This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September 2026)
The demographics of the Republic of Ireland are characterized by a growing and gradually ageing population, with population growth driven by both natural increase and sustained net immigration, the latter becoming increasingly significant in recent decades. As of the 2022 Irish census, the population of the state stood at 5,149,139. More recent estimates from 2025 by the Central Statistics Office indicate the population has continued to expand to over 5.4 million. As of 2025, Eurostat data indicates that approximately 23.3% of the state's resident population is foreign-born.
The country enjoys a high life expectancy of approximately 82.4 years (84.5 for women and 80.4 for men). Fertility rates have fallen to approximately 1.49 children per woman, which is below the replacement level of 2.1, and the national birth rate has declined to roughly 9.9 births per 1,000 population. The population is gradually ageing, with the proportion of older age groups increasing.
Over the last three decades, the Republic of Ireland has transitioned from a largely homogeneous society to a more diverse one. This change has been driven primarily by high levels of sustained immigration from both within and outside the European Union. According to 2022 census data, individuals identifying as White Irish constitute approximately 76.6% of the population, a decline from 87.4% in 2006, followed by Other White backgrounds (10.8%), Asian (3.3%), and Black (1.5%). Population density is relatively low at 73 per km2, but remains unevenly distributed, with a high concentration in the capital city of Dublin and its commuter belt and lower densities in many western and rural counties, reflecting longstanding internal migration from peripheral regions to urban centres.
In terms of religious affiliation, Christianity remains the dominant faith, with Roman Catholicism being the largest single denomination at 69.1%. However, religious observance and self-identification have declined in recent years, alongside a significant rise in those reporting "no religion," who now account for 15.4% of the population. English is the dominant language of daily use, with Irish holding constitutional status as the national and first official language and used as a community language in designated Gaeltacht areas.
Historical population of Ireland, according to Our World In Data. Ireland's population peaked at roughly 8.5 million right before the start of the Great Famine in 1845
The island of Ireland's population has fluctuated over history. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Ireland experienced a major population boom as a result of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions. In the 50-year period 1790–1840, the population of the island doubled from 4 million to 8million. At its peak, Ireland's population density was similar to that of England and continental Europe.
This changed dramatically with the Great Famine of the mid-19th century, which led to mass starvation and consequent mass emigration. In the area covering the present day Republic of Ireland, the population reached about 6.5million in the mid-1840s. Ten years later it was down to 5 million. The population continued a slow decline well into the 20th century, with the Republic recording a low of 2.8million in the 1961 census.
During the 1960s, the population started to grow once more, although slowly as emigration was still common. In the 1990s the country entered a period of rapid economic growth as a result of the Celtic Tiger Irish economic boom, and the Republic started to receive immigration. Many former Irish emigrants returned home, and Ireland became an attractive destination for immigrants, from other member states in the EU such as Central Europe, but also from outside the EU such as Africa, Asia and elsewhere. With the 2008 onset of the Irish economic and banking crisis, the state's economy suffered, and Ireland has once again been experiencing net emigration of its citizens, but immigration remains high.
In November 2013, Eurostat reported that the Republic had the largest net emigration rate of any member state, at 7.6 emigrants per 1,000 population. However, it had the youngest population of any European Union member state and its population size is predicted to grow for many decades, in contrast with the declining population predicted for most European countries. A report published in 2008 predicted that the population would reach 6.7million by 2060. The Republic was at the time (mid to late 2000s) experiencing a baby boom, with increasing birth rates and overall fertility rates. Despite this, the total fertility rate is still below replacement.
Population size
Chart
Total population size of the Republic of Ireland, from 1900: View source data.
Vital statistics
Life expectancy
Average life expectancy at birth in the Republic of Ireland according to Our World In Data, 1960–2023: Female (pink), male (blue), average (green)
Population pyramids of ethnic groups within Ireland in 2022
White Irish
White Other
Asian: Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi
Asian: Chinese
Asian: Other
Black: Africans
Black: Other
Not Stated
Immigration
Ireland's immigration history (and of one of a multi-ethnic society) is most of that of a country of emigration, remaining largely white for the vast majority of 20th century history. However, there were small migrant communities resident in Ireland throughout this period, such as African students, who numbered over 1,000 in the 1960s and 1970s .
However, from the 1990s, with the rise of the 'Celtic Tiger', the nation shifted to one of a net receiver of immigration at a rapid pace, changing from one of the most 'homogeneous countries in the EU, to a country with a rate of change almost unparalleled in speed and scale'. The Celtic Tiger economic boom saw a large expansion of the labour market, which contributed to the large increase of immigration towards the country, with the additional enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and the further 2007 enlargement contributing to increased levels of immigration.
Additionally, asylum seekers rose dramatically as well: from 364 in 1994 to 11,634 in 2002, before falling off towards the end of the decade.
Net migration rate: 6.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Of the 54,125 births in 2025, there were 37,982 babies (70.2%) born to mothers of Irish nationality compared to 45,381 (78%) in 2021. There were 6.1% of births to mothers of EU15 to EU27 nationality, 1.9% of mothers were of UK nationality, and 2.5% were of EU14 nationality (excluding Ireland). Mothers of nationalities other than Ireland, UK and the EU accounted for 18.5% of total births registered. There were 0.8% of mothers where the nationality was not stated.
