Demographics of the Republic of Ireland

Demographics of the Republic of Ireland

The demographics of the Republic of Ireland show a population that is growing and getting older. As of the 2022 Irish census, the population was 5,149,139, and more recent estimates from 2025 say it has grown to over 5.4 million. Many people living in Ireland were born in other countries, with about 23.3% of the population coming from outside the country, mostly from the United Kingdom.

Ireland has a long life for its age, with people living about 80.2 years on average. However, the number of babies being born has gone down, and fewer families are having children than before. This means that more people are getting older, and the number of younger people is not growing as fast.

Over the past 30 years, Ireland has become more mixed with people from many different backgrounds. Many new people have come to live in Ireland from other places in and outside the European Union. Because of this, the country is not as uniform as it used to be. Most people still live in or near Dublin, while other areas, especially in the west, have fewer people.

Most people in Ireland still say they are Christian, with many following the Roman Catholicism tradition. But fewer people are identifying with religion now, and more say they do not follow any religion. English is the main language spoken every day, but Irish is also an official language and is used in some areas of the country called Gaeltacht.

Demographic history

Further information: Historical population of Ireland

The population of Ireland has changed a lot over time. In the 1700s and early 1800s, the number of people grew quickly because of changes in farming and industry. From 1790 to 1840, the number of people doubled from 4 million to 8 million.

But this changed with a big hunger in the mid-1800s, which caused many people to leave the country. In the 1840s, the Republic of Ireland had about 6.5 million people, but ten years later, this number dropped to 5 million. The population kept going down until the 1960s, when it started to grow again, though slowly because many people still moved away.

In the 1990s, Ireland had strong economic growth, and many people began moving in. Even after a tough economic time starting in 2008, Ireland continued to welcome people from around the world. Despite some people leaving, the population is still expected to grow for many years to come. The country has seen more babies being born, helped by people from other countries.

Population

The population of Ireland was about 5.1 million people in 2022. Many new people move to Ireland each year, which helps the population grow. Most people live in towns and cities, while some live in the countryside.

People in Ireland usually have two children per family on average. People tend to have their first child when they are about 31 years old.

People in Ireland live for many years. The average age of everyone living there is about 37 years.

Fertility

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman.

Birth rate; 13.8 births/1,000 people (2018 est.)

Total fertility rate; 1.96 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth; 30.7 years (2015 est.)

Life expectancy

Death rate; 6.6 deaths/1,000 people (2018 est.)

Source: UN World Population Prospects

Age structure

Age structure

0–14 years: 21.37%

15–24 years: 11.92%

25–54 years: 42.86%

55–64 years: 10.53%

65 years and over: 13.32% (2018 est.)

Median age; total: 37.1 years

male: 36.8 years

female: 37.5 years (2018 est.)

Vital statistics

This section shows important details about births, deaths, and how many people live in different age groups in Ireland. There are tables that break down this information, such as current statistics, fertility rates by region, and population structures from different years.

Ethnic groups

• 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 used to be a place where people left to find jobs. But in the 1990s, during a time of strong growth called the 'Celtic Tiger', many people began moving to Ireland for work. This change happened quickly, making Ireland more diverse.

Today, people from many countries live in Ireland, especially in Dublin and other big cities. Some of the largest groups come from Poles, the British, Indians, Romanians, Lithuanians, Brazilians, Italians, Latvians, Spaniards, French, Croats, Americans, Chinese, Germans, and Ukrainians.

Nationality of mothers

In 2024, most babies born in Ireland had mothers from Ireland. But many babies were born to mothers from other European countries or outside of Europe.

Migration data for Ireland, 1987-present

Country of birth

In 2022, about 20% of people living in Ireland were born in another country. This number has been growing.

Support and opposition

There are groups in Ireland that help people who have moved there, like the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Irish Refugee Council. The government also has services to support these communities. Some people and smaller political groups have concerns about the number of people moving to Ireland.

Religion

Main article: Religion in the Republic of Ireland § Demographics

Most people in Ireland are Christian, and many are Catholic. But fewer people are Catholic now than before. More people say they do not follow any religion. Because people move to Ireland from other countries, there are also followers of other religions such as Islam and Hinduism.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Ireland

English is the most common language in Ireland. Most people speak it as their first language. Irish is the country’s first official language, and some people speak it as their first language. In special areas called Gaeltacht regions, Irish is the main language spoken. The main sign language used is Irish Sign Language.

Education

In the Republic of Ireland, most people aged 15 or older can read and write. In 2003, it was estimated that 99% of both men and women had this skill.

On average, students in Ireland spend about 19 years in school, from primary school to college. This is true for both boys and girls, based on data from 2016.

Employment and income

In May 2025, the unemployment rate in Ireland was 4.0%. This was a little lower than the 4.1% in April 2025 and much lower than the 4.4% from May 2024. For males, the rate was 3.9%, and for females, it was 4.1%. Young people aged 15 to 24 had a higher unemployment rate of 10.9%.

The median household disposable income in 2024 was €58,922. This was an increase of €3,773, or 6.8%, from the year before. Disposable income is what families have left after paying taxes and other required payments.