Population
5.2M persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Ireland
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Ireland, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
Total fertility rate
1.50
children per woman, 2025
GDP per capita, PPP
131,338
constant 2021 international $, 2025
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 3.50 in 1950 → 1.50 in 2025 (−57%). Peak: 4.08 in 1964; the latest value is 63% lower. Threshold: below 2.1 since 1991. The trend broke around 1970 and 1990: +0.03 → −0.1 → −0.01 a year.
- Births: 66.9k in 1950 → 54.3k in 2025 (−19%). Peak: 76k in 2009; the latest value is 29% lower. The trend broke around 2001 and 2009: −0.25k → +2.51k → −1.51k a year.
- Population: 2.91M in 1950 → 5.2M in 2023 (+78%). Low: 2.83M in 1961; +84% since then. The trend broke around 1962 and 1998: −9.47k → +26.1k → +56.9k a year.
- Internet: 0% in 1990 → 97.2% in 2024 (+97 pp). Thresholds: above 10% since 1999, above 50% since 2006, above 90% since 2020. Fastest growth in 2002–2007: 25.9% → 61.2%.
- Urban share: 44.9% in 1960 → 64.6% in 2025 (+20 pp). Threshold: above 50% since 1967. The trend broke around 1969 and 1975: +0.74 → +0.44 → +0.21 a year.
- GDP per person (PPP): 29,505 PPP dollars in 1990 → 131,338 PPP dollars in 2025 (×4.5). The trend broke around 2006 and 2012: +2,512 → −1,352 → +5,716 a year.
- GDP growth: on average 2.4% in the 1980s, 7.0% in the 1990s, 3.7% in the 2000s, 6.3% in the 2010s, 7.2% in the 2020s. Lowest: −5.1% in 2009; highest: 24.6% in 2015.
- Inflation: on average 9.3% in the 1980s, 2.4% in the 1990s, 2.9% in the 2000s, 0.4% in the 2010s, 3.1% in the 2020s. Lowest: −1.7% in 2009; highest: 20.2% in 1981.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1979–1989: 3.21 → 2.08. Over the same years: births 72.5k → 52.5k; population 3.38M → 3.51M; internet 0% (1990); urban share 55.2% → 56.8%; GDP per person (PPP) 29,505 PPP dollars (1990); GDP growth 2.9% → 5.6%; inflation 18.3% → 4%.
- Over the last 10 years (2015–2025): fertility (TFR) 1.86 → 1.50; births 65.6k → 54.3k; population 4.7M (2015); internet 83.5% → 97.2%; urban share 62.6% → 64.6%; GDP per person (PPP) 80,816 PPP dollars → 131,338 PPP dollars; GDP growth 24.6% → 12.3%; inflation 0% → 2.1%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (1990–2024, 35 years): levels are noticeably related, in opposite directions (r = −0.50); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = 0.37).
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2025, 66 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.92); year-to-year changes are weakly related (r = 0.42).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2025, 36 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.82); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.13). This looks like a shared trend: both change over time, but not in step from year to year.
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 12 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in none; median gap −16%.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 1.60 (+7% vs 2025), 2100 — 1.61 (+7% vs 2025); low variant for 2100: 1.11.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 11 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 1; median gap −6.6%.
- National statistics for 2025: 54.3k, 3% above the UN 2024 medium variant (52.6k).
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 58.3k (+7% vs 2025), 2100 — 43.4k (−20% vs 2025); low variant for 2100: 17k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 1 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 11; median gap +3.3%.
- The UN 2000 projection expected today's level (5.2M, 2023) only around 2044: reality is 21 years ahead of it.
