New CSO figures show that 110,600 people moved to Ireland in one year, while net migration fell by 19%.
Ireland’s population has risen above 5.5 million for the first time in the latest annual estimate, even as the number of people moving into the country declined.
The population reached an estimated 5,525,600 in April 2026, an increase of 66,900 people—or 1.2%—in just 12 months. During the same period, 110,600 immigrants arrived in Ireland, down 12% from the previous year.
Although immigration slowed, it remained above 100,000 for the fifth year in succession. Net migration—the difference between arrivals and departures—stood at 48,100 and remained the main reason for Ireland’s population growth.
Key Figures
| Measure | April 2025 | April 2026 | Change |
| Total population | 5,458,600 | 5,525,600 | +66,900 |
| Immigration | 125,300 | 110,600 | -12% |
| Emigration | 65,600 | 62,500 | -5% |
| Net migration | 59,700 | 48,100 | -19% |
| Births | 54,400 | 54,300 | -100 |
| Deaths | 35,800 | 35,400 | -400 |
| Natural increase | 18,600 | 18,800 | +200 |
Migration Slows
Ireland is still attracting a large number of newcomers, but the latest figures point to a clear slowdown.
Immigration fell by 14,700 compared with the year ending in April 2025. Emigration also declined, but by a much smaller amount. As a result, net migration dropped from 59,700 to 48,100.
This is also well below the net migration figure of 79,300 recorded in 2024. However, migration continued to account for 72% of Ireland’s annual population growth, while the remaining 28% came from the natural increase created by births exceeding deaths.
Who Arrived
The 110,600 people who moved to Ireland came from several broad citizenship groups:
- 55,500 were citizens of countries outside Ireland, the UK and the EU
- 30,200 were Irish citizens returning home
- 20,700 were citizens of other EU countries
- 4,300 were UK citizens
The largest fall was recorded among people from countries outside the EU and UK. Arrivals in this group declined by 13%, from 63,600 to 55,500.
Immigration from other EU countries fell by 18%, while arrivals from the UK declined by 12%. The number of returning Irish citizens was down by 4%.
Irish Departures
An estimated 62,500 people left Ireland during the year. More than half of them—35,400—were Irish citizens.
As only 30,200 Irish citizens returned during the same period, Ireland recorded a net outward migration of 5,200 Irish citizens. This means more Irish people left the country than returned.
Australia remained an important destination. Around 11,800 people moved from Ireland to Australia, although this was 13% lower than a year earlier. The number arriving in Ireland from Australia also fell, from 10,100 to 8,300.
Young Movers
Working-age adults continued to dominate Ireland’s migration figures. People aged between 25 and 44 represented 53% of both immigrants and emigrants. This amounted to 58,300 arrivals and 32,900 departures.
There was also a notable difference among younger adults. People aged 15 to 24 formed 32% of all emigrants but only 15% of immigrants. By comparison, children aged under 15 were more strongly represented among arrivals than departures.
Older Ireland
The figures reveal a country that is growing older. Ireland had 891,100 residents aged 65 or above in April 2026. This group now represents 16.1% of the population, compared with 14.4% in 2020.
At the other end of the age scale, the number of children aged under 15 fell to 992,400. It is the first time since 2014 that this population group has dropped below one million.
The shift may place greater pressure on healthcare, pensions and care services, while smaller younger generations could eventually affect schools and the future workforce.
Births Decline
Ireland’s birth trend has been moving downward since 2010. There were 55,000 children aged under one in April 2026, compared with 74,900 in 2010—a fall of 27% over 16 years.
This longer-term decline helps explain why Ireland’s population growth is becoming increasingly dependent on migration. Without continued inward migration, population growth would be considerably slower.
Dublin Grows
Dublin remained the largest centre of population growth. The capital’s population reached 1,597,700, representing 28.9% of everyone living in Ireland. Dublin gained 29,700 residents in one year—more than any other region.
The West recorded the next-largest rise, adding 11,500 people. The South-East was the only region where the population declined, falling by approximately 1,000.
Wider Meaning
The Ireland population and migration estimates for 2026 present a mixed picture. Immigration is falling from its recent peak, but it remains historically high and continues to drive most population growth.
At the same time, more Irish citizens are leaving than returning, the number of children is declining and the older population is expanding quickly.
These are not simply figures about how many people live in Ireland. They have direct importance for housing, employment, schools, healthcare, public transport and long-term economic planning.
Data Note
The 2026 figures are preliminary estimates produced by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office. They are based on the “usual residence” population method and are not directly comparable with Census figures, which use a different population concept.