Europe · Northern Europe
Ireland Demographics: How Migration Is Reshaping Population Growth
Ireland’s population reached 5,525,600 in April 2026 after growing by 66,900 in one year. Net migration supplied 72% of that increase, while the population aged 0-14 fell below one million and the population aged 65 and over rose to 891,100.
Core population, migration, age structure and regional measures use the Central Statistics Office Population and Migration Estimates for April 2026. Calendar-year fertility and registered births use the CSO Vital Statistics Yearly Summary 2025. Projection and administrative migration measures are shown separately because they have different statistical bases.
Core Demographic Indicators
Net Migration Accounted for 72% of the Latest Population Increase
Ireland’s population increased by 66,900, or 1.2%, in the 12 months to April 2026. Net migration added 48,100 people, while natural increase contributed 18,800.
Growth slowed from the previous year, when the population increased by 78,300, or 1.5%. Immigration fell by 14,700 between the two periods, while emigration fell by 3,100, reducing net migration from 59,700 to 48,100.
| Component | Year to April 2025 | Year to April 2026 | Change | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immigration | 125,300 | 110,600 | −14,700 | Estimated migration flow |
| Emigration | 65,600 | 62,500 | −3,100 | Estimated migration flow |
| Net migration | +59,700 | +48,100 | −11,600 | Immigration minus emigration |
| Net migration of Irish citizens | −3,500 | −5,200 | −1,700 | Citizenship-specific net migration |
| Births | 54,400 | 54,300 | −100 | Population-estimate component |
| Deaths | 35,800 | 35,400 | −400 | Population-estimate component |
| Natural increase | +18,600 | +18,800 | +200 | Births minus deaths |
| Population change | +78,300 | +66,900 | −11,400 | Annual population change |
| Population | 5,458,600 | 5,525,600 | +66,900 | Usually resident population estimate |
Net migration fell by 19% between the two periods but remained the larger component of population growth. It accounted for 72% of the increase in the year to April 2026, compared with 28% from natural increase.
Net Migration Remains the Larger Component of Growth
Components of Population Growth
Net migration and natural increase in the years ending April 2025 and April 2026
Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates, April 2026. Values for 2025 and 2026 are preliminary.
How Migration Changes the Total
- Net migration accounted for 48,100 of the 66,900 population increase in the year to April 2026.
- The CSO attributes 72% of the latest annual increase to net inward migration and 28% to natural increase.
- The slowdown from +78,300 in 2025 to +66,900 in 2026 coincided with net migration falling from +59,700 to +48,100.
Positive Net Migration Coexists With Net Emigration of Irish Citizens
The national migration balance remained positive even though the balance for Irish citizens was negative. In the year to April 2026, 30,200 Irish citizens moved into the State while 35,400 left, producing net outward migration of 5,200 Irish citizens.
The largest positive balance came from citizens classified by the CSO as rest of world. Immigration in this group fell from 63,600 in 2025 to 55,500 in 2026, while emigration decreased from 17,400 to 16,400. The resulting net balance was +39,100.
| Citizenship Group | Immigration | Emigration | Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish | 30,200 | 35,400 | −5,200 |
| UK | 4,300 | 2,000 | +2,300 |
| Other EU | 20,700 | 8,700 | +12,000 |
| Rest of world | 55,500 | 16,400 | +39,100 |
| Total | 110,600 | 62,500 | +48,100 |
People aged 25 to 44 accounted for 53% of immigrants, or 58,300 people, and 53% of emigrants, or 32,900 people. People aged 15 to 24 made up 15% of immigrants but 32% of emigrants. Those aged 65 and over represented 3% of immigrants and 2% of emigrants.
Net Migration by Broad Citizenship Group
Year ending April 2026
Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates, April 2026. Other EU combines the two EU citizenship groups used in the underlying CSO table.
Why the National and Irish-Citizen Balances Differ
- Total net migration was +48,100, while net migration among Irish citizens was −5,200.
- The rest-of-world citizenship group contributed a net +39,100, the largest balance among the broad groups shown.
- Irish-citizen net emigration increased from −3,500 in the previous year to −5,200 in the year to April 2026.
The 2026 Ukraine Measure Uses a Different Population Concept
A separate CSO administrative series adds context to recent migration but should not be merged with the annual immigration estimate. By 23 June 2026, 122,636 Personal Public Service Numbers had been issued to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine. Of these, 84,739, or 69%, showed recent activity in the administrative datasets used by the CSO after 31 March 2026.
The two Ukraine figures answer different questions. The 122,636 figure is cumulative PPSN issuance, while 84,739 is an experimental indicator based on recent administrative activity. The cumulative PPSN total should not be interpreted as the number currently resident in Ireland.
