Total net migration to Ireland reached 61,100 in April, causing the country to see the largest population increase recorded over one-year periods since 2008.
According to the Central Statistics Office, the highest number of immigrants since 2007 have arrived in Ireland – a total of 120,700 of them. According to emigrants, 59,600 people left the country to live elsewhere, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
“The population of Ireland was estimated at 5.10 million, increasing by 88,800 people in the year to April 2022. This was the largest 12-month population increase since 2008, when the population had increased by 109,200”, explains the Central Statistics Office in a commentary.
In addition, the net migration this year has increased to 61,100, while these rates amounted to 11,200 in 2021, which represents an increase of 445%. This five-fold increase in net migration has resulted in a 161% increase in population, from 34,000 in 2021 to 88,800 in 2022.
In addition, the ordinarily resident Irish population has been estimated at 5.1 million, with 1.45 million or 28.4% of the population living in the capital city Dublin.
In addition, 4.3 million of the total inhabitants are Irish nationals, representing 86.2% of the population, while immigrants make up 13.8% of the rest, or 768,900. It is estimated that the number of immigrants to Ireland increased by just over 85% from 65,200 to 120,700 compared to 2021.
The number of emigrants also jumped over the same period, from 54,000 to 59,600. These combined figures gave a positive net migration, indicating that more people came than left.
Apart from migration, the Irish population also saw 28,900 nationals return to live in Ireland while 27,600 left to live abroad.
“The number of immigrants was the highest for the year to April 2007 and consisted of 28,900 returning Irish nationals, 24,300 other EU nationals, 4,500 UK nationals and 63,000 other nationals, including including Ukrainians”, says the comment.
Additionally, more people celebrated more than 65 years of life in April 2022, with that number reaching 768,900. 2016. In addition, people aged 65 and over now represent a 15.1% share of the total population, more than the 13.3% share recorded in 2016. 2016.
The Central Statistics Office points out that net migration is at its highest level in ten years, with the population trend being quite similar to the net migration recorded in 1987.