Population aged 65 and over — all countries

Population aged 65 and over — Ireland

Population aged 65 and over in Ireland in 2025 — 888,912 people. Ranked 86 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 180.3%.

2025 888,912 people +3.66% vs 2024
World rank 86of 217
Period maximum 888,912 people2025
Period minimum 317,159 people1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · people

Population aged 65 and over — Ireland, 1960–2025200,000400,000600,000800,0001M19601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 317,159 people1962: 318,835 people1964: 320,059 people1966: 324,267 people1968: 326,031 people1970: 329,125 people1972: 333,859 people1974: 337,135 people1976: 347,159 people1978: 358,133 people1980: 367,105 people1982: 373,835 people1984: 379,457 people1986: 385,697 people1988: 394,325 people1990: 400,803 people1992: 406,216 people1994: 409,379 people1996: 413,820 people1998: 420,205 people2000: 425,740 people2002: 436,530 people2004: 450,942 people2006: 464,607 people2008: 487,055 people2010: 518,871 people2012: 555,727 people2014: 595,967 people2016: 637,828 people2018: 683,450 people2020: 733,895 people2022: 790,367 people2024: 857,503 people2025: 888,912 people
Change over the period: +571,753 (+180.27%) Average annual rate: 1.6 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Ireland

Ireland 888,912 people
World 855M people
Europe & Central Asia 173M people
Northern Europe computed 21.94M people
High-income countries computed 278M people
Population aged 65 and over — Ireland, by year Ireland All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 888,912 +31,409 +3.66%
2024 857,503 +31,999 +3.88%
2023 825,504 +35,137 +4.45%
2022 790,367 +31,262 +4.12%
2021 759,105 +25,210 +3.44%
2020 733,895 +25,060 +3.54%
2019 708,835 +25,385 +3.71%
2018 683,450 +23,440 +3.55%
2017 660,010 +22,182 +3.48%
2016 637,828 +21,389 +3.47%
2015 616,439 +20,472 +3.44%
2014 595,967 +20,417 +3.55%
2013 575,550 +19,823 +3.57%
2012 555,727 +19,072 +3.55%
2011 536,655 +17,784 +3.43%
2010 518,871 +16,598 +3.3%
2009 502,273 +15,218 +3.12%
2008 487,055 +12,906 +2.72%
2007 474,149 +9,542 +2.05%
2006 464,607 +6,455 +1.41%
2005 458,152 +7,210 +1.6%
2004 450,942 +7,965 +1.8%
2003 442,977 +6,447 +1.48%
2002 436,530 +5,809 +1.35%
2001 430,721 +4,981 +1.17%
2000 425,740 +3,154 +0.75%
1999 422,586 +2,381 +0.57%
1998 420,205 +3,062 +0.73%
1997 417,143 +3,323 +0.8%
1996 413,820 +2,466 +0.6%
1995 411,354 +1,975 +0.48%
1994 409,379 +1,575 +0.39%
1993 407,804 +1,588 +0.39%
1992 406,216 +2,572 +0.64%
1991 403,644 +2,841 +0.71%
1990 400,803 +2,864 +0.72%
1989 397,939 +3,614 +0.92%
1988 394,325 +4,400 +1.13%
1987 389,925 +4,228 +1.1%
1986 385,697 +2,876 +0.75%
1985 382,821 +3,364 +0.89%
1984 379,457 +3,698 +0.98%
1983 375,759 +1,924 +0.51%
1982 373,835 +2,800 +0.75%
1981 371,035 +3,930 +1.07%
1980 367,105 +3,958 +1.09%
1979 363,147 +5,014 +1.4%
1978 358,133 +5,678 +1.61%
1977 352,455 +5,296 +1.53%
1976 347,159 +5,494 +1.61%
1975 341,665 +4,530 +1.34%
1974 337,135 +2,306 +0.69%
1973 334,829 +970 +0.29%
1972 333,859 +1,703 +0.51%
1971 332,156 +3,031 +0.92%
1970 329,125 +2,166 +0.66%
1969 326,959 +928 +0.28%
1968 326,031 +1,042 +0.32%
1967 324,989 +722 +0.22%
1966 324,267 +1,670 +0.52%
1965 322,597 +2,538 +0.79%
1964 320,059 +908 +0.28%
1963 319,151 +316 +0.1%
1962 318,835 +535 +0.17%
1961 318,300 +1,141 +0.36%
1960 317,159

About the indicator

The population aged 65 and over. In absolute numbers this group is growing faster than any other: it expands both from the rise in life expectancy and from the entry of the large cohorts born in the middle of the 20th century. Japan and Italy lead by share of population, China and India by absolute number, and the divergence of the two rankings shows where the load on health care and pensions is larger in scale and where it is sharper.

Important: The threshold of 65 years is an international convention and is not tied to the retirement age of any particular country.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.