Fertility Fell to 1.5 as Birth Registrations Dropped Over the Decade
Ireland registered 54,125 births in 2025, compared with 65,909 in 2015, a decline of nearly 18%. The total period fertility rate fell from 1.9 to 1.5 births per woman over the same decade.
The broad replacement-level benchmark is about 2.1 births per woman when migration is ignored. Ireland’s 2025 rate was below that level. Childbearing also occurred at later ages: the average age of a first-time mother rose from 30.7 years in 2015 to 31.8 in 2025.
| Indicator | 2015 | 2025 | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Births registered | 65,909 | 54,125 | Calendar-year registrations |
| Annual birth rate | 14.1 per 1,000 | 9.9 per 1,000 | Crude birth rate |
| Total period fertility rate | 1.9 | 1.5 | Births per woman |
| Average age of mother | 32.5 years | 33.3 years | Mean age |
| Average age of first-time mother | 30.7 years | 31.8 years | Mean age |
The Fall in Births Is Visible in Younger Age Groups
The younger end of the population continues to reflect the longer decline in births. By April 2026, the number of people aged 0-14 had fallen below one million for the first time since 2014.
| Age Group | Earlier Comparison | April 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under age 1 | 74,900 in 2010 | 55,000 | −27% |
| Age 0-4 | 358,200 in 2012 | 290,000 | −19% |
| Age 5-9 | 360,700 in 2017 | 325,300 | −10% |
| Age 10-14 | 381,800 in 2024 | 377,100 | −1.2% |
The Age Structure Is Narrowing at Younger Ages and Expanding at Older Ages
Between 2020 and 2026, the population aged 0-14 fell by 21,300 to 992,400, reducing its share of the population from 20.0% to 18.0%.
Over the same period, the population aged 65 and over increased by 165,000 to 891,100, raising its share from 14.4% to 16.1%. The 45-64 group reached 1,443,000 people and 26.1% of the population.
Broad Age Structure, 2020 and 2026
Share of Ireland’s estimated population by broad age group
Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates, April 2026.
| Age Group | 2020 Share | 2026 Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 20.0% | 18.0% | −2.0 percentage points |
| 15-24 | 12.7% | 12.8% | +0.1 percentage point |
| 25-44 | 28.1% | 27.0% | −1.1 percentage points |
| 45-64 | 24.7% | 26.1% | +1.4 percentage points |
| 65+ | 14.4% | 16.1% | +1.7 percentage points |
Where the Age Balance Shifts
- The 0-14 share fell by 2.0 percentage points between 2020 and 2026.
- The 65+ share rose by 1.7 percentage points over the same period.
- The 45-64 group increased by 202,800 people between 2020 and 2026.
- The 25-44 population fell by 4,400 in the year to April 2026, its first year-on-year decline since 2021.
Dublin Remains the Largest Region as the West Records the Fastest Growth
Dublin remained Ireland’s largest NUTS 3 region with 1,597,700 residents in April 2026, equal to 28.9% of the national population. The South-West and Mid-East each accounted for 14.3%.
Dublin, the Mid-East and the South-West together contained 57.5% of Ireland’s population. Dublin recorded the largest numerical increase during the year, adding 29,700 people. The West recorded the fastest percentage growth at 2.2%, while the South-East was the only region to decline.
| NUTS 3 Region | Population | National Share | Reference Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 1,597,700 | 28.9% | 2026 |
| South-West | 792,900 | 14.3% | 2026 |
| Mid-East | 788,400 | 14.3% | 2026 |
| Mid-West | 543,000 | 9.8% | 2026 |
| West | 531,100 | 9.6% | 2026 |
| South-East | 485,400 | 8.8% | 2026 |
| Border | 447,600 | 8.1% | 2026 |
| Midland | 339,400 | 6.1% | 2026 |
Population by NUTS 3 Region
Estimated usually resident population, April 2026
Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates, April 2026.
Where Population Growth Is Concentrated
- Dublin contained 28.9% of the national population in April 2026.
- Dublin, the Mid-East and the South-West together accounted for 57.5% of residents.
- The West recorded the fastest regional growth rate at 2.2%, while Dublin added the largest number of residents at 29,700.
- The South-East population fell by 1,000, or 0.2%, from April 2025.
Ageing Continues Across the Population Projection Scenarios
Ireland’s older population continues to expand. The CSO estimated 891,100 people aged 65 and over in April 2026. Its Older Persons Information Hub places the corresponding projection at about 916,000 in 2027 and 1,879,000 in 2057.
The projected old-age dependency ratio, defined as the population aged 65 and over relative to the population aged 15 to 64, rises from 25.0% in 2027 to 49.8% in 2057.
