Ireland vs United Kingdom
Ireland vs United Kingdom: Population growth
Population growth in 2023: 1.19% a year in Ireland and 0.7% a year in United Kingdom, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Ireland, by 0.49 percentage points, or 1.7 times that in United Kingdom.
% a year · UN
What the numbers say
- Ireland has been higher since 2014, when it overtook United Kingdom.
- In 2023, Ireland ranked 97 and United Kingdom ranked 125 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Ireland at -0.46% a year and United Kingdom at -0.18% a year in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 0.87% a year in 2023.
Every year
% a year · UN
| Year | Ireland | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.19 | 0.7 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 2.19 | 0.77 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 1.03 | 0.73 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 0.81 | 0.21 | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 1.18 | 0.51 | 1.03 |
| 2018 | 1.31 | 0.56 | 1.07 |
| 2017 | 1.27 | 0.63 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 1.11 | 0.76 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 1.05 | 0.8 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 0.84 | 0.79 | 1.22 |
| 2013 | 0.61 | 0.69 | 1.23 |
| 2012 | 0.46 | 0.65 | 1.27 |
| 2011 | 0.44 | 0.77 | 1.26 |
| 2010 | 0.46 | 0.82 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 0.65 | 0.77 | 1.28 |
| 2008 | 1.47 | 0.77 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | 2.71 | 0.82 | 1.28 |
| 2006 | 3.06 | 0.76 | 1.28 |
| 2005 | 2.32 | 0.74 | 1.27 |
| 2004 | 2.02 | 0.67 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 1.61 | 0.49 | 1.29 |
| 2002 | 1.65 | 0.45 | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 1.72 | 0.41 | 1.33 |
| 2000 | 1.43 | 0.38 | 1.35 |
| 1999 | 1.19 | 0.37 | 1.35 |
| 1998 | 1.05 | 0.36 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 1.05 | 0.26 | 1.39 |
| 1996 | 0.8 | 0.25 | 1.42 |
| 1995 | 0.74 | 0.25 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 0.4 | 0.28 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 0.38 | 0.21 | 1.52 |
| 1992 | 0.61 | 0.28 | 1.57 |
| 1991 | 0.75 | 0.29 | 1.63 |
| 1990 | 0.4 | 0.36 | 1.76 |
| 1989 | -0.23 | 0.29 | 1.78 |
| 1988 | -0.57 | 0.26 | 1.79 |
| 1987 | -0.3 | 0.24 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 0.21 | 0.24 | 1.83 |
| 1985 | 0.39 | 0.28 | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 0.48 | 0.27 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | 0.56 | 0.15 | 1.78 |
| 1982 | 0.7 | -0.01 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 0.84 | -0.03 | 1.82 |
| 1980 | 1.12 | 0.11 | 1.8 |
