Ireland vs United Kingdom
Ireland vs United Kingdom: Population
Population in 2023: 5.2 million people in Ireland and 68.7 million people in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in United Kingdom, by 63.5 million people, or 13 times that in Ireland.
people · UN
What the numbers say
- United Kingdom has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1950.
- In 2023, Ireland ranked 122 and United Kingdom ranked 21 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at 5.29 million people and United Kingdom at 74.3 million people in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 8.09 billion people in 2023.
Every year
people · UN
| Year | Ireland | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5.2 million | 68.7 million | 8.09 billion |
| 2022 | 5.11 million | 68.2 million | 8.02 billion |
| 2021 | 5.03 million | 67.7 million | 7.95 billion |
| 2020 | 4.98 million | 67.4 million | 7.89 billion |
| 2019 | 4.93 million | 67.1 million | 7.81 billion |
| 2018 | 4.87 million | 66.8 million | 7.73 billion |
| 2017 | 4.81 million | 66.4 million | 7.65 billion |
| 2016 | 4.75 million | 65.9 million | 7.56 billion |
| 2015 | 4.7 million | 65.4 million | 7.47 billion |
| 2014 | 4.66 million | 64.9 million | 7.38 billion |
| 2013 | 4.63 million | 64.4 million | 7.29 billion |
| 2012 | 4.6 million | 64 million | 7.2 billion |
| 2011 | 4.58 million | 63.5 million | 7.11 billion |
| 2010 | 4.56 million | 63 million | 7.02 billion |
| 2009 | 4.53 million | 62.5 million | 6.93 billion |
| 2008 | 4.49 million | 62 million | 6.84 billion |
| 2007 | 4.39 million | 61.5 million | 6.76 billion |
| 2006 | 4.27 million | 61.1 million | 6.67 billion |
| 2005 | 4.16 million | 60.6 million | 6.59 billion |
| 2004 | 4.07 million | 60.2 million | 6.5 billion |
| 2003 | 3.99 million | 59.8 million | 6.42 billion |
| 2002 | 3.93 million | 59.5 million | 6.34 billion |
| 2001 | 3.86 million | 59.3 million | 6.26 billion |
| 2000 | 3.8 million | 59.1 million | 6.17 billion |
| 1999 | 3.75 million | 58.8 million | 6.09 billion |
| 1998 | 3.71 million | 58.6 million | 6.01 billion |
| 1997 | 3.67 million | 58.5 million | 5.93 billion |
| 1996 | 3.64 million | 58.3 million | 5.84 billion |
| 1995 | 3.61 million | 58.2 million | 5.76 billion |
| 1994 | 3.59 million | 58 million | 5.68 billion |
| 1993 | 3.58 million | 57.9 million | 5.59 billion |
| 1992 | 3.56 million | 57.7 million | 5.51 billion |
| 1991 | 3.53 million | 57.6 million | 5.42 billion |
| 1990 | 3.51 million | 57.4 million | 5.33 billion |
| 1989 | 3.51 million | 57.2 million | 5.23 billion |
| 1988 | 3.53 million | 57 million | 5.14 billion |
| 1987 | 3.54 million | 56.9 million | 5.05 billion |
| 1986 | 3.54 million | 56.8 million | 4.96 billion |
| 1985 | 3.53 million | 56.6 million | 4.87 billion |
| 1984 | 3.52 million | 56.5 million | 4.78 billion |
| 1983 | 3.5 million | 56.3 million | 4.7 billion |
| 1982 | 3.48 million | 56.3 million | 4.61 billion |
| 1981 | 3.45 million | 56.3 million | 4.53 billion |
| 1980 | 3.42 million | 56.3 million | 4.45 billion |
| 1979 | 3.38 million | 56.2 million | 4.37 billion |
| 1978 | 3.33 million | 56.2 million | 4.29 billion |
| 1977 | 3.28 million | 56.2 million | 4.22 billion |
| 1976 | 3.23 million | 56.2 million | 4.14 billion |
| 1975 | 3.18 million | 56.2 million | 4.07 billion |
| 1974 | 3.13 million | 56.2 million | 4 billion |
| 1973 | 3.08 million | 56.2 million | 3.92 billion |
| 1972 | 3.04 million | 56.1 million | 3.85 billion |
| 1971 | 2.99 million | 55.9 million | 3.77 billion |
| 1970 | 2.96 million | 55.7 million | 3.7 billion |
| 1969 | 2.94 million | 55.5 million | 3.62 billion |
| 1968 | 2.92 million | 55.2 million | 3.55 billion |
| 1967 | 2.91 million | 55 million | 3.47 billion |
| 1966 | 2.89 million | 54.7 million | 3.4 billion |
| 1965 | 2.87 million | 54.4 million | 3.34 billion |
| 1964 | 2.86 million | 54 million | 3.26 billion |
| 1963 | 2.84 million | 53.7 million | 3.19 billion |
| 1962 | 2.83 million | 53.3 million | 3.12 billion |
| 1961 | 2.83 million | 52.9 million | 3.07 billion |
