Net migration in Ireland
Ireland: Net migration was 35,417 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Ireland is 35,417, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.3% on the previous year and up 164.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Ireland peaked at 94,513 in 2006 and was at its lowest, -44,020, in 1988.
Ireland ranks 26th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -38,492 | — |
| 1961 | -22,237 | -42.2% |
| 1962 | -17,438 | -21.6% |
| 1963 | -16,615 | -4.7% |
| 1964 | -15,640 | -5.9% |
| 1965 | -14,016 | -10.4% |
| 1966 | -11,858 | -15.4% |
| 1967 | -11,708 | -1.3% |
| 1968 | -11,132 | -4.9% |
| 1969 | -10,250 | -7.9% |
| 1970 | -8,892 | -13.2% |
| 1971 | 5,851 | -165.8% |
| 1972 | 12,858 | +119.8% |
| 1973 | 13,164 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 13,482 | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 13,828 | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 14,200 | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 14,505 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 15,543 | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 1,486 | -90.4% |
| 1980 | -2,876 | -293.5% |
| 1981 | -10,834 | +276.7% |
| 1982 | -14,464 | +33.5% |
| 1983 | -15,043 | +4.0% |
| 1984 | -15,549 | +3.4% |
| 1985 | -16,178 | +4.0% |
| 1986 | -21,139 | +30.7% |
| 1987 | -38,426 | +81.8% |
| 1988 | -44,020 | +14.6% |
| 1989 | -28,752 | -34.7% |
| 1990 | -8,203 | -71.5% |
| 1991 | 4,944 | -160.3% |
| 1992 | 1,335 | -73.0% |
| 1993 | -3,762 | -381.8% |
| 1994 | -3,118 | -17.1% |
| 1995 | 10,019 | -421.3% |
| 1996 | 9,959 | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 17,425 | +75.0% |
| 1998 | 16,615 | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 23,592 | +42.0% |
| 2000 | 31,298 | +32.7% |
| 2001 | 39,220 | +25.3% |
| 2002 | 34,286 | -12.6% |
| 2003 | 32,220 | -6.0% |
| 2004 | 49,102 | +52.4% |
| 2005 | 63,983 | +30.3% |
| 2006 | 94,513 | +47.7% |
| 2007 | 76,465 | -19.1% |
| 2008 | 18,979 | -75.2% |
| 2009 | -18,524 | -197.6% |
| 2010 | -26,974 | +45.6% |
| 2011 | -26,529 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | -22,411 | -15.5% |
| 2013 | -12,309 | -45.1% |
| 2014 | 448 | -103.6% |
| 2015 | 13,376 | +2885.7% |
| 2016 | 18,967 | +41.8% |
| 2017 | 28,883 | +52.3% |
| 2018 | 33,387 | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 29,663 | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 15,746 | -46.9% |
| 2021 | 27,419 | +74.1% |
| 2022 | 93,535 | +241.1% |
| 2023 | 43,873 | -53.1% |
| 2024 | 39,059 | -11.0% |
| 2025 | 35,417 | -9.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 35,417 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 42.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 35,417 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 166, 213.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +2885.7% | 448 | 13,376 |
| 1995 | +421.3% | -3,118 | 10,019 |
| 1993 | -381.8% | 1,335 | -3,762 |
| 1980 | -293.5% | 1,486 | -2,876 |
| 1981 | -276.7% | -2,876 | -10,834 |
| 2022 | +241.1% | 27,419 | 93,535 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -16,939 | -38,492 | -10,250 | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,602 | -8,892 | 15,543 | 10 |
| 1980s | -20,728 | -44,020 | -2,876 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,881 | -8,203 | 23,592 | 10 |
| 2000s | 42,154 | -18,524 | 94,513 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,650 | -26,974 | 33,387 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42,508 | 15,746 | 93,535 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More financial sector data for Ireland
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 13.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 223.7 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 7.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 163.34 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 13.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 223.7 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 7.68 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Ireland?
- Net migration in Ireland was 35,417 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 94,513 in 2006.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -44,020 in 1988.
- How does Ireland rank for net migration?
- Ireland ranks 26th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 164.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.