Population in the largest city in Ireland
Ireland: Population in the largest city was 36.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population in the largest city in Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in Ireland is 36.7%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Ireland peaked at 52.1% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 36.7%, in 2025.
That places Ireland 51st out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 52.1% | — |
| 1961 | 52.0% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 52.1% | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 51.9% | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 51.8% | -0.3% |
| 1965 | 51.7% | -0.1% |
| 1966 | 51.7% | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 51.3% | -0.7% |
| 1968 | 51.0% | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 50.7% | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 50.3% | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 49.9% | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 49.5% | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 49.1% | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 48.8% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 48.4% | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 48.2% | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 48.0% | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 47.8% | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 47.7% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 47.8% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 47.6% | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 47.1% | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 46.7% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 46.3% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 46.2% | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 46.1% | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 45.9% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 46.0% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 46.0% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 45.8% | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 45.5% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 45.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 45.3% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 45.3% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 45.3% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 45.1% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 44.9% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 44.6% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 44.3% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 43.9% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 43.4% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 42.9% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 42.5% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 41.9% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 41.2% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 40.4% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 39.5% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 39.0% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 38.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 39.0% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 39.2% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 39.3% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 39.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 39.5% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 39.5% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 39.4% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 39.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 38.9% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 38.6% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 38.2% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 37.7% | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 37.3% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 37.0% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 36.7% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 51.6% | 50.7% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.8% | 47.7% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 46.6% | 45.9% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.1% | 44.3% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.4% | 38.9% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.2% | 38.6% | 39.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 36.7% | 38.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 48 Argentina 37.2% compare
- 49 Equatorial Guinea 37.0% compare
- 50 Tajikistan 36.8% compare
- 52 Costa Rica 36.6% compare
- 53 Burundi 36.5% compare
- 54 Angola 35.9% compare
More urban development data for Ireland
- Population density 77.1 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 7.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2369 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.30 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 18.44 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.30 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 64.66 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Ireland?
- Population in the largest city in Ireland was 36.7% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.7% in 2025.
- How does Ireland rank for population in the largest city?
- Ireland ranks 51st out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.