| 1960 | 2.83 million | 52.5 million | 3.02 billion |
| 1959 | 2.84 million | 52.2 million | 2.97 billion |
| 1958 | 2.85 million | 51.9 million | 2.91 billion |
| 1957 | 2.87 million | 51.7 million | 2.85 billion |
| 1956 | 2.88 million | 51.4 million | 2.8 billion |
| 1955 | 2.9 million | 51.2 million | 2.74 billion |
| 1954 | 2.92 million | 51 million | 2.69 billion |
| 1953 | 2.93 million | 50.7 million | 2.63 billion |
| 1952 | 2.94 million | 50.5 million | 2.58 billion |
| 1951 | 2.94 million | 50.4 million | 2.54 billion |
| 1950 | 2.91 million | 50.1 million | 2.49 billion |
| 1949 | – | 49.9 million | – |
| 1948 | – | 49.7 million | – |
| 1947 | – | 49.5 million | – |
| 1946 | – | 49.3 million | – |
| 1945 | – | 49.1 million | – |
| 1944 | – | 48.9 million | – |
| 1943 | – | 48.7 million | – |
| 1942 | – | 48.5 million | – |
| 1941 | – | 48.3 million | – |
| 1940 | – | 48.1 million | – |
| 1939 | – | 47.9 million | – |
| 1938 | – | 47.7 million | – |
| 1937 | – | 47.4 million | – |
| 1936 | – | 47.2 million | – |
| 1935 | – | 47 million | – |
| 1934 | – | 46.7 million | – |
| 1933 | – | 46.5 million | – |
| 1932 | – | 46.3 million | – |
| 1931 | – | 46.1 million | – |
| 1930 | – | 46 million | – |
| 1929 | – | 45.9 million | – |
| 1928 | – | 46 million | – |
| 1927 | – | 46.1 million | – |
| 1926 | – | 46.2 million | – |
| 1925 | – | 46.3 million | – |
| 1924 | – | 46.4 million | – |
| 1923 | – | 46.5 million | – |
| 1922 | – | 46.6 million | – |
| 1921 | – | 46.6 million | – |
| 1920 | – | 46.6 million | – |
| 1919 | – | 46.5 million | – |
| 1918 | – | 46.4 million | – |
| 1917 | – | 46.2 million | – |
| 1916 | – | 46 million | – |
| 1915 | – | 45.8 million | – |
| 1914 | – | 45.6 million | – |
| 1913 | – | 45.4 million | – |
| 1912 | – | 45.2 million | – |
| 1911 | – | 45 million | – |
| 1910 | – | 44.7 million | – |
| 1909 | – | 44.4 million | – |
| 1908 | – | 44.1 million | – |
| 1907 | – | 43.7 million | – |
| 1906 | – | 43.3 million | – |
| 1905 | – | 42.9 million | – |
| 1904 | – | 42.6 million | – |
| 1903 | – | 42.2 million | – |
| 1902 | – | 41.8 million | – |
| 1901 | – | 41.5 million | – |
| 1900 | – | 41.1 million | – |
| 1899 | – | 40.7 million | – |
| 1898 | – | 40.4 million | – |
| 1897 | – | 40 million | – |
| 1896 | – | 39.6 million | – |
| 1895 | – | 39.2 million | – |
| 1894 | – | 38.9 million | – |
| 1893 | – | 38.5 million | – |
| 1892 | – | 38.2 million | – |
| 1891 | – | 37.8 million | – |
| 1890 | – | 37.5 million | – |
| 1889 | – | 37.2 million | – |
| 1888 | – | 36.9 million | – |
| 1887 | – | 36.6 million | – |
| 1886 | – | 36.3 million | – |
| 1885 | – | 36 million | – |
| 1884 | – | 35.7 million | – |
| 1883 | – | 35.4 million | – |
| 1882 | – | 35.2 million | – |
| 1881 | – | 34.9 million | – |
| 1880 | – | 34.6 million | – |
| 1879 | – | 34.3 million | – |
| 1878 | – | 33.9 million | – |
| 1877 | – | 33.6 million | – |
| 1876 | – | 33.3 million | – |
| 1875 | – | 33 million | – |
| 1874 | – | 32.6 million | – |
| 1873 | – | 32.3 million | – |
| 1872 | – | 32 million | – |
| 1871 | – | 31.7 million | – |
| 1870 | – | 31.4 million | – |
| 1869 | – | 31.1 million | – |
| 1868 | – | 30.9 million | – |
| 1867 | – | 30.6 million | – |
| 1866 | – | 30.4 million | – |
| 1865 | – | 30.1 million | – |
| 1864 | – | 29.9 million | – |
| 1863 | – | 29.6 million | – |
| 1862 | – | 29.4 million | – |
| 1861 | – | 29.1 million | – |
| 1860 | – | 28.9 million | – |
| 1859 | – | 28.7 million | – |
| 1858 | – | 28.5 million | – |
| 1857 | – | 28.4 million | – |
| 1856 | – | 28.2 million | – |
| 1855 | – | 28 million | – |
| 1854 | – | 27.9 million | – |
| 1853 | – | 27.7 million | – |
| 1852 | – | 27.5 million | – |
| 1851 | – | 27.4 million | – |
| 1850 | – | 27.3 million | – |
| 1849 | – | 27.2 million | – |
| 1848 | – | 27.1 million | – |
| 1847 | – | 27.1 million | – |
| 1846 | – | 27 million | – |
| 1845 | – | 27 million | – |
| 1844 | – | 26.9 million | – |
| 1843 | – | 26.9 million | – |
| 1842 | – | 26.8 million | – |
| 1841 | – | 26.7 million | – |
| 1840 | – | 26.6 million | – |
