Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population in Ireland

Ireland: Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population was 639,540 Persons in 2026. ▲ Rising

Latest (2026)
639,540 Persons
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
34th
of 37 countries
All-time high
639,540 Persons
in 2026
All-time low
327,300 Persons
in 1996
Years of data
31
1996–2026

Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population in Ireland, 1996–2026

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1996201120261996: 327.3k Persons1997: 337.2k Persons1998: 347.8k Persons1999: 358.9k Persons2000: 370.4k Persons2001: 382.3k Persons2002: 394.9k Persons2003: 408.5k Persons2004: 422.9k Persons2005: 437.9k Persons2006: 453.8k Persons2007: 461.6k Persons2008: 469.5k Persons2009: 478.0k Persons2010: 486.8k Persons2011: 499.7k Persons2012: 503.2k Persons2013: 504.1k Persons2014: 506.3k Persons2015: 513.0k Persons2016: 523.4k Persons2017: 536.3k Persons2018: 547.1k Persons2019: 560.3k Persons2020: 575.1k Persons2021: 586.9k Persons2022: 602.1k Persons2023: 613.3k Persons2024: 622.9k Persons2025: 630.0k Persons2026: 639.5k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

In 2026, labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population in Ireland stood at 639,540 Persons. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population in Ireland peaked at 639,540 Persons in 2026 and was at its lowest, 327,300 Persons, in 1996.

That places Ireland 34th out of 37 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.

Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population in Ireland, 1996 to 2026.
Year Persons Change
1996 327,300 Persons
1997 337,200 Persons +3.0%
1998 347,800 Persons +3.1%
1999 358,900 Persons +3.2%
2000 370,400 Persons +3.2%
2001 382,300 Persons +3.2%
2002 394,900 Persons +3.3%
2003 408,500 Persons +3.4%
2004 422,900 Persons +3.5%
2005 437,900 Persons +3.5%
2006 453,800 Persons +3.6%
2007 461,600 Persons +1.7%
2008 469,500 Persons +1.7%
2009 478,000 Persons +1.8%
2010 486,800 Persons +1.8%
2011 499,700 Persons +2.6%
2012 503,172 Persons +0.7%
2013 504,125 Persons +0.2%
2014 506,314 Persons +0.4%
2015 512,986 Persons +1.3%
2016 523,430 Persons +2.0%
2017 536,265 Persons +2.5%
2018 547,109 Persons +2.0%
2019 560,309 Persons +2.4%
2020 575,119 Persons +2.6%
2021 586,917 Persons +2.1%
2022 602,107 Persons +2.6%
2023 613,328 Persons +1.9%
2024 622,923 Persons +1.6%
2025 629,971 Persons +1.1%
2026 639,540 Persons +1.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 342,800 Persons 327,300 Persons 358,900 Persons 4
2000s 427,980 Persons 370,400 Persons 478,000 Persons 10
2010s 518,021 Persons 486,800 Persons 560,309 Persons 10
2020s 609,986 Persons 575,119 Persons 639,540 Persons 7

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 31 Croatia 1.53 million Persons compare
  2. 32 New Zealand 1.46 million Persons compare
  3. 33 Slovenia 774,340 Persons compare
  4. 35 Luxembourg 591,540 Persons compare
  5. 36 North Macedonia 563,640 Persons compare
  6. 37 Iceland 207,330 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More work & labour data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population in Ireland?
Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population in Ireland was 639,540 Persons in 2026, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 639,540 Persons in 2026.
What is the lowest labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 327,300 Persons in 1996.
How does Ireland rank for labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population?
Ireland ranks 34th out of 37 countries with data for 2026.
Is labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — population rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-by-urban-rural-territorial-typology-population/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators by urban-rural territorial typology — Population
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
40 places, 1,019 data points, 1995–2026
Last refreshed

This dataset provides labour market indicators aggregated at national level and broken down by urban-rural territorial typology. Data source and definition The indicators include labour indicators at place of residence by type of territory. Data is based on a labor force survey using ILO methodology and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Territorial typology The OECD classifies TL3 regions as predominantly urban, intermediate or predominantly rural; rural regions can be further split into “close to city” and “remote” (see methodology (pdf)). This typology supports analysis of socio-economic differences across regions. See also the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx) and the OECD Territorial grid (pdf). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.