Ireland’s population has reached 5.526 million, the highest on record. The Central Statistics Office reported an increase of 66,900 residents over the past year.
Net inward migration drove 72% of that growth, while births minus deaths contributed the remaining 28%. The increase marks a slowdown compared to last year’s rise of 78,300.
Dublin’s share grows as regional divides persist
Dublin now holds more than a quarter of the country’s residents, with its share climbing from 28.3% in 2020 to 28.9% in April 2026. The capital’s population stood at 1,597,700 people in April 2026.
Related: Female entrepreneurs create 60 new jobs
Seven counties—Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Louth, Cork, and Kerry—account for 57.5% of the total, totaling 3.179 million people. The midlands remain the least populated area, with 339,400 inhabitants, followed by the border, southeast, west, and midwest regions.
Fewer children, more older residents
The number of children under 14 has fallen below one million for the first time since 2014, now standing at 992,400. This group makes up 18% of the population, down from 20% in 2020.
The population aged 65 and over has increased by 165,000 since 2020, reaching 891,100. Their share of the total rose to 16.1% over the same period.
Births have declined steadily since 2010, with only 55,000 infants under one year old in 2026. In the year to April 2026, there were 54,300 births and 35,400 deaths, leaving a natural increase of 18,800.
Related: Ebola outbreak kills over 1700 in Congo
Immigration slows but remains high
Immigration to Ireland dropped to 110,600 in the year to April 2026, a decrease of 14,700 from the previous period. Emigration stood at 62,500, resulting in net migration of 48,100.
Among new arrivals, 30,200 were returning Irish citizens, 20,700 were other EU nationals, 4,300 came from the UK, and 55,400 arrived from outside Europe and the UK. The last group saw a 13% decline from the previous year’s total.
Irish citizens remain the majority at 4.5946 million, while non-Irish residents number 931,000. The figures show the country still attracts newcomers, though at a reduced pace.
Leave a Reply