Cork Population 2026

Cork has a population of 224,004, making it the #2 biggest city in 🇮🇪 Ireland, located in Munster. Roughly 4.2% of Ireland's population lives here. It is about 4.6× smaller than Dublin, the country's biggest city.

DublinCork
Location of Cork (capital Dublin shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
224,004
Rank in Ireland
#2
Coordinates
51.90°N, 8.47°W
~10 m elevation · Europe/Dublin
Distance to capital (Dublin)
219 km
136 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Munster

CityPopulationRank in Ireland
Limerick102,287#3
Waterford60,079#6
Ennis27,923#13
Douglas26,883#15
Tralee26,079#16
Ballincollig18,621#31
Cluain Meala18,369#32
Carrigaline18,239#33

Cities near Cork

FAQ

What is the population of Cork?
Cork has a population of 224,004 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2 biggest city in Ireland.
What region is Cork in?
Cork is located in Munster, Ireland.
Is Cork the capital of Ireland?
No, the capital of Ireland is Dublin, about 219 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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