List of Irish counties by population

The 32 traditional counties of Ireland

This is a list of counties of Ireland ordered by population. Counties in the Republic of Ireland are shown in normal type, while those in Northern Ireland are listed in italic type. Non-traditional administrative counties are indicated by a cream-coloured background.

For a more detailed analysis of current and historical Irish populations in the Republic of Ireland, see Irish population analysis. The population of the six counties of Northern Ireland as of 2021 is 1,903,100 which would mean a total population on the island of Ireland as of 2016 of approximately 7,026,636

Data source (as of June 2022):

• Taken from latest census data for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Population data for counties in the Republic of Ireland is based on preliminary data from census of 2022.
• Population data for counties in Northern Ireland is based on census of 2011.
• The previous census for the Republic of Ireland was taken in 2016, the previous census for Northern Ireland was taken in 2001.
• Density updated as of 2016

Rank	County	Population	Density (km²)	Traditional province	Change since previous census	Change per year
1	Dublin	1,450,701	1,573.4	Leinster	7.7%	1.28%
2	Antrim	618,108	202.9	Ulster	1.8%	0.18%
3	Cork	581,231	72.3	Munster	7.1%	1.18%
4	Down	531,665	215.6	Ulster	8.7%	0.87%
–	Fingal	329,218	721.9	Leinster	11.2%	1.86%
–	South Dublin	299,793	1,345.9	Leinster	7.5%	1.25%
5	Galway	276,451	42.0	Connacht	7.1%	1.18%
6	Londonderry	247,132	119.1	Ulster	4.8%	0.48%
7	Kildare	246,977	131.0	Leinster	11.0%	1.83%
–	Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown	233,457	1,855.8	Leinster	7.1%	1.18%
8	Meath	220,296	83.2	Leinster	12.9%	2.15%
9	Limerick	205,444	70.8	Munster	5.4%	0.9%
10	Tyrone	179,000	54.5	Ulster	8.4%	0.84%
11	Armagh	174,792	131.8	Ulster	7.3%	0.73%
12	Tipperary	167,661	37.2	Munster	5.1%	0.85%
13	Donegal	166,321	32.6	Ulster	4.5%	0.75%
14	Wexford	163,527	63.2	Leinster	9.2%	1.53%
15	Wicklow	155,485	70.2	Leinster	9.2%	1.53%
16	Kerry	155,258	30.7	Munster	5.1%	0.85%
17	Louth	139,100	155.4	Leinster	7.9%	1.31%
18	Mayo	137,231	23.3	Connacht	5.2%	0.87%
19	Clare	127,419	34.4	Munster	7.2%	1.2%
20	Waterford	127,085	62.7	Munster	9.4%	1.57%
21	Kilkenny	103,685	47.8	Leinster	4.5%	0.75%
22	Westmeath	95,840	48.2	Leinster	8.0%	1.33%
23	Laois	91,657	49.3	Leinster	8.2%	1.37%
24	Offaly	82,668	38.9	Leinster	6.0%	1.0%
25	Cavan	81,201	39.3	Ulster	6.6%	1.1%
26	Roscommon	69,995	25.3	Connacht	8.4%	1.4%
27	Sligo	69,819	35.5	Connacht	6.5%	1.08%
28	Monaghan	64,832	47.3	Ulster	5.6%	0.93%
29	Fermanagh	61,170	36.1	Ulster	6.3%	0.63%
30	Carlow	61,931	63.4	Leinster	8.8%	1.47%
31	Longford	46,634	37.4	Leinster	14.1%	2.35%
32	Leitrim	35,087	20.1	Connacht	9.5%	1.58%
Total	Island of Ireland	7,026,636	77.8
	Average	205,429

See also

• Demographics of the Republic of Ireland
• Irish Population Analysis
• List of Irish counties by area
• List of Irish counties by highest point
• List of Irish counties by coastline

Notes

1. The populations of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities have been added to their respective traditional counties. For a list of these cities by population see, List of towns in the Republic of Ireland by population. For more information on city status, see City status in Ireland.