Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026
Ireland is divided into 26 counties
Ireland is an island country in northwestern Europe located in the North Atlantic Ocean west of Great Britain. The Republic of Ireland is divided into 26 traditional counties for administrative and cultural purposes, while Dublin is the national capital and also the largest city in the country.
The country includes green countryside, coastal cliffs, river valleys, mountains, lakes, and historic towns spread across four traditional provinces. Different counties are known for farming, tourism, fishing, technology industries, Gaelic culture, and historic landmarks.
Key Facts
- National capital: Dublin
- Total population: 5,330,000 (Official estimate 2025)
- Total area: 70,273 km² (27,133 sq miles)
- Currency: Euro (€ , EUR)
- Bordering countries: United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
- Total Counties: 26
- Traditional Provinces: 4
List of Counties and Capitals of Ireland
Total counties shown: 26 | Combined population: 5,330,000 | Combined area: 70,273 km²
| # | County Name | Capital City | Province | Area (km²) | Population (Latest Census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlow | Carlow | Leinster | 897 | 65,000 |
| 2 | Cavan | Cavan | Ulster | 1,932 | 82,000 |
| 3 | Clare | Ennis | Munster | 3,450 | 130,000 |
| 4 | Cork | Cork | Munster | 7,500 | 600,000 |
| 5 | Donegal | Lifford | Ulster | 4,861 | 170,000 |
| 6 | Dublin | Dublin | Leinster | 922 | 1,500,000 |
| 7 | Galway | Galway | Connacht | 6,149 | 290,000 |
| 8 | Kerry | Tralee | Munster | 4,807 | 155,000 |
| 9 | Kildare | Naas | Leinster | 1,694 | 255,000 |
| 10 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | Leinster | 2,073 | 104,000 |
| 11 | Laois | Portlaoise | Leinster | 1,720 | 95,000 |
| 12 | Leitrim | Carrick-on-Shannon | Connacht | 1,590 | 36,000 |
| 13 | Limerick | Limerick | Munster | 2,756 | 210,000 |
| 14 | Longford | Longford | Leinster | 1,091 | 47,000 |
| 15 | Louth | Dundalk | Leinster | 821 | 145,000 |
| 16 | Mayo | Castlebar | Connacht | 5,586 | 140,000 |
| 17 | Meath | Navan | Leinster | 2,340 | 235,000 |
| 18 | Monaghan | Monaghan | Ulster | 1,295 | 66,000 |
| 19 | Offaly | Tullamore | Leinster | 2,000 | 83,000 |
| 20 | Roscommon | Roscommon | Connacht | 2,547 | 70,000 |
| 21 | Sligo | Sligo | Connacht | 1,838 | 72,000 |
| 22 | Tipperary | Clonmel | Munster | 4,303 | 170,000 |
| 23 | Waterford | Waterford | Munster | 1,857 | 135,000 |
| 24 | Westmeath | Mullingar | Leinster | 1,839 | 96,000 |
| 25 | Wexford | Wexford | Leinster | 2,352 | 170,000 |
| 26 | Wicklow | Wicklow | Leinster | 2,027 | 174,000 |
Largest Counties by Area
- Cork - 2,896 sq mi (7,500 km²)
- Galway - 2,374 sq mi (6,149 km²)
- Mayo - 2,157 sq mi (5,586 km²)
- Donegal - 1,877 sq mi (4,861 km²)
- Kerry - 1,856 sq mi (4,807 km²)
- Tipperary - 1,661 sq mi (4,303 km²)
- Clare - 1,332 sq mi (3,450 km²)
- Limerick - 1,064 sq mi (2,756 km²)
Most Populous Counties
- Dublin - Population: 1,500,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Cork - Population: 600,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Galway - Population: 290,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Kildare - Population: 255,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Meath - Population: 235,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Limerick - Population: 210,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Wicklow - Population: 174,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
- Donegal - Population: 170,000 (Official Estimate 2025)
Smallest Counties by Area
- Louth - 317 sq mi (821 km²)
- Carlow - 346 sq mi (897 km²)
- Dublin - 356 sq mi (922 km²)
- Longford - 421 sq mi (1,091 km²)
- Monaghan - 500 sq mi (1,295 km²)
- Leitrim - 614 sq mi (1,590 km²)
Counties by Regional Grouping
- Leinster: Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
- Munster: Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford
- Connacht: Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo
- Ulster: Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan
Landlocked Counties
- Carlow
- Cavan
- Kildare
- Kilkenny
- Laois
- Longford
- Monaghan
- Offaly
- Roscommon
- Tipperary
- Westmeath
Counties with Coastline
- Clare
- Cork
- Donegal
- Dublin
- Galway
- Kerry
- Leitrim
- Limerick
- Louth
- Mayo
- Meath
- Sligo
- Waterford
- Wexford
- Wicklow
Counties Sharing Borders with Other Countries
- United Kingdom (Northern Ireland): Cavan, Donegal, Louth, Monaghan
Sources
- Central Statistics Office Ireland
- World Bank - Ireland Data
- CIA World Factbook - Ireland
- Encyclopaedia Britannica - Ireland
- Government of Ireland
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