Ireland's Population Grew by 88,597 to 5.44 Million Last Year, EU Reports

Ireland's population increased by 88,597 last year, reaching 5.44 million from 5.35 million at the end of 2024, according to new figures from the European Commission. This 1.6 per cent increase is four times the EU average of 0.4 per cent.

The 2024 growth is consistent with the 1.5 per cent increase in 2024 but less than the 2.2 per cent rise in 2022, when 117,000 Ukrainian refugees contributed to population growth. The State's population is 500,000 more than in 2019, when it was 4,940,311. The foreign-born population grew by 276,675, from 990,469 to 1,267,144 in 2025.

Foreign employees in Ireland rose by 218,000 between 2019 and 2024, accounting for 61 per cent of all job growth. Foreign nationals comprised 27.5 per cent of employees by the end of 2024, up from under 22 per cent before the pandemic. Their employment increased by 45.6 per cent, compared to 8 per cent for Irish nationals.

Ireland is one of only seven EU countries where births still exceed deaths. While net migration was almost 70,000 last year, Eurostat projects a decrease to 60,000 this year and 33,000 by 2030. Despite a fertility rate of 1.47 per woman in 2024, below the 2.1 replacement rate, natural increases also contribute to growth. Eurostat predicts the population will reach six million in 2035 and 6.5 million by mid-century.