Population of Ireland exceeds 5.5 million people - CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the country's population was estimated to stand at 5.526 million in the 12 months to April 2026 with more people aged 65 and over and fewer children under the age of 14 in the country.
According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland's population reached an estimated 5.526 million people in the year leading up to April 2026. This represents a 0.66% increase from the previous year, with the rise driven by an influx of immigrants and a natural decrease in emigration numbers.
Among the aging population, the number of residents aged 65 and over surpassed 891,100, making up 16.1% of the total population. This marked a 1.7% increase from 2020, with over 165,000 more individuals in this age group. Conversely, the under-14 age bracket declined to just under one million, representing 18% of the population - a 1.7% decrease from 2020.
The island of Ireland's population stood at 7.5 million, with Northern Ireland accounting for 1.93 million. Over the past five years, Ireland has seen over 100,000 immigrants annually, despite a 12% decrease from 2025 levels. In contrast, emigration numbers fell by 5% compared to the previous year, with 62,500 people leaving the country.
The majority of Ireland's population now resides in Dublin, comprising 28.9% of the total, up from 28.3% in 2020. This translates to approximately 1.597 million people living in the capital city.
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