Population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland
Ireland: Population ages 65 and above, female was 17.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of female population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland is 17.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland peaked at 17.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 1975.
That places Ireland 65th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of female population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.9% | — |
| 1961 | 11.9% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 12.0% | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 12.0% | -0.1% |
| 1964 | 12.0% | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 12.0% | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 12.1% | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 12.1% | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 12.1% | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 12.1% | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 12.1% | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 12.1% | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 12.0% | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 11.9% | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 11.8% | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 11.8% | -0.3% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 11.8% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 11.9% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 11.9% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 11.9% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 11.9% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 12.0% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 12.1% | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 12.2% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 12.4% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 12.6% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 12.8% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 12.9% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 12.9% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 12.9% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 12.9% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 12.9% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 12.8% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 12.7% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 12.5% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 12.5% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 12.4% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 12.3% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 12.0% | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 12.7% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 13.0% | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 13.3% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 13.6% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 14.2% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 14.4% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 14.7% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 15.0% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 15.9% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 16.3% | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 16.7% | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 17.0% | +2.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 17.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 19.5%, 87% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 17.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.4%, 76% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.0% | 11.9% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.9% | 11.8% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.2% | 11.9% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.9% | 12.7% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 11.9% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 12.4% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 15.3% | 17.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland?
- Population ages 65 and above, female in Ireland was 17.0% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above, female recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 1975.
- How does Ireland rank for population ages 65 and above, female?
- Ireland ranks 65th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above, female rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Population ages 65 and above, female (% of female population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female population 65 years of age or older as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.