Galway Population 2026

Galway has a population of 85,910, making it the #4 biggest city in 🇮🇪 Ireland, located in Connacht. Roughly 1.6% of Ireland's population lives here. It is about 12× smaller than Dublin, the country's biggest city.

Location of Galway (capital Dublin shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

85,910

Rank in Ireland

Coordinates

53.27°N, 9.05°W

~10 m elevation · Europe/Dublin

Distance to capital (Dublin)

186 km

116 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Connacht

City	Population	Rank in Ireland
Sligo	20,608	#28

Cities near Galway

Ennis27,923 people · ~48 km away
Limerick102,287 people · ~73 km away
Athlone22,869 people · ~76 km away
Tullamore15,598 people · ~104 km away
An Muileann gCearr22,667 people · ~117 km away
Sligo20,608 people · ~117 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Galway?

Galway has a population of 85,910 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #4 biggest city in Ireland.

What region is Galway in?

Galway is located in Connacht, Ireland.

Is Galway the capital of Ireland?

No, the capital of Ireland is Dublin, about 186 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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