Historical population of Ireland explained

The population of Ireland in 2021 was approximately seven million with 1,903,100 in Northern Ireland[1] and 5,123,536 in the Republic of Ireland.[2] In the 2022 census the population of the Republic of Ireland eclipsed five million for the first time since the 1851 census.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] In 1851, as the Great Famine was ending, 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 began to rise 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

YearPopulation[6] %ChangeAv % per year
20227.1m6.61.1
20166.66m4.20.84
20116.39m6.861.37
20065.98m6.61.32
20015.6m6.11.21
19965.29m3.50.7
19915.1m
19865.1m2.20.44
19815m10.861.09
19714.51m3.440.69
19664.36m2.590.52
19614.25m0.930.19
19564.29m0.190.1
19514.33m0.931.86
19464.29m1.90.1
19314.21m0.470.09
19264.23m3.420.23
1911[7] 4.38m1.790.18
19014.46m5.110.51
1891[8] 4.7m9.270.93
18815.18m4.070.4
1871[9] 5.4m6.90.69
18615.8m11.451.15
18516.55m19.931.99
18418.18m2.890.41
18347.95m2.320.77
18317.77m14.261.43
18216.8m22.081.47
1806[10] 5.57m17.261.15
17914.75m17.281.73
17814.05m26.560.98
17543.2m10.30.29
17182.9m1070.907
16001.4m
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.[11]

County populations 2016

See also: List of Irish counties by population.

RankCountyPopulationDensity (/ km2)ProvinceChange since
previous census
align=right 1Dublinalign=right 1,347,359align=right 1,459.2Leinster 5.7%
align=right 2Antrimalign=right 618,108align=right 202.9Ulster 1.8%
align=right 3Corkalign=right 542,868align=right 72.3Munster 4.5%
align=right 4Downalign=right 531,665align=right 215.6Ulster 8.7%
align=right -Fingalalign=right 296,020align=right 651.6Leinster 8.1%
align=right -South Dublinalign=right 278,767align=right 1,251.5Leinster 5.1%
align=right 5Galwayalign=right 258,058align=right 42.0Connacht 3.2%
align=right 6Londonderryalign=right 247,132align=right 119.1Ulster 4.8%
align=right 7Kildarealign=right 222,504align=right 131.0Leinster 5.6%
align=right -Dún Laoghaire–Rathdownalign=right 218,018align=right 1,706.7Leinster 5.3%
align=right 8Meathalign=right 195,044align=right 83.2Leinster 5.9%
align=right 9Limerickalign=right 194,899align=right 70.8Munster 1.8%
align=right 10Tyronealign=right 179,000align=right 54.5Ulster 8.4%
align=right 11Armaghalign=right 174,792align=right 131.8Ulster 7.3%
align=right 12Tipperaryalign=right 159,553align=right 37.2Munster 1.1%
align=right 13Donegalalign=right 159,192align=right 32.6Ulster -1.5%
align=right 14Wexfordalign=right 149,722align=right 63.2Leinster 2.9%
align=right 15Kerryalign=right 147,707align=right 30.7Munster 1.4%
align=right 16Wicklowalign=right 142,425align=right 70.2Leinster 4.2%
align=right 17Mayoalign=right 130,507align=right 23.3Connacht -0.2%
align=right 18Louthalign=right 128,884align=right 155.4Leinster 4.5%
align=right 19Clarealign=right 118,817align=right 34.4Munster 1.2%
align=right 20Waterfordalign=right 116,176align=right 62.7Munster 2.3%
align=right 21Kilkennyalign=right 99,232align=right 47.8Leinster 3.9%
align=right 22Westmeathalign=right 88,770align=right 48.2Leinster 2.9%
align=right 23Laoisalign=right 84,697align=right 49.3Leinster 5.2%
align=right 24Offalyalign=right 77,961align=right 38.9Leinster 1.7%
align=right 25Cavanalign=right 76,176align=right 39.3Ulster 4.0%
align=right 26Sligoalign=right 65,535align=right 35.5Connacht -0.1%
align=right 27Roscommonalign=right 64,544align=right 25.3Connacht 0.6%
align=right 28Monaghanalign=right 61,386align=right 47.3Ulster 1.3%
align=right 29Fermanaghalign=right 61,170align=right 36.1Ulster 6.3%
align=right 30Carlowalign=right 56,932align=right 63.4Leinster 4.1%
align=right 31Longfordalign=right 40,873align=right 37.4Leinster 4.6%
align=right 32Leitrimalign=right 32,044align=right 20.1Connacht 0.5%
align=right Averagealign=right 205,429align=right
align=right Northern Ireland totalalign=right 1,811,867align=right 133
align=right Republic of Ireland totalalign=right 4,761,865align=right 70
Totalalign=right 6,573,732align=right 77.8

