Ireland vs South Africa
Ireland vs South Africa: Population
Population in 2023: 5.2 million people in Ireland and 63.2 million people in South Africa, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in South Africa, by 58 million people, or 12 times that in Ireland.
people · UN
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Ireland ranked 122 and South Africa ranked 24 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at 5.29 million people and South Africa at 94.3 million people in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.
Every year
people · UN
| Year | Ireland | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5.2 million | 63.2 million | 8.09 billion |
| 2022 | 5.11 million | 62.4 million | 8.02 billion |
| 2021 | 5.03 million | 61.5 million | 7.95 billion |
| 2020 | 4.98 million | 60.6 million | 7.89 billion |
| 2019 | 4.93 million | 59.6 million | 7.81 billion |
| 2018 | 4.87 million | 58.6 million | 7.73 billion |
| 2017 | 4.81 million | 57.6 million | 7.65 billion |
| 2016 | 4.75 million | 57.3 million | 7.56 billion |
| 2015 | 4.7 million | 56.7 million | 7.47 billion |
| 2014 | 4.66 million | 55.6 million | 7.38 billion |
| 2013 | 4.63 million | 54.7 million | 7.29 billion |
| 2012 | 4.6 million | 53.8 million | 7.2 billion |
| 2011 | 4.58 million | 53 million | 7.11 billion |
| 2010 | 4.56 million | 52.3 million | 7.02 billion |
| 2009 | 4.53 million | 51.7 million | 6.93 billion |
| 2008 | 4.49 million | 51.1 million | 6.84 billion |
| 2007 | 4.39 million | 50.5 million | 6.76 billion |
| 2006 | 4.27 million | 50 million | 6.67 billion |
| 2005 | 4.16 million | 49.5 million | 6.59 billion |
| 2004 | 4.07 million | 49 million | 6.5 billion |
| 2003 | 3.99 million | 48.5 million | 6.42 billion |
| 2002 | 3.93 million | 48 million | 6.34 billion |
| 2001 | 3.86 million | 47.6 million | 6.26 billion |
| 2000 | 3.8 million | 47.2 million | 6.17 billion |
| 1999 | 3.75 million | 46.7 million | 6.09 billion |
| 1998 | 3.71 million | 46.2 million | 6.01 billion |
| 1997 | 3.67 million | 45.7 million | 5.93 billion |
| 1996 | 3.64 million | 45.1 million | 5.84 billion |
| 1995 | 3.61 million | 44.5 million | 5.76 billion |
| 1994 | 3.59 million | 44 million | 5.68 billion |
| 1993 | 3.58 million | 43.3 million | 5.59 billion |
| 1992 | 3.56 million | 42.4 million | 5.51 billion |
| 1991 | 3.53 million | 41.7 million | 5.42 billion |
| 1990 | 3.51 million | 40.8 million | 5.33 billion |
| 1989 | 3.51 million | 39.6 million | 5.23 billion |
| 1988 | 3.53 million | 38.5 million | 5.14 billion |
| 1987 | 3.54 million | 37.3 million | 5.05 billion |
| 1986 | 3.54 million | 36.2 million | 4.96 billion |
| 1985 | 3.53 million | 35 million | 4.87 billion |
| 1984 | 3.52 million | 33.9 million | 4.78 billion |
| 1983 | 3.5 million | 32.7 million | 4.7 billion |
| 1982 | 3.48 million | 31.6 million | 4.61 billion |
| 1981 | 3.45 million | 30.5 million | 4.53 billion |
| 1980 | 3.42 million | 29.5 million | 4.45 billion |
| 1979 | 3.38 million | 28.6 million | 4.37 billion |
| 1978 | 3.33 million | 27.9 million | 4.29 billion |
| 1977 | 3.28 million | 27.1 million | 4.22 billion |
| 1976 | 3.23 million | 26.4 million | 4.14 billion |
| 1975 | 3.18 million | 25.7 million | 4.07 billion |
| 1974 | 3.13 million | 25 million | 4 billion |
| 1973 | 3.08 million | 24.3 million | 3.92 billion |
| 1972 | 3.04 million | 23.6 million | 3.85 billion |
| 1971 | 2.99 million | 22.9 million | 3.77 billion |
| 1970 | 2.96 million | 22.3 million | 3.7 billion |
| 1969 | 2.94 million | 21.6 million | 3.62 billion |
| 1968 | 2.92 million | 21 million | 3.55 billion |
| 1967 | 2.91 million | 20.3 million | 3.47 billion |
| 1966 | 2.89 million | 19.7 million | 3.4 billion |
| 1965 | 2.87 million | 19.1 million | 3.34 billion |
| 1964 | 2.86 million | 18.5 million | 3.26 billion |
| 1963 | 2.84 million | 18 million | 3.19 billion |
| 1962 | 2.83 million | 17.4 million | 3.12 billion |
