 1996 5.29m 3.5 0.7 1991 5.2m 1986 5.1m 2.2 0.44 1981 5m 10.86 1.09 1971 4.51m 3.44 0.69 1966 4.36m 2.59 0.52 1961 4.25m 0.93 0.19 1956 4.29m 0.19 0.1 1951 4.33m 0.93 1.86 1946 4.29m 1.9 0.1 1931 4.21m 0.47 0.09 1926 4.23m 3.42 0.23 1911 4.38m 1.79 0.18 1901 4.46m 5.11 0.51 1891 4.7m 9.27 0.93 1881 5.18m 4.07 0.4 1871 5.4m 6.9 0.69 1861 5.8m 11.45 1.15 1851 6.55m 19.93 1.99 1841 8.18m 2.89 0.41 1834 7.95m 2.32 0.77 1831 7.77m 14.26 1.43 1821 6.8m 22.08 1.47 1806 5.57m 17.26 1.15 1791 4.75m 17.28 1.73 1781 4.05m 26.56 0.98 1754 3.2m 10.3 0.29 1718 2.9m 107 0.907 1600 1.4m750.75 1500 800k

In 2016, the population of Ireland for the first time exceeded the population recorded in the Census of 1851, the first census immediately after the Great Famine, when the population of the island was recorded at 6,575,000.1851 in Ireland

County populations 2016

Rank County Population Density (/ km2) Province Change since previous census 1 Dublin 1,347,359 1,459.2 Leinster 5.7% 2 Antrim 618,108 202.9 Ulster 1.8% 3 Cork 542,868 72.3 Munster 4.5% 4 Down 531,665 215.6 Ulster 8.7% - Fingal 296,020 651.6 Leinster 8.1% - South Dublin 278,767 1,251.5 Leinster 5.1% 5 Galway 258,058 42.0 Connacht 3.2% 6 Londonderry 247,132 119.1 Ulster 4.8% 7 Kildare 222,504 131.0 Leinster 5.6% - Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 218,018 1,706.7 Leinster 5.3% 8 Meath 195,044 83.2Leinster 5.9% 9 Limerick 194,899 70.8 Munster 1.8% 10 Tyrone 179,000 54.5 Ulster 8.4% 11 Armagh 174,792 131.8 Ulster 7.3% 12 Tipperary 159,553 37.2 Munster 1.1% 13 Donegal 159,192 32.6 Ulster -1.5% 14 Wexford 149,722 63.2Leinster 2.9% 15 Kerry 147,707 30.7 Munster 1.4% 16 Wicklow 142,425 70.2Leinster 4.2% 17 Mayo 130,507 23.3Connacht -0.2% 18 Louth 128,884 155.4Leinster 4.5% 19 Clare 118,817 34.4 Munster 1.2% 20 Waterford 116,176 62.7 Munster 2.3% 21 Kilkenny 99,232 47.8Leinster 3.9% 22 Westmeath 88,770 48.2Leinster 2.9% 23 Laois 84,697 49.3Leinster 5.2% 24 Offaly 77,961 38.9Leinster 1.7% 25 Cavan 76,176 39.3 Ulster 4.0% 26 Sligo 65,535 35.5 Connacht -0.1% 27 Roscommon 64,544 25.3 Connacht 0.6% 28 Monaghan 61,386 47.3 Ulster 1.3% 29 Fermanagh 61,170 36.1 Ulster 6.3% 30 Carlow 56,932 63.4 Leinster 4.1% 31 Longford 40,873 37.4 Leinster 4.6% 32 Leitrim 32,044 20.1 Connacht 0.5% Average 205,429 Northern Ireland total 1,811,867133 Republic of Ireland total 4,761,86570 Total 6,573,732 77.8

Historical populations per province (Measured in 1000s, rounded)

Leinster

Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 2,876 2,631 2,501 2,292 2,103 1,920 1,858 1,851 1,789 1,741 1,495 1,413 1,330 1,336 1,336 1,278 1,217 1,147 1,160 1,152 1,186 1,276 1,336 1,454 1,668 1,969 Rank 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 %Change 9 5.2 9 9 9.53 3.34 0.38 3.47 2.76 16.45 5.8 6.24 -(0.45) 0 4.54 5.01 6.10 -(1.12) 0.69 -(2.87) -(7.05) -(4.49) -(8.12) -(12.83) -(15.29)

Munster Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 1,373 1,280 1,244 1,173 1,098 1,032 1,004 1,018 996 978 879 856 847 874 897 914 940 968 1,033 1,073 1,169 1,328 1,390 1,510 1,856 2,396 Rank 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 %Change 7.4 2.9 6.0 6.83 6.4 2.79 -(1.38) 2.21 1.84 11.26 2.69 1.06 -(3.09) -(2.56) -(1.86) -(2.77) -(2.89) -(6.29) -(3.73) -(8.21) -(11.97) -(4.46) -(7.95) -(18.64) -(22.47)

Connacht Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 591 551 542 504 464 431 421 431 424 418 390 401 418 446 471 493 525 552 611 646 724 820 846 911 1,008 1,419 Rank 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 %Change 7.2 1.7 7.5 8.62 7.66 2.38 -(2.32) 1.65 1.44 7.18 -(2.74) -(4.07) -(6.28) -(5.31) -(4.46) -(6.10) -(4.89) -(9.66) -(5.42) -(10.77) -(11.71) -(3.07) -(7.14) -(9.62) -(28.86)

Ulster Figures not in bold are for the Republic of Ireland counties of Ulster only. Figures in bold are for the whole of Ulster.

Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 2,195 296 2,106 296 267 247 233 232 236 230 226 207 209 218 236 253 263 280 300 331 347 385 438 474 517 571 2,386 Rank 2 4 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 %Change 4.2 10.2 10.1 8.1 6.01 0.43 -(1.69) 2.61 1.77 9.18 -(0.96) -(4.13) -(7.63) -(6.72) -(3.80) -(6.07) -(6.67) -(9.37) -(4.61) -(9.87) -(12.10) -(7.59) -(8.32) -(9.46)

Historical populations per county (Measured in 1000s)

Dublin Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1931 1928 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 1,458 1,345 1,271 1,186 1,122 1,058 1,025 1,021 1,003 983 852 795 718 705 693 636 586 505 477 448 419 418 405 410 405 372 Rank 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 5 %Change 7.8 5.8 7.0 5.7 6.05 3.22 0.39 1.8 2.04 15.37 7.17 10.72 1.84 1.73 8.96 8.53 16.04 5.87 6.47 6.92 0.24 3.21 - (1.22) 1.23 8.87

Antrim Year 2021 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 651 618 Rank 2 2 %Change 5.5

Down Year 2021 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 532 518 Rank 3 3 %Change 3.9

Cork Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 584 542 519 481 447 420 410 412 402 396 352 339 330 336 341 343 355 365 391 404 438 495 517 544 649 854 Rank 2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 %Change 7.2 4.4 7.7 7.61 6.43 2.44 − (0.49) 2.48 1.52 12.5 3.84 2.73 - (1.82) - (1.49) - (0.59) - (3.5) - (2.82) - (7.12) - (3.3) - (8.42) - (13.01) − (4.26) − (4.96) − (16.18) − (24)

Galway Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 277 258 251 231 209 188 180 178 172 167 149 148 149 155 160 165 168 169 182 192 214 242 248 271 321 440 Rank] 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 2 %Change 6.9 2.8 8.1 10.53 11.17 4.44 1.12 3.49 2.91 12.08 0.68 - (0.68) - (4.03) - (3.13) - (3.13) - (1.82) - (0.6) - (7.7) - (5.5) - (11.46) - (14.15) − (2.42) − (8.49) − (15.58) − (27.05)

Derry Year 2021 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 252 247 Rank 6 6 %Change 2

Kildare Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 247 222 210 186 163 134 122 116 104 97 71 66 64 65 66 64 57 58 66 63 70 75 83 90 95 114 Rank 4 4 7 4 5 5 7 8 9 9 13 14 14 14 14 17 20 19 17 20 20 20 20 21 24 25 %Change 11.3 5.7 12.7 14.11 21.64 9.84 5.17 11.54 7.22 36.62 7.58 3.13 - (1.56) - (1.56) 3.13 12.28 - (1.56) - (13.79) 4.76 - (11.11) - (7.14) − (9.64) − (7.78) − (5.26) − (16.67)

Limerick Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 209 195 191 184 175 165 161 164 161 157 140 137 133 137 141 142 141 140 143 146 158 180 191 217 262 330 Rank 6 6 5 8 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 7 6 6 %Change 7.2 2.1 4.01 5.14 6.06 2.48 − (1.83) 1.86 2.55 12.14 2.19 3.01 - (3.01) - (2.92) - (0.71) 0.71 0.71 - (2.14) - (2.10) - (8.22) - (13.92) − (5.76) − (11.98) − (17.18) − (20.61)

Meath Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 220 194 184 163 134 109 105 103 95 90 71 67 65 66 66 66 61 62 65 67 76 87 95 110 140 183 Rank 5 6 9 6 8 10 10 10 11 11 13 13 13 13 14 14 17 18 18 18 18 18 18 17 16 16 %Change 13.4 5.4 13.0 21.6 22.94 3.81 1.94 8.42 5.56 26.76 5.97 3.08 - (1.54) - - 8.2 - (1.64) - (6.84) - (3.08) - (13.43) - (11.84) − (8.42) − (13.64) − (21.43) − (23.5)

Tyrone Year 2021 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 188 178 Rank 11 10 %Change 5.2

Armagh Year 2021 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 194 175 Rank 10 11 %Change 10.9

Tipperary Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 167 160 159 149 140 133 131 136 134 133 123 121 123 128 133 135 137 140 151 159 172 199 216 248 331 435 Rank 7 7 12 7 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 6 5 3 3 %Change 4.4 0.6 6.4 6.43 5.26 1.53 − (3.68) 1.49 0.75 8.13 1.65 - (1.65) - (2.19) - (2.19) - (1.5) - (1.5) - (2.19) - (7.86) - (5.3) - (8.18) - (15.7) − (8.87) − (12.9) − (25.08) − (23.91)

Donegal Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 167 158 161 147 137 129 128 130 125 122 108 109 114 122 114 136 142 153 169 174 187 206 218 237 255 296 Rank 8 8 14 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 7 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 7 %Change 5.1 - (1.9) 9.3 7.3 6.2 0.78 − (1.54) 4.0 2.46 12.96 - (0.93) - (4.59) - (7.02) 7.02 - (19.02) - (4.42) - (7.75) - (10.46) - (4.59) - (7.47) - (10.16) − (5.5) − (8.02) − (7.06) − (13.85)

Wexford Year 2022 2016 2011 2006 2002 1996 1991 1986 1981 1979 1971 1966 1961 1956 1951 1946 1936 1926 1911 1901 1891 1881 1871 1861 1851 1841 Population 163 149 145 132 116 104 102 103 99 96 86 83 83 87 90 92 94 96 102 104 112 123 132 143 180 202 Rank 9 9 15 10 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 11 12 12 12 10 12 %Change 8.1 2.8 10.3 13.79 11.54 1.96 −0.97 −6.82 −7.69 −20.56 −10.89

Kerry