Capital of Ireland: Dublin
The capital of Ireland is Dublin. Ireland sits in Europe, has a population of 5,023,109, and uses the EUR. Official languages include English, Irish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Dublin
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~5,023,109
- Area: 70,273 km²
- Population density: 71.5 people per km²
- Official languages: English, Irish
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: IE
How big is Ireland?
By population, Ireland ranks 124th in the world, holding roughly 0.06% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 118th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Ireland has 71.5 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Ireland is the 26th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Ireland in population are New Zealand (5,124,100) and Costa Rica (5,180,829).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Georgia (69,700 km²) and Sierra Leone (71,740 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
English is spoken officially in 58 countries in this dataset, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize, and 52 others.
The EUR is not unique to Ireland — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Ireland in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Ireland belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Ireland and a page on the flag of Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Ireland?
The capital of Ireland is Dublin.
What is the population of Ireland?
About 5,023,109, making it the 124th most populous country in the world.
How big is Ireland?
70,273 square kilometres, ranking 118th by land area, at a density of 71.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Ireland use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.