| 1961 | 2.83 million | 16.9 million | 3.07 billion |
| 1960 | 2.83 million | 16.4 million | 3.02 billion |
| 1959 | 2.84 million | 16 million | 2.97 billion |
| 1958 | 2.85 million | 15.6 million | 2.91 billion |
| 1957 | 2.87 million | 15.2 million | 2.85 billion |
| 1956 | 2.88 million | 14.9 million | 2.8 billion |
| 1955 | 2.9 million | 14.5 million | 2.74 billion |
| 1954 | 2.92 million | 14.2 million | 2.69 billion |
| 1953 | 2.93 million | 13.9 million | 2.63 billion |
| 1952 | 2.94 million | 13.6 million | 2.58 billion |
| 1951 | 2.94 million | 13.3 million | 2.54 billion |
| 1950 | 2.91 million | 13 million | 2.49 billion |
| 1949 | – | 12.8 million | – |
| 1948 | – | 12.5 million | – |
| 1947 | – | 12.3 million | – |
| 1946 | – | 12 million | – |
| 1945 | – | 11.8 million | – |
| 1944 | – | 11.6 million | – |
| 1943 | – | 11.4 million | – |
| 1942 | – | 11.2 million | – |
| 1941 | – | 11 million | – |
| 1940 | – | 10.7 million | – |
| 1939 | – | 10.5 million | – |
| 1938 | – | 10.3 million | – |
| 1937 | – | 10.1 million | – |
| 1936 | – | 9.92 million | – |
| 1935 | – | 9.72 million | – |
| 1934 | – | 9.53 million | – |
| 1933 | – | 9.34 million | – |
| 1932 | – | 9.16 million | – |
| 1931 | – | 8.97 million | – |
| 1930 | – | 8.79 million | – |
| 1929 | – | 8.62 million | – |
| 1928 | – | 8.44 million | – |
| 1927 | – | 8.27 million | – |
| 1926 | – | 8.1 million | – |
| 1925 | – | 7.93 million | – |
| 1924 | – | 7.77 million | – |
| 1923 | – | 7.61 million | – |
| 1922 | – | 7.45 million | – |
| 1921 | – | 7.3 million | – |
| 1920 | – | 7.17 million | – |
| 1919 | – | 7.04 million | – |
| 1918 | – | 6.93 million | – |
| 1917 | – | 6.82 million | – |
| 1916 | – | 6.71 million | – |
| 1915 | – | 6.61 million | – |
| 1914 | – | 6.5 million | – |
| 1913 | – | 6.4 million | – |
| 1912 | – | 6.3 million | – |
| 1911 | – | 6.2 million | – |
| 1910 | – | 6.09 million | – |
| 1909 | – | 5.99 million | – |
| 1908 | – | 5.89 million | – |
| 1907 | – | 5.79 million | – |
| 1906 | – | 5.7 million | – |
| 1905 | – | 5.6 million | – |
| 1904 | – | 5.51 million | – |
| 1903 | – | 5.41 million | – |
| 1902 | – | 5.32 million | – |
| 1901 | – | 5.24 million | – |
| 1900 | – | 5.16 million | – |
| 1899 | – | 5.1 million | – |
| 1898 | – | 5.04 million | – |
| 1897 | – | 4.98 million | – |
| 1896 | – | 4.93 million | – |
| 1895 | – | 4.88 million | – |
| 1894 | – | 4.82 million | – |
| 1893 | – | 4.77 million | – |
| 1892 | – | 4.72 million | – |
| 1891 | – | 4.67 million | – |
| 1890 | – | 4.62 million | – |
| 1889 | – | 4.57 million | – |
| 1888 | – | 4.52 million | – |
| 1887 | – | 4.48 million | – |
| 1886 | – | 4.43 million | – |
| 1885 | – | 4.38 million | – |
| 1884 | – | 4.33 million | – |
| 1883 | – | 4.29 million | – |
| 1882 | – | 4.24 million | – |
| 1881 | – | 4.2 million | – |
| 1880 | – | 4.15 million | – |
| 1879 | – | 4.11 million | – |
| 1878 | – | 4.06 million | – |
| 1877 | – | 4.02 million | – |
| 1876 | – | 3.98 million | – |
| 1875 | – | 3.93 million | – |
| 1874 | – | 3.89 million | – |
| 1873 | – | 3.85 million | – |
| 1872 | – | 3.81 million | – |
| 1871 | – | 3.77 million | – |
| 1870 | – | 3.73 million | – |
| 1869 | – | 3.69 million | – |
| 1868 | – | 3.65 million | – |
| 1867 | – | 3.61 million | – |
| 1866 | – | 3.57 million | – |
| 1865 | – | 3.53 million | – |
| 1864 | – | 3.5 million | – |
| 1863 | – | 3.46 million | – |
| 1862 | – | 3.42 million | – |
| 1861 | – | 3.39 million | – |
| 1860 | – | 3.35 million | – |
| 1859 | – | 3.31 million | – |
| 1858 | – | 3.28 million | – |
| 1857 | – | 3.24 million | – |
| 1856 | – | 3.21 million | – |
| 1855 | – | 3.17 million | – |
| 1854 | – | 3.14 million | – |
| 1853 | – | 3.11 million | – |
| 1852 | – | 3.07 million | – |
| 1851 | – | 3.03 million | – |
| 1850 | – | 2.99 million | – |
| 1849 | – | 2.94 million | – |
| 1848 | – | 2.88 million | – |
| 1847 | – | 2.82 million | – |
| 1846 | – | 2.75 million | – |
| 1845 | – | 2.69 million | – |
| 1844 | – | 2.64 million | – |
