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 2016 was approximately 6.6 million (4.75 million in the Republic of Ireland and 1.85 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 Events January–March * January 20 – Charles Elliot of the United Kingdom, and Qishan of the Qing dynasty, agree to the Convention of Chuenpi. * January 26 – Britain occupies Hong Kong. Later in the year, the first census of the ...

. 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 The Irish diaspora ( ga, Diaspóra na nGael) refers to ethnic Irish people and their descendants who live outside the island of Ireland. The phenomenon of migration from Ireland is recorded since the Early Middle Ages,Flechner and Meeder, The ...

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

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 Events from the year 1851 in Ireland. Events * 30 March – the United Kingdom Census 1851, United Kingdom Census shows that, as part of the Legacy of the Great Irish Famine, legacy of the Great Famine, the population of Ireland has fallen to 6,57 ...

County populations 2016

Historical populations per province

''(Measured in 1000s, rounded)''

Leinster

Munster

Connacht

Ulster

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

Historical population

County populations 2016

Historical populations per province

Leinster

Munster

Connacht

Ulster

Historical populations per county

Dublin

Antrim

Down

Cork

Galway

Derry

Kildare

Limerick

Meath

Tyrone

Armagh

Tipperary

Donegal

Wexford

Kerry

Wicklow

Mayo

Louth

Clare

Waterford

Kilkenny

Westmeath

Laois

Offaly

Cavan

Sligo

Roscommon

Fermanagh

Monaghan

Carlow

Longford

Leitrim

See also

References

External links