| 1839 | – | 26.4 million | – |
| 1838 | – | 26.2 million | – |
| 1837 | – | 25.9 million | – |
| 1836 | – | 25.7 million | – |
| 1835 | – | 25.4 million | – |
| 1834 | – | 25.2 million | – |
| 1833 | – | 24.9 million | – |
| 1832 | – | 24.6 million | – |
| 1831 | – | 24.4 million | – |
| 1830 | – | 24.1 million | – |
| 1829 | – | 23.8 million | – |
| 1828 | – | 23.5 million | – |
| 1827 | – | 23.2 million | – |
| 1826 | – | 22.9 million | – |
| 1825 | – | 22.7 million | – |
| 1824 | – | 22.4 million | – |
| 1823 | – | 22.1 million | – |
| 1822 | – | 21.8 million | – |
| 1821 | – | 21.3 million | – |
| 1820 | – | 20.7 million | – |
| 1819 | – | 19.9 million | – |
| 1818 | – | 19 million | – |
| 1817 | – | 17.9 million | – |
| 1816 | – | 16.9 million | – |
| 1815 | – | 16 million | – |
| 1814 | – | 15.1 million | – |
| 1813 | – | 14.3 million | – |
| 1812 | – | 13.5 million | – |
| 1811 | – | 12.8 million | – |
| 1810 | – | 12.3 million | – |
| 1809 | – | 11.8 million | – |
| 1808 | – | 11.7 million | – |
| 1807 | – | 11.6 million | – |
| 1806 | – | 11.5 million | – |
| 1805 | – | 11.3 million | – |
| 1804 | – | 11.2 million | – |
| 1803 | – | 11.1 million | – |
| 1802 | – | 11 million | – |
| 1801 | – | 10.9 million | – |
| 1800 | – | 10.8 million | – |
- 12.3Estimates, HYDE and Gapminder
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.26 million5.24 million–5.28 million | 69.1 million69 million–69.3 million | 8.16 billion |
| 2025 | 5.31 million5.25 million–5.38 million | 69.6 million69.2 million–69.9 million | 8.23 billion |
| 2026 | 5.36 million5.25 million–5.48 million | 69.9 million69.4 million–70.5 million | 8.3 billion |
| 2027 | 5.4 million5.24 million–5.58 million | 70.3 million69.5 million–71.2 million | 8.37 billion |
| 2028 | 5.45 million5.23 million–5.7 million | 70.6 million69.5 million–71.9 million | 8.44 billion |
| 2029 | 5.49 million5.2 million–5.81 million | 71 million69.5 million–72.5 million | 8.5 billion |
| 2030 | 5.53 million5.17 million–5.92 million | 71.3 million69.5 million–73.2 million | 8.57 billion |
| 2031 | 5.56 million5.13 million–6.04 million | 71.6 million69.4 million–74 million | 8.63 billion |
| 2032 | 5.6 million5.09 million–6.16 million | 71.9 million69.4 million–74.7 million | 8.7 billion |
| 2033 | 5.63 million5.03 million–6.28 million | 72.1 million69.3 million–75.4 million | 8.76 billion |
| 2034 | 5.66 million4.98 million–6.42 million | 72.4 million69.2 million–76.1 million | 8.82 billion |
| 2035 | 5.69 million4.95 million–6.58 million | 72.7 million69 million–76.8 million | 8.89 billion |
| 2036 | 5.71 million4.92 million–6.74 million | 72.9 million68.8 million–77.6 million | 8.95 billion |
| 2037 | 5.74 million4.88 million–6.9 million | 73.1 million68.6 million–78.4 million | 9.01 billion |
| 2038 | 5.77 million4.82 million–7.06 million | 73.4 million68.4 million–79.2 million | 9.06 billion |
| 2039 | 5.79 million4.77 million–7.23 million | 73.6 million68.1 million–80 million | 9.12 billion |
| 2040 | 5.82 million4.72 million–7.4 million | 73.8 million67.9 million–80.8 million | 9.18 billion |
| 2041 | 5.84 million4.66 million–7.58 million | 74 million67.6 million–81.7 million | 9.23 billion |
| 2042 | 5.86 million4.6 million–7.79 million | 74.2 million67.3 million–82.6 million | 9.29 billion |
| 2043 | 5.88 million4.55 million–8.02 million | 74.4 million67.1 million–83.7 million | 9.34 billion |
| 2044 | 5.9 million4.48 million–8.21 million | 74.6 million66.9 million–84.8 million | 9.39 billion |
| 2045 | 5.92 million4.42 million–8.38 million | 74.8 million66.6 million–85.7 million | 9.44 billion |
| 2046 | 5.93 million4.37 million–8.53 million | 74.9 million66.3 million–86.4 million | 9.49 billion |
| 2047 | 5.94 million4.3 million–8.66 million | 75.1 million66 million–87.2 million | 9.54 billion |
| 2048 | 5.95 million4.25 million–8.86 million | 75.2 million65.7 million–88 million | 9.58 billion |
| 2049 | 5.96 million4.22 million–9.09 million | 75.4 million65.4 million–89 million | 9.62 billion |
| 2050 | 5.97 million4.16 million–9.28 million | 75.5 million65 million–90.1 million | 9.66 billion |