- The UN 2022 projection expected today's level (5.2M, 2023) only around 2028: reality is 5 years ahead of it.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 5.97M (+15% vs 2023), 2100 — 5.29M (+2% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 3.68M.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 2.6 pp above the forecast; below it in 39% of cases; typical error ±5.6 pp. The biggest miss was for 2015: IMF, April 2014 expected 2.5%, the outcome was 24.6%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 2.5%, 2028 — 2.6%, 2031 — 2.3%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 0.2 pp below the forecast; below it in 64% of cases; typical error ±1.6 pp. The biggest miss was for 2022: IMF, April 2021 expected 1.9%, the outcome was 8.1%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 3.1%, 2028 — 1.9%, 2031 — 2%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 4.37M | 5.2M | +19% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 4.69M | 5.2M | +10.9% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 4.62M | 5.2M | +12.4% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 5.01M | 5.2M | +3.8% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 5.19M | 5.2M | +0.1% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 5.28M | 5.2M | −1.6% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 5.09M | 5.2M | +2% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 5.09M | 5.2M | +2.1% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 4.98M | 5.2M | +4.3% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 5M | 5.2M | +4% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 5.05M | 5.2M | +2.9% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 5.06M | 5.2M | +2.8% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025 | 24 years | 55.8k | 55k | −1.4% |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025 | 22 years | 59.8k | 55k | −8% |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025 | 20 years | 53.9k | 55k | +2.1% |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025 | 18 years | 55.5k | 55k | −0.9% |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025 | 16 years | 61.4k | 55k | −10.4% |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025 | 14 years | 61.4k | 55k | −10.4% |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025 | 12 years | 66.2k | 55k | −16.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025 | 10 years | 64.3k | 55k | −14.5% |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025 | 8 years | 58.6k | 55k | −6% |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025 | 6 years | 59.2k | 55k | −7.1% |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025 | 4 years | 57k | 55k | −3.4% |
| UN 2022 | 2025 | 3 years | 55.4k | 54.3k | −2% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2020–2025 | 24 years | 2.10 | 1.60 | −23.7% |
| UN 2000 | 2020–2025 | 22 years | 2.08 | 1.60 | −22.9% |
| UN 2002 | 2020–2025 | 20 years | 1.85 | 1.60 | −13.4% |
| UN 2004 | 2020–2025 | 18 years | 1.85 | 1.60 | −13.4% |
| UN 2006 | 2020–2025 | 16 years | 1.85 | 1.60 | −13.4% |
| UN 2008 | 2020–2025 | 14 years | 1.85 | 1.60 | −13.4% |
| UN 2010 | 2020–2025 | 12 years | 2.10 | 1.60 | −23.6% |
| UN 2012 | 2020–2025 | 10 years | 1.99 | 1.60 | −19.3% |
| UN 2015 | 2020–2025 | 8 years | 1.99 | 1.60 | −19.3% |
| UN 2017 | 2020–2025 | 6 years | 1.97 | 1.60 | −18.5% |
| UN 2019 | 2020–2025 | 4 years | 1.79 | 1.60 | −10.2% |
| UN 2022 | 2025 | 3 years | 1.75 | 1.50 | −14.5% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 36 | +2.6 pp | 5.6 pp | 39% |
| Inflation | 36 | −0.2 pp | 1.6 pp | 64% |
| Unemployment rate | 36 | +0.3 pp | 1.3 pp | 58% |
| Government gross debt | 26 | −11.2 pp | 12.3 pp | 88% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
54.3k births per year latest value, 2025
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Source: Eurostat demo_gind (births) / demo_find (TFR), retrieved 2026-10-01
Total fertility rate
1.50 children per woman latest value, 2025
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Source: Eurostat demo_gind (births) / demo_find (TFR), retrieved 2026-10-01
Life expectancy at birth, women
84.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
80.4 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
38.4 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
32.7 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
105.6 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
43.9k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
24.7 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
97.2 % of population latest value, 2024
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
112.6 per 100 people latest value, 2024
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
32.3 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2024
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
131,338 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
12.3 % per year latest value, 2025
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
2.1 % per year, average latest value, 2025
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
38.3 % of GDP latest value, 2024
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
Unemployment rate
4.7 % of labour force latest value, 2025
Unemployed as a share of the labour force (IMF WEO; national definitions).
GDP per capita, US dollars
130,652 current US dollars latest value, 2025
GDP per person in current US dollars at market exchange rates (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
64.6 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
85.7 % gross latest value, 2022
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Women with upper secondary education
85.1 % of women 25+ latest value, 2023
Share of women aged 25+ who completed at least upper secondary education (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
83 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
Same region: Europe
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