Historical populations per province

(Measured in 1000s, rounded)

Leinster

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population2,8762,6312,5012,2922,1031,9201,8581,8511,7891,7411,4951,4131,3301,3361,3361,2781,2171,1471,1601,1521,1861,2761,3361,4541,6681,969
Rank11111111111111111111122222
%Change95.2999.533.340.383.472.7616.455.86.24-(0.45)04.545.016.10-(1.12)0.69-(2.87)-(7.05)-(4.49)-(8.12)-(12.83)-(15.29)

Munster

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population1,3731,2801,2441,1731,0981,0321,0041,0189969788798568478748979149409681,0331,0731,1691,3281,3901,5101,8562,396
Rank22222222222222222222111111
%Change7.42.96.06.836.42.79-(1.38)2.211.8411.262.691.06-(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

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population5915515425044644314214314244183904014184464714935255526116467248208469111,0081,419
Rank33333333333333333333333334
%Change7.21.77.58.627.662.38-(2.32)1.651.447.18-(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.

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population2,1952962,1062962672472332322362302262072092182362532632803003313473854384745175712,386
Rank24244444444444444444444442
%Change4.210.210.18.16.010.43-(1.69)2.611.779.18-(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

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461931192819111901189118811871186118511841
Population1,4581,3451,2711,1861,1221,0581,0251,0211,003983852795718705693636586505477448419418405410405372
Rank11111111111111111111222225
%Change7.85.87.05.76.053.220.391.82.0415.377.1710.721.841.738.968.5316.045.876.476.920.243.21- (1.22)1.238.87

Antrim

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population651618
Rank22
%Change5.5

Down

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population532518
Rank33
%Change3.9

Cork

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population584542519481447420410412402396352339330336341343355365391404438495517544649854
Rank22422222222222222222111111
%Change7.24.47.77.616.432.44− (0.49)2.481.5212.53.842.73- (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

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population277258251231209188180178172167149148149155160165168169182192214242248271321440
Rank]33533333333333333444443342
%Change6.92.88.110.5311.174.441.123.492.9112.080.68- (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

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population252247
Rank66
%Change2

Kildare

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population24722221018616313412211610497716664656664575866637075839095114
Rank447455789913141414141720191720202020212425
%Change11.35.712.714.1121.649.845.1711.547.2236.627.583.13- (1.56)- (1.56)3.1312.28- (1.56)- (13.79)4.76- (11.11)- (7.14)− (9.64)− (7.78)− (5.26)− (16.67)

Limerick

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population209195191184175165161164161157140137133137141142141140143146158180191217262330
Rank665854444444444456788888766
%Change7.22.14.015.146.062.48− (1.83)1.862.5512.142.193.01- (3.01)- (2.92)- (0.71)0.710.71- (2.14)- (2.10)- (8.22)- (13.92)− (5.76)− (11.98)− (17.18)− (20.61)

Meath

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population220194184163134109105103959071676566666661626567768795110140183
Rank56968101010111113131313141417181818181818171616
%Change13.45.413.021.622.943.811.948.425.5626.765.973.08- (1.54)--8.2- (1.64)- (6.84)- (3.08)- (13.43)- (11.84)− (8.42)− (13.64)− (21.43)− (23.5)

Tyrone

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population188178
Rank1110
%Change5.2

Armagh

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population194175
Rank1011
%Change10.9

Tipperary

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population167160159149140133131136134133123121123128133135137140151159172199216248331435
Rank771276655555556678777776533
%Change4.40.66.46.435.261.53− (3.68)1.490.758.131.65- (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

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population167158161147137129128130125122108109114122114136142153169174187206218237255296
Rank881487776666888765555555677
%Change5.1- (1.9)9.37.36.20.78− (1.54)4.02.4612.96- (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

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population16314914513211610410210399968683838790929496102104112123132143180202
Rank991510111111101010999999991010111212121012
%Change8.12.810.313.7911.541.96−0.97−6.82−7.69−20.56−10.89

Kerry

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population156147145140132126121124122120112112116122126133139149159165179201196201238293
Rank11101699887776777887666667888
%Change5.41.43.76.064.764.13−2.422.55−2.49−15.55−18.77

Wicklow

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population15514213612611410297958784666058606360595861616270788698126
Rank1011171112121212151515151718181919192122242422242323
%Change9.24.48.110.5311.765.152.11−10.26−9.3−12.24−22.22

Mayo

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population137130131124117111110115114114109115123133141148161172192199219245246254274388
Rank1312181210999887655444333334454
%Change5.4- 0.85.47.099.410.91−8.09−0.41−3.15−7.3−39.87

Louth

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population13912812311110292919289867570676969666463646671788491108128
Rank1213191314151313121311121212121416171919191919192222
%Change8.64.0610.48.8210.871.1−1.09−7.14−7.69−15.74−15.63