| 2051 | 5.97 million4.09 million–9.48 million | 75.6 million64.6 million–91.2 million | 9.7 billion |
| 2052 | 5.98 million4.02 million–9.67 million | 75.7 million64.1 million–92.4 million | 9.74 billion |
| 2053 | 5.98 million3.96 million–9.89 million | 75.8 million63.7 million–93.6 million | 9.78 billion |
| 2054 | 5.98 million3.9 million–10.1 million | 75.9 million63.4 million–94.8 million | 9.81 billion |
| 2055 | 5.97 million3.83 million–10.3 million | 75.9 million63 million–96 million | 9.85 billion |
| 2056 | 5.97 million3.75 million–10.5 million | 76 million62.5 million–97.1 million | 9.88 billion |
| 2057 | 5.97 million3.67 million–10.7 million | 76 million61.9 million–98.3 million | 9.91 billion |
| 2058 | 5.96 million3.6 million–11 million | 76 million61.3 million–99.4 million | 9.94 billion |
| 2059 | 5.95 million3.52 million–11.2 million | 76 million60.8 million–101 million | 9.96 billion |
| 2060 | 5.93 million3.45 million–11.3 million | 76 million60.3 million–102 million | 9.99 billion |
| 2061 | 5.92 million3.39 million–11.5 million | 76 million59.7 million–103 million | 10 billion |
| 2062 | 5.91 million3.33 million–11.7 million | 76 million59.2 million–104 million | 10 billion |
| 2063 | 5.9 million3.28 million–12 million | 76 million58.7 million–105 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2064 | 5.89 million3.23 million–12.2 million | 76 million58.1 million–107 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2065 | 5.87 million3.17 million–12.5 million | 76 million57.6 million–108 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2066 | 5.86 million3.08 million–12.8 million | 76 million57.1 million–109 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2067 | 5.84 million3 million–13.3 million | 76 million56.5 million–111 million | 10.1 billion |
| 2068 | 5.82 million2.92 million–13.7 million | 76 million56 million–112 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2069 | 5.81 million2.87 million–14.1 million | 76 million55.6 million–113 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2070 | 5.79 million2.83 million–14.4 million | 76.1 million55.1 million–114 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2071 | 5.78 million2.76 million–14.6 million | 76.1 million54.6 million–115 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2072 | 5.76 million2.69 million–14.9 million | 76.1 million54.1 million–117 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2073 | 5.74 million2.64 million–15.2 million | 76.1 million53.7 million–118 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2074 | 5.73 million2.59 million–15.5 million | 76.1 million53.2 million–119 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2075 | 5.71 million2.54 million–15.8 million | 76.1 million52.6 million–120 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2076 | 5.69 million2.48 million–16.1 million | 76 million52.1 million–122 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2077 | 5.68 million2.42 million–16.3 million | 76 million51.5 million–123 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2078 | 5.66 million2.37 million–16.5 million | 76 million50.9 million–125 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2079 | 5.65 million2.31 million–16.8 million | 76 million50.4 million–126 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2080 | 5.63 million2.26 million–17.1 million | 76 million49.8 million–127 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2081 | 5.62 million2.22 million–17.3 million | 75.9 million49.4 million–128 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2082 | 5.61 million2.18 million–17.7 million | 75.9 million48.8 million–130 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2083 | 5.6 million2.16 million–18.2 million | 75.9 million48.3 million–131 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2084 | 5.59 million2.11 million–18.5 million | 75.8 million47.7 million–133 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2085 | 5.57 million2.08 million–18.9 million | 75.7 million47 million–134 