| 1843 | – | 2.58 million | – |
| 1842 | – | 2.52 million | – |
| 1841 | – | 2.47 million | – |
| 1840 | – | 2.41 million | – |
| 1839 | – | 2.36 million | – |
| 1838 | – | 2.31 million | – |
| 1837 | – | 2.26 million | – |
| 1836 | – | 2.21 million | – |
| 1835 | – | 2.16 million | – |
| 1834 | – | 2.11 million | – |
| 1833 | – | 2.07 million | – |
| 1832 | – | 2.02 million | – |
| 1831 | – | 1.98 million | – |
| 1830 | – | 1.93 million | – |
| 1829 | – | 1.89 million | – |
| 1828 | – | 1.85 million | – |
| 1827 | – | 1.81 million | – |
| 1826 | – | 1.77 million | – |
| 1825 | – | 1.73 million | – |
| 1824 | – | 1.69 million | – |
| 1823 | – | 1.66 million | – |
| 1822 | – | 1.62 million | – |
| 1821 | – | 1.6 million | – |
| 1820 | – | 1.59 million | – |
| 1819 | – | 1.57 million | – |
| 1818 | – | 1.56 million | – |
| 1817 | – | 1.56 million | – |
| 1816 | – | 1.55 million | – |
| 1815 | – | 1.54 million | – |
| 1814 | – | 1.53 million | – |
| 1813 | – | 1.52 million | – |
| 1812 | – | 1.52 million | – |
| 1811 | – | 1.51 million | – |
| 1810 | – | 1.5 million | – |
| 1809 | – | 1.5 million | – |
| 1808 | – | 1.49 million | – |
| 1807 | – | 1.49 million | – |
| 1806 | – | 1.48 million | – |
| 1805 | – | 1.48 million | – |
| 1804 | – | 1.47 million | – |
| 1803 | – | 1.46 million | – |
| 1802 | – | 1.46 million | – |
| 1801 | – | 1.45 million | – |
| 1800 | – | 1.45 million | – |
- 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.26 million5.24 million–5.28 million | 64 million63.7 million–64.3 million | 8.16 billion |
| 2025 | 5.31 million5.25 million–5.38 million | 64.8 million64 million–65.5 million | 8.23 billion |
| 2026 | 5.36 million5.25 million–5.48 million | 65.5 million64.3 million–66.7 million | 8.3 billion |
| 2027 | 5.4 million5.24 million–5.58 million | 66.1 million64.6 million–67.8 million | 8.37 billion |
| 2028 | 5.45 million5.23 million–5.7 million | 66.8 million64.9 million–69 million | 8.44 billion |
| 2029 | 5.49 million5.2 million–5.81 million | 67.5 million65.2 million–70.1 million | 8.5 billion |
| 2030 | 5.53 million5.17 million–5.92 million | 68.2 million65.5 million–71.2 million | 8.57 billion |
| 2031 | 5.56 million5.13 million–6.04 million | 68.8 million65.8 million–72.3 million | 8.63 billion |
| 2032 | 5.6 million5.09 million–6.16 million | 69.4 million66 million–73.4 million | 8.7 billion |
| 2033 | 5.63 million5.03 million–6.28 million | 70 million66.3 million–74.5 million | 8.76 billion |
| 2034 | 5.66 million4.98 million–6.42 million | 70.6 million66.5 million–75.5 million | 8.82 billion |
| 2035 | 5.69 million4.95 million–6.58 million | 71.2 million66.7 million–76.4 million | 8.89 billion |
| 2036 | 5.71 million4.92 million–6.74 million | 71.8 million67 million–77.5 million | 8.95 billion |
| 2037 | 5.74 million4.88 million–6.9 million | 72.4 million67.2 million–78.5 million | 9.01 billion |
| 2038 | 5.77 million4.82 million–7.06 million | 73 million67.3 million–79.5 million | 9.06 billion |
| 2039 | 5.79 million4.77 million–7.23 million | 73.5 million67.4 million–80.5 million | 9.12 billion |
| 2040 | 5.82 million4.72 million–7.4 million | 74 million67.5 million–81.5 million | 9.18 billion |
| 2041 | 5.84 million4.66 million–7.58 million | 74.6 million67.6 million–82.4 million | 9.23 billion |
| 2042 | 5.86 million4.6 million–7.79 million | 75.1 million67.8 million–83.5 million | 9.29 billion |
| 2043 | 5.88 million4.55 million–8.02 million | 75.6 million67.9 million–84.6 million | 9.34 billion |
| 2044 | 5.9 million4.48 million–8.21 million | 76.2 million67.9 million–85.7 million | 9.39 billion |
| 2045 | 5.92 million4.42 million–8.38 million | 76.7 million68 million–86.9 million | 9.44 billion |
| 2046 | 5.93 million4.37 million–8.53 million | 77.2 million68.1 million–88 million | 9.49 billion |
| 2047 | 5.94 million4.3 million–8.66 million | 77.7 million68.1 million–89.1 million | 9.54 billion |