Total population outcomes vary much more with the migration assumption. The CSO’s three scenarios reach between 5.73 million and 7.01 million people in 2057.
| Year | M1 High Migration | M2 Moderate Migration | M3 Low Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5,184,000 | 5,184,000 | 5,184,000 |
| 2027 | 5,581,800 | 5,530,500 | 5,489,700 |
| 2032 | 5,872,400 | 5,761,000 | 5,645,500 |
| 2037 | 6,142,300 | 5,946,900 | 5,721,200 |
| 2042 | 6,396,300 | 6,113,200 | 5,771,500 |
| 2047 | 6,633,600 | 6,259,900 | 5,797,300 |
| 2052 | 6,839,200 | 6,373,200 | 5,786,300 |
| 2057 | 7,005,400 | 6,446,300 | 5,733,700 |
Ireland Population Projection Scenarios to 2057
Three CSO migration assumptions using the Census 2022 usually resident population as the projection base
Central Statistics Office, Population and Labour Force Projections 2023-2057.
Limits of the Projection
- The 2057 gap between the high- and low-migration scenarios is about 1.27 million people.
- Under M3, the population rises to 5.80 million in 2047 before declining to 5.73 million in 2057.
- The M3 scenario records an accumulated natural decrease of 15,400 over 2023-2057, while positive migration keeps the 2057 population above the 2022 base.
Population projections are scenario-based estimates, not observed future populations. The M1, M2 and M3 paths use different assumptions for future net migration.
Ireland’s Current Demographic Direction
Population growth remains positive, with net migration supplying 72% of the increase in the year to April 2026.
The 2025 fertility rate is 1.5 births per woman, while the population aged 0-14 fell to 992,400 in April 2026.
The 65+ population reached 891,100 in April 2026 and is projected to approach 1.88 million by 2057.
Dublin, the Mid-East and the South-West contain 57.5% of the population, with Dublin alone accounting for 28.9%.
Data Sources and Methodology
Ireland’s demographic indicators on this page come from separate CSO statistical products whose reference periods are not interchangeable. Population, migration, broad age structure and regional population use the April 2026 Population and Migration Estimates. Fertility and registered births use calendar-year vital statistics. Ukraine figures use an experimental administrative-data approach, while future population figures are scenario projections.
| Source | Release or Data Year | Used for | Measure Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Statistics Office, Population and Migration Estimates | April 2026 estimates · released August 24, 2026 | Population, growth components, migration, age structure and NUTS 3 regions | Usually resident population and estimated migration flows |
| Central Statistics Office, Vital Statistics Yearly Summary | Calendar year 2025 | Registered births, fertility rate, birth rate and age of mothers | Civil registration statistics and demographic rates |
| Central Statistics Office, Population and Labour Force Projections 2023-2057 | Census 2022 base · projections to 2057 | M1, M2 and M3 population scenarios | Scenario projection |
| Central Statistics Office, Older Persons Information Hub | 2026 hub indicators | Projected 65+ population and old-age dependency ratio | Observed estimate and projection indicators |
| Central Statistics Office, Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series 19 | 23 June 2026 administrative activity | Temporary Protection PPSN totals and recent administrative activity | Frontier Series administrative indicator |
Net migration is immigration minus emigration. Natural increase is births minus deaths. The citizenship-group net balances shown above are derived from the corresponding CSO immigration and emigration counts. The broad Other EU category combines the two EU citizenship groups used in the CSO tables.
The Population and Migration Estimates release reports 54,300 births for the 12 months ending April 2026, while the Vital Statistics Yearly Summary records 54,125 births registered during calendar year 2025. These are different reference periods and statistical products.
Methodological Safety Note
Population measures on this page are not all the same statistical type. The April 2026 population is a usually resident population estimate. CSO notes that annual estimates use a usual-residence concept whereas Census of Population totals use a de facto concept. Data for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 in the annual population-estimate series are preliminary.
Calendar-year birth registrations should not be substituted directly for the birth component in the annual population-estimate balance. Temporary Protection PPSN allocations are not a current resident-population count. Population projections use stated fertility, mortality and migration assumptions.
Data Questions
What is the latest annual population figure used for Ireland?
The latest CSO annual population estimate used here is 5,525,600 people in April 2026.
Why do the birth figures use different totals?
The April 2026 population-estimate release uses 54,300 births for its 12-month population-change period. The Vital Statistics Yearly Summary records 54,125 births registered during calendar year 2025. The periods and statistical uses differ.
Does the 122,636 Ukraine figure represent current residents?
No. It is the cumulative number of PPSNs issued to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the relevant CSO series. The experimental recent-activity measure identified 84,739 people with administrative activity after 31 March 2026, equal to 69% of the cumulative PPSN total.
Is Ireland’s population ageing even though immigration remains high?
Yes. The 65+ share increased from 14.4% in 2020 to 16.1% in 2026 while net migration remained positive. The two trends can occur at the same time.