Ireland's birth rate drops by 27% in 16 years
Ireland's population reached 5,525,600 in April this year, marking an annual growth of 66,900, CSO data shows.
Net migration drove most of this expansion, though immigration levels eased compared with recent years, while the overall population structure shifted toward an ageing demographic.
There were an estimated 110,600 immigrants.
This was a 12% decrease from the corresponding period ending in April 2025 and was the fifth successive 12-month period where over 100,000 people immigrated to Ireland.
There was a fall in emigration numbers for the second year in a row, with an estimated 62,500 people departing the State.
This was a decrease of 5%, or 3,100 people, when compared with the same period up to April 2025.
Of those emigrants, 53% (32,900 people) were aged between 25 and 44, while 32% (19,900 people) were aged between 15 and 24.
There was positive overall net migration (more people having arrived than left) of 48,100 – a decline of 11,600 people or 19% from 59,700 in the corresponding period ending in April 2025.
Births in decline
Since 2010, the number of births continued to decline, with 55,000 under one-year-olds living in Ireland – a decrease of 19,900 or 27% in 16 years.
There was a natural increase (births minus deaths) of nearly 19,000 people in the State.
Commenting on the population and migration estimates, statistician Conor J Crowley said: "The number of immigrants in the 12 months to April 2026 fell by 14,700 when compared with the previous 12-month period and comprised 30,200 returning Irish citizens, 20,700 other EU citizens, 4,300 British citizens, and over 55,000 other citizens.”
The number of emigrants in the 12 months to April 2026 comprised 35,400 Irish citizens, 8,700 other EU citizens, 2,000 British citizens, and 16,400 other citizens, he added.
Fewer than one million young
There were just less than a million (992,400) people living in Ireland aged 0-14 in April 2026, the CSO statistician added.
This was the first time this age bracket fell under one million people since 2014.
This age group had a fall in population share between 2020 and 2026, reducing from 20% to 18% of the total population – a decrease of 21,300.
There were 891,100 people living in Ireland aged 65 and over in April 2026.
This cohort showed an increase in population share between 2020 and 2026, increasing from 14.4% to 16.1% of the total, which was a volume increase of 165,000 people.
1,597,700 live in Dublin
Looking at where people reside, the proportion of the population living in Dublin rose from 28.3% of the total in 2020 to 28.9% of the total in 2026 and stood at 1,597,700 people in April 2026, Crowley said.