| 2048 | 5.95 million4.25 million–8.86 million | 78.2 million68.1 million–90.4 million | 9.58 billion |
| 2049 | 5.96 million4.22 million–9.09 million | 78.7 million68.2 million–91.6 million | 9.62 billion |
| 2050 | 5.97 million4.16 million–9.28 million | 79.2 million68.3 million–92.7 million | 9.66 billion |
| 2051 | 5.97 million4.09 million–9.48 million | 79.7 million68.4 million–93.8 million | 9.7 billion |
| 2052 | 5.98 million4.02 million–9.67 million | 80.1 million68.4 million–95.1 million | 9.74 billion |
| 2053 | 5.98 million3.96 million–9.89 million | 80.6 million68.4 million–96.4 million | 9.78 billion |
| 2054 | 5.98 million3.9 million–10.1 million | 81 million68.4 million–97.2 million | 9.81 billion |
| 2055 | 5.97 million3.83 million–10.3 million | 81.4 million68.3 million–98.2 million | 9.85 billion |
| 2056 | 5.97 million3.75 million–10.5 million | 81.8 million68.2 million–99.4 million | 9.88 billion |
| 2057 | 5.97 million3.67 million–10.7 million | 82.3 million68 million–101 million | 9.91 billion |
| 2058 | 5.96 million3.6 million–11 million | 82.7 million67.9 million–102 million | 9.94 billion |
| 2059 | 5.95 million3.52 million–11.2 million | 83.1 million67.8 million–103 million | 9.96 billion |
| 2060 | 5.93 million3.45 million–11.3 million | 83.4 million67.5 million–104 million | 9.99 billion |
| 2061 | 5.92 million3.39 million–11.5 million | 83.8 million67.2 million–106 million | 10 billion |
| 2062 | 5.91 million3.33 million–11.7 million | 84.2 million67.1 million–107 million | 10 billion |
| 2063 | 5.9 million3.28 million–12 million | 84.6 million67 million–108 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2064 | 5.89 million3.23 million–12.2 million | 84.9 million66.9 million–109 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2065 | 5.87 million3.17 million–12.5 million | 85.3 million66.6 million–110 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2066 | 5.86 million3.08 million–12.8 million | 85.6 million66.3 million–112 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2067 | 5.84 million3 million–13.3 million | 85.9 million66.1 million–113 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2068 | 5.82 million2.92 million–13.7 million | 86.2 million65.7 million–115 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2069 | 5.81 million2.87 million–14.1 million | 86.5 million65.3 million–116 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2070 | 5.79 million2.83 million–14.4 million | 86.9 million65 million–117 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2071 | 5.78 million2.76 million–14.6 million | 87.2 million64.8 million–118 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2072 | 5.76 million2.69 million–14.9 million | 87.5 million64.6 million–119 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2073 | 5.74 million2.64 million–15.2 million | 87.8 million64.3 million–120 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2074 | 5.73 million2.59 million–15.5 million | 88.1 million63.9 million–121 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2075 | 5.71 million2.54 million–15.8 million | 88.3 million63.6 million–123 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2076 | 5.69 million2.48 million–16.1 million | 88.6 million63.3 million–124 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2077 | 5.68 million2.42 million–16.3 million | 88.9 million63.2 million–125 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2078 | 5.66 million2.37 million–16.5 million | 89.1 million62.8 million–126 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2079 | 5.65 million2.31 million–16.8 million | 89.4 million62.4 million–128 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2080 | 5.63 million2.26 million–17.1 million | 89.7 million62 million–129 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2081 | 5.62 million2.22 million–17.3 million | 89.9 million61.6 million–130 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2082 | 5.61 million2.18 million–17.7 million | 90.2 