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Ireland Population and Religion Percentage
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the island’s 32 counties. It shares its only land border with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland’s estimated usually resident population in April 2025 was 5,458,600.
Of the total population, 4,570,200 were Irish citizens (83.7%) and 888,400 were non-Irish citizens (16.3%). Dublin remained the largest urban centre with a population of 1,568,000, accounting for 28.7% of the national population. Ireland continues to experience strong migration-driven growth, with 125,300 immigrants and 65,600 emigrants in the year to April 2025, resulting in a net migration of 59,700.
The country’s ageing population is also notable, with 861,100 people aged 65 and over, a rise of 22.8% since 2019. Among Irish citizens, 31,500 returned to live in Ireland while 35,000 left to live abroad.
The estimated population of Ireland in 2026 is projected to be around 5.5 million.
*Island of Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth.
| Ireland | 2025 Est, |
| Total Population | 5,458,600 |
| Global Rank | 125 |
| Land Area | 68,883 sq. km (26,596 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 118 |
| Pop. Density | 75 people/sq. km |
| Capital City | Dublin |
| Fertility Rate | 1.60 |
| Infant mortality rate | 2.6 |
| Median Age | 38.8 Years |
| Life Expectancy | 82.6 years |
| Urban Population | 62.1 % |
Religion in Ireland
Ireland is a predominantly Christian country. Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination and 78.30% of the people adhere to it. Next Comes the Church of Ireland (2.70%), Orthodox Christians (1.30%), and other Christians are at (1.60%)
Non-Christian faiths account for 4%, and the remaining 12.7% are classified as unaffiliated, which can mean agnostic, atheist, or “nothing in particular.”
Other religions include Islam (1.3%), Hinduism (0.29%), Buddhism (0.20%), and other smaller faiths.
Religions Percentage in Ireland
| Religion | Percentage |
| Christians | 84% |
| – Catholic Church | – 78.30% |
| – Church of Ireland | – 2.70% |
| – Orthodox Christians | – 1.30% |
| – Other Christians | – 1.60% |
| None /Unaffiliated | 10.10% |
| Islam | 1.30% |
| Other religions | 2.60% |
| Unspecified | 2.60% |
Source: Wikipedia
Largest Cities in Ireland by Population
| # | City | Population |
| 1 | Dublin | 11,73,179 |
| 2 | Cork | 2,08,669 |
| 3 | Limerick | 94,192 |
| 4 | Galway | 79,934 |
| 5 | Waterford | 53,504 |
| 6 | Drogheda | 40,956 |
| 7 | Swords | 39,248 |
| 8 | Dundalk | 39,004 |
| 9 | Bray | 32,600 |
| 10 | Navan | 30,173 |
| 11 | Kilkenny | 26,512 |
| 12 | Ennis | 25,276 |
| 13 | Carlow | 24,272 |
| 14 | Tralee | 23,691 |
| 15 | Newbridge | 22,742 |
| 16 | Portlaoise | 22,050 |
| 17 | Balbriggan | 21,722 |
| 18 | Naas | 21,393 |
| 19 | Athlone | 21,349 |
| 20 | Mullingar | 20,928 |