Migration data for Ireland, 1987–present
Ireland Net Migration (thousands)
Year
Immigrants
Emigrants
Net Migration
1987
17.2
40.2
−23.0
1988
19.2
61.1
−41.9
1989
26.7
70.6
−43.9
1990
33.3
56.3
−22.9
1991
33.3
35.3
−2.0
1992
40.7
33.4
7.4
1993
34.7
35.1
−0.4
1994
30.1
34.8
−4.7
1995
31.2
33.1
−1.9
1996
39.2
31.2
8.0
1997
44.5
25.3
19.2
1998
46.0
28.6
17.4
1999
48.9
31.5
17.3
2000
52.6
26.6
26.0
2001
59.0
26.2
32.8
2002
66.9
25.6
41.3
2003
60.0
29.3
30.7
2004
58.5
26.5
32.0
2005
84.6
29.4
55.1
2006
107.8
36.0
71.8
2007
151.1
46.3
104.8
2008
113.5
49.2
64.3
2009
73.7
72.0
1.6
2010
41.8
69.2
−27.5
2011
53.3
80.6
−27.4
2012
57.3
83.0
−25.7
2013
62.7
81.3
−18.7
2014
66.5
75.0
−8.5
2015
75.9
70.0
5.9
2016
82.3
66.2
16.2
2017
95.3
56.1
39.2
2018
96.0
51.6
44.4
2019
97.1
53.1
44.0
2020
95.6
50.9
44.7
2021
74.1
52.3
21.8
2022
107.8
56.1
51.7
2023
141.6
64.0
77.7
2024
149.2
69.9
79.3
2025
125,3
65,6
59,7
Country of birth
In 2022, 20% of the usually resident population in Ireland were born elsewhere, an increase of 3% since 2016. This represented 1,017,437 people, an increase of 207,031 from six years previously.
The DCEDIY projected a shortfall of 15,000 beds for refugees in December 2022 and admitted that there was mounting pressure to house 65,000 people.
Approximately 7,400 refugee adults and children were projected to be living in 38 "direct provision" centres across 17 counties in Ireland by the end of April 2020. The government of Ireland have said that they project to end direct provision by 2024 and are looking towards alternative forms of accommodation.
Ireland is a predominantly Christian country. The majority are Catholic; however, the number of people who declare themselves Catholic has been declining in recent years. Irreligion has increased since 2016 with 14% declaring "no religion" in 2022, meaning this is the second largest religious affiliation in Ireland. Immigration has also brought other faiths, with Islam at 1.7%, or over 83,000 people. As well as Hinduism, with 33,043 Hindus in the state. There are 2,193 members of the Jewish community in Ireland, according to the 2022 Census.
English is the most commonly used language, with 84% of the population calling it their mother tongue. Irish is the first official language of the state, with 11% calling it their mother tongue. Irish is the main language of the Gaeltacht regions, where 102,973 people lived as of 2022. The main sign language used is Irish Sign Language.
Population of Ireland aged 3 or over by Irish usage
Frequency of Irish usage amongst Irish speakers
2002
2006
2011
2016
2022
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Speaks Irish
Daily, Outside Education System
–
–
72,148
1.82
77,185
1.80
73,803
1.67
71,968
1.55
Daily, Total
339,541
9.26
525,355
13.28
596,366
13.92
632,411
14.28
625,933
13.51
Total
1,079,880
29.44
1,214,313
30.69
1,320,244
30.83
1,330,419
30.04
1,401,110
30.24
Never speaks Irish
459,657
12.53
415,479
10.50
438,782
10.25
418,420
9.45
472,887
10.21
Frequency unknown
31,357
0.85
26,998
0.68
15,411
0.35
12,581
0.28
45,385
0.98
Ability in Irish
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Number
% Stated
Irish speakers
1,570,894
42.83
1,656,790
41.87
1,774,437
41.44
1,761,420
39.77
1,873,997
40.45
Non Irish-speakers
2,097,263
57.17
2,300,174
58.13
2,507,312
58.56
2,667,945
60.23
2,759,028
59.55
Total stated
3,668,157
97.79
3,956,964
97.51
4,281,749
97.97
4,429,365
96.94
4,633,025
93.11
Not stated
82,838
2.21
100,682
2.49
88,882
2.03
139,896
3.06
342,688
6.89
Total
3,750,995
4,057,646
4,370,631
4,569,261
4,975,713
Employment and income
For May 2025 the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was:
4.0% overall, down from a 4.1% in April 2025., and an annual basis, down from 4.4% in May 2024
3.9% for males, down from 4.0% in April 2025, and down from 4.4% in May 2024.
4.1% for females, down from 4.2% in April 2025, and down from 4.4% in May 2024.
10.9% for persons aged 15–24 years (youth unemployment rate) from a revised rate of 11.2% in April 2025.
Up to 3.1% for persons aged 25–74 years from 3.0% in April 2025.
The median household disposable income in 2024 was €58,922, an increase of €3,773 (+6.8%) from the previous year. Disposable household income is gross household income less total tax, social insurance contributions, pension contributions and inter-household transfers paid.
↑In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and have been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and a reducing population.
↑The 2022 Irish Census has swapped out the question regarding nationality with one regarding citizenship. Therefore the table states citizenship, as that is the data that the 2022 census has in comparison to the 2016 data.
↑These statistics only show non-Irish citizens of the below countries that do not also have Irish citizenship. Individuals which have acquired Irish nationality are not counted under their nation's figures.
↑Hannah Ritchie; Lucas Rodés-Guirao; Edouard Mathieu; Sophia Mersmann; Daniel Bachler; Saloni Dattani; Marcel Gerber; Esteban Ortiz-Ospina; Joe Hasell; Max Roser (2023). "Population Growth". Our World In Data.