million61.5 million–132 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2083 | 5.6 million2.16 million–18.2 million | 90.5 million61.3 million–133 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2084 | 5.59 million2.11 million–18.5 million | 90.7 million60.9 million–135 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2085 | 5.57 million2.08 million–18.9 million | 91 million60.6 million–136 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2086 | 5.56 million2.04 million–19.2 million | 91.2 million60.1 million–138 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2087 | 5.54 million2 million–19.4 million | 91.4 million59.8 million–139 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2088 | 5.53 million1.95 million–19.7 million | 91.7 million59.3 million–141 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2089 | 5.51 million1.93 million–20.1 million | 91.9 million58.6 million–142 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2090 | 5.49 million1.91 million–20.8 million | 92.2 million58.1 million–144 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2091 | 5.48 million1.88 million–21.5 million | 92.4 million57.7 million–146 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2092 | 5.46 million1.85 million–22.2 million | 92.6 million57.2 million–147 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2093 | 5.44 million1.83 million–22.7 million | 92.9 million56.8 million–148 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2094 | 5.42 million1.82 million–22.8 million | 93.1 million56.4 million–150 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2095 | 5.4 million1.79 million–22.9 million | 93.3 million55.9 million–152 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2096 | 5.38 million1.77 million–23.2 million | 93.5 million55.5 million–153 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2097 | 5.36 million1.75 million–23.7 million | 93.7 million55 million–155 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2098 | 5.33 million1.73 million–24.5 million | 93.9 million54.2 million–156 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2099 | 5.31 million1.71 million–25.4 million | 94.1 million53.5 million–158 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2100 | 5.29 million1.67 million–26.1 million | 94.3 million53.3 million–159 million | 10.2 billion |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Everyone living in the country on 1 July of each year.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: HYDE (2023), Gapminder (2022) and UN WPP (2024), via Our World in Data.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Ireland vs South Africa
Health
- Life expectancyIreland: 82.4 years in 2023South Africa: 66.1 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024South Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023South Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017South Africa: 3.75% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017South Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023South Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023South Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025South Africa: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023South Africa: 28.2 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023South Africa: 6.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023South Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025South Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025South Africa: $3B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025South Africa: $49 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025South Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020South Africa: 89,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022South Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020South Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025South Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025