Sex ratio by age in Ireland
Ireland: Sex ratio by age was 22.42 males per 100 females in 2023. ▼ Falling
Sex ratio by age in Ireland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio by age in Ireland is 22.42 males per 100 females, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 4.0% on the previous year and up 41.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Ireland peaked at 72.73 males per 100 females in 1950 and was at its lowest, 15.15 males per 100 females, in 2007.
Ireland ranks 108th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Sex ratio by age in Ireland, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 72.73 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 60 males per 100 females | -17.5% |
| 1952 | 48.28 males per 100 females | -19.5% |
| 1953 | 40 males per 100 females | -17.1% |
| 1954 | 36.84 males per 100 females | -7.9% |
| 1955 | 37.84 males per 100 females | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 36.11 males per 100 females | -4.6% |
| 1957 | 32.43 males per 100 females | -10.2% |
| 1958 | 32.43 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 32.43 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 31.58 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1961 | 28.21 males per 100 females | -10.7% |
| 1962 | 26.83 males per 100 females | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 26.83 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 26.83 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 27.91 males per 100 females | +4.0% |
| 1966 | 26.67 males per 100 females | -4.4% |
| 1967 | 27.66 males per 100 females | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 28 males per 100 females | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 28.3 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 27.12 males per 100 females | -4.2% |
| 1971 | 26.98 males per 100 females | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 26.98 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 25 males per 100 females | -7.4% |
| 1974 | 25.76 males per 100 females | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 27.14 males per 100 females | +5.4% |
| 1976 | 27.78 males per 100 females | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 29.58 males per 100 females | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 30.99 males per 100 females | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 30.14 males per 100 females | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 26.58 males per 100 females | -11.8% |
| 1981 | 25.88 males per 100 females | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 26.74 males per 100 females | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 26.19 males per 100 females | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 25 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 24.14 males per 100 females | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 22.47 males per 100 females | -6.9% |
| 1987 | 22.47 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 23.08 males per 100 females | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 23.4 males per 100 females | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 22.68 males per 100 females | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 22.77 males per 100 females | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 24 males per 100 females | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 24 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 24.27 males per 100 females | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 24.07 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 24.11 males per 100 females | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 21.85 males per 100 females | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 21.26 males per 100 females | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 20.61 males per 100 females | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 20.45 males per 100 females | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 19.29 males per 100 females | -5.7% |
| 2002 | 18.12 males per 100 females | -6.0% |
| 2003 | 18.06 males per 100 females | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 17.28 males per 100 females | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 16.76 males per 100 females | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 15.59 males per 100 females | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 15.15 males per 100 females | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 15.24 males per 100 females | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 15.65 males per 100 females | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 15.56 males per 100 females | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 15.47 males per 100 females | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 15.65 males per 100 females | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 15.89 males per 100 females | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 16.72 males per 100 females | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 17.19 males per 100 females | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 17.33 males per 100 females | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 18.08 males per 100 females | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 19.46 males per 100 females | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 20.33 males per 100 females | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 21.55 males per 100 females | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 23.12 males per 100 females | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 23.35 males per 100 females | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 22.42 males per 100 females | -4.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 22.42 males per 100 females is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.34 males per 100 females, 1.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 22.42 males per 100 females is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20 males per 100 females, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.91 males per 100 females | 32.43 males per 100 females | 72.73 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 27.88 males per 100 females | 26.67 males per 100 females | 31.58 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 27.75 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females | 30.99 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.6 males per 100 females | 22.47 males per 100 females | 26.74 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.96 males per 100 females | 20.61 males per 100 females | 24.27 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.16 males per 100 females | 15.15 males per 100 females | 20.45 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.17 males per 100 females | 15.47 males per 100 females | 20.33 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.61 males per 100 females | 21.55 males per 100 females | 23.35 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More gender data for Ireland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 899.27 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9809 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 4,626 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 4,626 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.02 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,039 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 27,455 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 26,494 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 27,919 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 26,943 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in Ireland?
- Sex ratio by age in Ireland was 22.42 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 72.73 males per 100 females in 1950.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.15 males per 100 females in 2007.
- How does Ireland rank for sex ratio by age?
- Ireland ranks 108th out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.