| 1979 | 1.21 | 0.12 | 1.79 |
| 1978 | 1.58 | 0.04 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 1.54 | -0.04 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 1.5 | -0.05 | 1.78 |
| 1975 | 1.51 | -0.02 | 1.8 |
| 1974 | 1.52 | 0 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 1.55 | 0.13 | 1.94 |
| 1972 | 1.54 | 0.26 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 1.38 | 0.41 | 1.97 |
| 1970 | 0.75 | 0.4 | 2.06 |
| 1969 | 0.65 | 0.35 | 2.06 |
| 1968 | 0.57 | 0.43 | 2.09 |
| 1967 | 0.62 | 0.54 | 2 |
| 1966 | 0.52 | 0.55 | 2.04 |
| 1965 | 0.57 | 0.62 | 2.09 |
| 1964 | 0.55 | 0.68 | 2.16 |
| 1963 | 0.45 | 0.65 | 2.28 |
| 1962 | 0.37 | 0.77 | 2.11 |
| 1961 | 0.11 | 0.69 | 1.67 |
| 1960 | -0.33 | 0.63 | 1.58 |
| 1959 | -0.49 | 0.56 | 1.73 |
| 1958 | -0.55 | 0.55 | 2 |
| 1957 | -0.51 | 0.53 | 2.07 |
| 1956 | -0.51 | 0.46 | 1.98 |
| 1955 | -0.58 | 0.41 | 2.01 |
| 1954 | -0.5 | 0.45 | 1.99 |
| 1953 | -0.45 | 0.46 | 1.9 |
| 1952 | -0.39 | 0.45 | 1.94 |
| 1951 | 0.7 | 0.14 | 1.75 |
| 1950 | 0.95 | 0.76 | 1.74 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Ireland | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1.050.39–1.87 | 0.620.33–0.94 | 0.86 |
| 2025 | 0.960.04–2.02 | 0.570.21–0.98 | 0.84 |
| 2026 | 0.88-0.29–2.05 | 0.520.09–0.98 | 0.83 |
| 2027 | 0.83-0.54–2.23 | 0.510.05–1.01 | 0.81 |
| 2028 | 0.78-0.6–2.31 | 0.48-0.02–1.05 | 0.8 |
| 2029 | 0.71-0.83–2.32 | 0.45-0.09–1.06 | 0.78 |
| 2030 | 0.65-0.97–2.34 | 0.44-0.11–1.08 | 0.76 |
| 2031 | 0.63-1.1–2.41 | 0.4-0.19–1.09 | 0.75 |
| 2032 | 0.6-1.21–2.52 | 0.38-0.24–1.07 | 0.73 |
| 2033 | 0.56-1.29–2.54 | 0.38-0.28–1.09 | 0.72 |
| 2034 | 0.53-1.33–2.66 | 0.35-0.37–1.12 | 0.7 |
| 2035 | 0.48-1.45–2.65 | 0.34-0.37–1.12 | 0.69 |
| 2036 | 0.48-1.35–2.69 | 0.32-0.38–1.12 | 0.67 |
| 2037 | 0.48-1.49–2.77 | 0.3-0.44–1.14 | 0.65 |
| 2038 | 0.46-1.58–2.85 | 0.3-0.48–1.21 | 0.64 |
| 2039 | 0.41-1.65–2.75 | 0.29-0.48–1.19 | 0.62 |
| 2040 | 0.42-1.64–2.81 | 0.28-0.49–1.19 | 0.61 |
| 2041 | 0.4-1.72–2.85 | 0.28-0.51–1.2 | 0.59 |
| 2042 | 0.34-1.84–2.79 | 0.27-0.52–1.23 | 0.57 |
| 2043 | 0.31-1.9–3.02 | 0.27-0.56–1.26 | 0.56 |
| 2044 | 0.3-1.95–2.75 | 0.25-0.6–1.25 | 0.54 |
| 2045 | 0.26-2.13–2.71 | 0.24-0.6–1.29 | 0.52 |
| 2046 | 0.21-2.04–2.7 | 0.22-0.61–1.3 | 0.5 |
| 2047 | 0.2-2.04–2.73 | 0.21-0.69–1.31 | 0.48 |
| 2048 | 0.19-2.15–2.75 | 0.19-0.7–1.27 | 0.46 |
| 2049 | 0.13-2.24–2.75 | 0.17-0.74–1.35 | 0.44 |
| 2050 | 0.08-2.44–2.77 | 0.16-0.78–1.31 | 0.42 |
| 2051 | 0.04-2.5–2.67 | 0.14-0.78–1.36 | 0.4 |
| 2052 | 0.03-2.47–2.77 | 0.12-0.87–1.3 | 0.38 |
| 2053 | -0-2.47–2.79 | 0.1-0.91–1.31 | 0.36 |
| 2054 | -0.01-2.77–2.76 | 0.09-0.91–1.33 | 0.34 |
| 2055 | -0.07-2.69–2.81 | 0.05-0.96–1.34 | 0.33 |