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2086 | 5.56 million2.04 million–19.2 million | 75.7 million46.3 million–136 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2087 | 5.54 million2 million–19.4 million | 75.6 million45.7 million–138 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2088 | 5.53 million1.95 million–19.7 million | 75.5 million45.1 million–140 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2089 | 5.51 million1.93 million–20.1 million | 75.5 million44.4 million–142 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2090 | 5.49 million1.91 million–20.8 million | 75.4 million43.6 million–144 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2091 | 5.48 million1.88 million–21.5 million | 75.3 million42.9 million–145 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2092 | 5.46 million1.85 million–22.2 million | 75.2 million42.2 million–147 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2093 | 5.44 million1.83 million–22.7 million | 75.1 million41.5 million–149 million | 10.3 billion |
| 2094 | 5.42 million1.82 million–22.8 million | 75 million40.9 million–152 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2095 | 5.4 million1.79 million–22.9 million | 74.9 million40.3 million–154 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2096 | 5.38 million1.77 million–23.2 million | 74.8 million39.7 million–155 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2097 | 5.36 million1.75 million–23.7 million | 74.7 million39.2 million–157 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2098 | 5.33 million1.73 million–24.5 million | 74.6 million38.8 million–159 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2099 | 5.31 million1.71 million–25.4 million | 74.4 million38.2 million–161 million | 10.2 billion |
| 2100 | 5.29 million1.67 million–26.1 million | 74.3 million37.6 million–162 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 United Kingdom
Health
- Life expectancyIreland: 82.4 years in 2023United Kingdom: 81.3 years in 2023
- Child mortalityIreland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024United Kingdom: 0.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityIreland: 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023United Kingdom: 3.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterIreland: 96% in 2022United Kingdom: 99.8% in 2022
- DepressionIreland: 4.25% in 2017United Kingdom: 4.12% in 2017
- Suicide rateIreland: 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2017United Kingdom: 7.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- Population growthIreland: 1.19% a year in 2023United Kingdom: 0.7% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateIreland: 1.6 births per woman in 2023United Kingdom: 1.56 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationIreland: 64.6% in 2025United Kingdom: 83.3% in 2025
- Median ageIreland: 38.4 years in 2023United Kingdom: 39.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overIreland: 15.5% in 2023United Kingdom: 19.2% in 2023
- Net migration rateIreland: 8.4 per 1,000 people in 2023United Kingdom: 6.5 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingIreland: 0.22% of GDP in 2025United Kingdom: 2.35% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsIreland: $1.46B in 2025United Kingdom: $88B in 2025
- Military spending per personIreland: $272 in 2025United Kingdom: $1,283 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingIreland: 0.9% of government spending in 2025United Kingdom: 5.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelIreland: 9,000 people in 2020United Kingdom: 153,000 people in 2020
- National powerIreland: 0.05% of world capability in 2022United Kingdom: 1.25% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersIreland: 0.37% of the labour force in 2020United Kingdom: 0.45% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsIreland: 14 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 609 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsIreland: 24 million TIV in 2025United Kingdom: 702 million TIV in 2025