Clare

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population12711811711110394909188857574747781859095104112124141147166212286
Rank14142013131315141414111010101010101099999999
%Change7.20.95.37.779.574.44−1.1−4.08−11.45−21.7−25.87

Waterford

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population12711410810294919189877773717475767879848798112123134164196227
Rank1515211515131314121210111111111111131313131313131315
%Change9.21.85.36.937.453.30−8.94−8.21−18.29−16.33

Kilkenny

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population104999587807573737069616061646566687074798799109124158202
Rank1616221616161616161616151515171414151515151616151412
%Change4.54.28.98.756.672.740−9.17−12.1−21.52−21.78

Westmeath

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population968886797163616361595352525454545456596165717890111141
Rank1717
%Change8+3.0+8.6+10.4|+13.5|+2.3+3.0+2.7+11.8|+1.3+0.1−2.3−0.6−0.9+0.4−3.7−5.3−2.7−5.3−9.3−8.5−13.7−18.4−21.2+3.2

Laois

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population918480675852525351494544454748495051545764737990111153
Rank1818
%Change8.2+5.1+20.1|+14.1|+11.0|+1.2−1.8+4.1+2.5+10.3|+1.5−1.1−4.3−2.8−2.5−0.8−2.8−5.7−4.9−11.5−11.3−8.3−12.0−18.8−27.5+5.5

Offaly

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population837877716459586058575252525253545153576066737690112147
Rank1919191818181818181820202121222222232323212124211820
%Change61.38.410.948.471.72−3.33−3.95−15.56−19.64−23.81

Cavan

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population8176736457535354545453545762667077829198112129141154174243
Rank2020202021202021212019181817141313121212111110111111
%Change6.64.113.912.287.550−1.85−8.51−8.44−11.49−28.4

Sligo

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population706565615855545655555051545761626771798498111115124128180
Rank2221212120191919191921211919191815141414131414151717
%Change6.50.07.25.175.451.85−3.57−3.48−7.26−3.13−28.89

Roscommon

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population70646459545252555554545659646873788494102114132141157173254
Rank2122222222212120192017171615131211111111101010101210
%Change8.40.08.79.263.850−5.45−6.38−10.19−9.25−31.89

Fermanagh

Year20212016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population6362
Rank2828
%Change3.8

Monaghan

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population656160565351515251504646475255576165717586103115126142200
Rank2323232323232323222222222221202017161616161514141514
%Change5.61.78.05.663.920−1.92−10.43−8.73−11.27−29

Carlow

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population6156545046424141403934343334343434343638414752576886
Rank2424242424242424242424242425262626262626262626262626
%Change8.83.78.38.79.522.440−9.62−8.77−16.18−20.93

Longford

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population46403934313030313131282931333536384044475361657282115
Rank2525252525252525252525262626252525252525252525252524
%Change14.12.613.39.683.330−3.23−6.15−9.72−12.2−28.7

Leitrim

Year20222016201120062002199619911986198119791971196619611956195119461936192619111901189118811871186118511841
Population3532322926252527282828313337414551566469799096105112155
Rank2626262626262626262625252424242422221917171717181818
%Change9.50.09.811.5440−7.41−6.25−8.57−6.25−27.74

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census Results NI Released May 2022 . NISRA.
  2. Web site: Census Results RoI Released June 2022 . CSO.
  3. Web site: Ireland's population is now the biggest since before the Famine, census reveals . Irish Central . 24 June 2022 . 18 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Press Statement Census of Population 2022 – Preliminary Results . Central Statistics Office . 18 July 2022.
  5. Ó Grada Cormac. The population of Ireland 1700–1900 : a survey. In: Annales de démographie historique, 1979. p. 283.
  6. https://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.
  7. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?searchMoreVisible=false&census_year=1911&surname=&firstname=&county19011911=&county1821=&county1831=&county1841=&county1851=&barony=&parish=&ward=&townland=&houseNumber=&familyId=&ded=&age=&sex=&search=Search&ageInMonths=&relationToHead=&religion=&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&yearsMarried=&birthplace=&nativeCountry=&language=&deafdumb=&causeOfDeath=&yearOfDeath=&familiesNumber=&malesNumber=&femalesNumber=&maleServNumber=&femaleServNumber=&estChurchNumber=&romanCatNumber=&presbNumber=&protNumber=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving= National Archives online
  8. https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/LossPopulationOutlookIrelandDunraven/ LibraryIreland.com
  9. https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/LossPopulationOutlookIrelandDunraven/ LibraryIreland.com
  10. https://www.libraryireland.com/articles/ModIrelandDecreasePopulation/index.php LibraryIreland.com
  11. [1851 in Ireland]

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