| 2056 | -0.05-2.71–2.74 | 0.04-0.97–1.32 | 0.31 |
| 2057 | -0.12-2.83–2.74 | 0.03-0.99–1.31 | 0.3 |
| 2058 | -0.15-2.89–2.72 | 0.02-1–1.34 | 0.28 |
| 2059 | -0.2-3.02–2.69 | -0-1.08–1.34 | 0.27 |
| 2060 | -0.21-3.07–2.54 | -0-1.09–1.26 | 0.25 |
| 2061 | -0.2-3.16–2.76 | 0-1.08–1.35 | 0.24 |
| 2062 | -0.2-3.34–2.86 | 0.01-1.11–1.41 | 0.23 |
| 2063 | -0.21-3.21–2.89 | -0-1.17–1.37 | 0.22 |
| 2064 | -0.24-3.24–2.77 | 0-1.2–1.31 | 0.21 |
| 2065 | -0.25-3.22–2.91 | 0-1.21–1.35 | 0.2 |
| 2066 | -0.26-3.27–2.77 | 0.01-1.2–1.34 | 0.19 |
| 2067 | -0.26-3.3–2.92 | 0.01-1.24–1.35 | 0.18 |
| 2068 | -0.27-3.24–2.9 | 0-1.24–1.4 | 0.17 |
| 2069 | -0.28-3.38–2.9 | 0.01-1.26–1.35 | 0.16 |
| 2070 | -0.29-3.39–2.9 | 0.01-1.31–1.44 | 0.15 |
| 2071 | -0.29-3.47–2.98 | 0.01-1.32–1.44 | 0.14 |
| 2072 | -0.29-3.39–2.98 | 0.01-1.3–1.4 | 0.13 |
| 2073 | -0.29-3.44–2.93 | -0.01-1.34–1.44 | 0.12 |
| 2074 | -0.3-3.47–3.01 | -0.02-1.34–1.45 | 0.1 |
| 2075 | -0.28-3.49–3.02 | -0.02-1.35–1.44 | 0.09 |
| 2076 | -0.28-3.5–2.93 | -0-1.37–1.49 | 0.08 |
| 2077 | -0.27-3.45–3.02 | -0.02-1.38–1.45 | 0.07 |
| 2078 | -0.26-3.43–2.93 | -0.02-1.4–1.49 | 0.06 |
| 2079 | -0.26-3.38–2.97 | -0.04-1.48–1.46 | 0.05 |
| 2080 | -0.21-3.36–2.99 | -0.04-1.53–1.44 | 0.04 |
| 2081 | -0.19-3.28–3.14 | -0.04-1.5–1.46 | 0.03 |
| 2082 | -0.22-3.37–3.07 | -0.05-1.55–1.49 | 0.02 |
| 2083 | -0.24-3.5–2.95 | -0.07-1.57–1.52 | 0.01 |
| 2084 | -0.24-3.53–3 | -0.07-1.57–1.5 | -0 |
| 2085 | -0.25-3.57–3.02 | -0.08-1.61–1.53 | -0.01 |
| 2086 | -0.24-3.54–2.99 | -0.09-1.66–1.45 | -0.02 |
| 2087 | -0.27-3.59–3.15 | -0.09-1.72–1.48 | -0.03 |
| 2088 | -0.29-3.63–3.21 | -0.1-1.73–1.49 | -0.04 |
| 2089 | -0.31-3.66–3.15 | -0.11-1.8–1.44 | -0.05 |
| 2090 | -0.33-3.76–3.1 | -0.12-1.77–1.5 | -0.05 |
| 2091 | -0.33-3.76–3.22 | -0.12-1.82–1.49 | -0.06 |
| 2092 | -0.34-3.9–3.32 | -0.12-1.91–1.45 | -0.07 |
| 2093 | -0.35-4.07–3.12 | -0.13-1.91–1.47 | -0.07 |
| 2094 | -0.36-4.31–3.18 | -0.13-1.99–1.51 | -0.08 |
| 2095 | -0.37-4.22–3.15 | -0.15-2.04–1.49 | -0.09 |
| 2096 | -0.41-4.48–3.28 | -0.15-1.99–1.49 | -0.1 |
| 2097 | -0.42-4.58–3.26 | -0.15-2.01–1.48 | -0.11 |
| 2098 | -0.43-4.77–3.16 | -0.16-2.08–1.47 | -0.11 |
| 2099 | -0.45-4.93–3.07 | -0.18-2.08–1.45 | -0.12 |
| 2100 | -0.46-5.21–3.27 | -0.18-2.14–1.44 | -0.13 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How fast the population grew or shrank in a year: births minus deaths, plus people moving in minus people moving out.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- 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
- PopulationIreland: 5.2 million people in 2023United Kingdom: 68.7 million people 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