Census 2016
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General information
CountryIreland
Topics
Census topics
AuthorityCentral Statistics Office
Websitehttps://census.ie (archived)
Results
Total population4,761,865 (3.8%Increase)
Most populous ​countyDublin (1,345,402)
Least populous ​countyLeitrim (32,044)

The 2016 census of Ireland was held in 2016. It was organised by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and reported a total population of 4,761,865, or a 3.8% increase since the prior 2011 census.[1] This was the lowest recorded population growth rate since the 1991 census, with the decline in population growth rates attributed to both lower birth rates and lower net migration.[2] The census results were released gradually between April and December 2017 in a series of reports organised either as summaries or in-depth results of specific themes, like age, ethnicity, or religion.[1]

The following census took place in April 2022, having been delayed for one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Background

Although Irish law does not prescribe a regular interval for administering censuses, Census 2016 was held in accordance with Irish government tradition since 1951 to administer a census on a Sunday in April on years ending with the numbers '1' or '6'.[4] This incidentally coincided with the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, which began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916.[5]

Responsibility for organising the census fell with the Central Statistics Office, which operates within the Department of the Taoiseach. The CSO hired 4,660 enumerators, supported by 430 field supervisors, who reported in turn to 44 regional supervisors. In delivering over two million census forms, enumerators were required to make personal contact with a resident at the property.[6]

Census form

Census 2016 was the first Irish census that allowed respondents to report a marital status contracted with a person of the same sex.[6] This followed a 2015 referendum to amend the Irish Constitution to permit same-sex marriages, which was passed into law by the Marriage Act 2015. Other than marital status, the 2016 census form copied all questions verbatim from the 2011 census form.[7] The same is not planned for the 2022 census, which underwent a public consultation process in 2017 to formulate new questions.[8] These changes included a revision to questions on religion, which Atheist Ireland argued skewed responses towards religiosity. The new questions were trialed in West Cork in 2018.[9]

Although most census forms in 2016 were collected in person by returning enumerators, over 15,000 forms were returned by post, with all recipients legally required to return completed forms.[10]

Results

The census's results on declining religiosity, the aging population, and rising homelessness all drew attention in Irish media.[11][12][13][14] Affiliation with the largest religion in Ireland, Roman Catholicism, dropped to 78%, down from 84% in 2011.[11] The census also reported the first ever recorded fall in the absolute number of Roman Catholics.[12] A thematic report on housing found that home ownership rates reached their lowest since 1971, which Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney described as a "stark story" emanating from "fundamental structural problems", which he associated with the 2008 Recession and Irish housing bubble.[13]

Population change

While Ireland's population continued to grow in the 2011–2016 period, the decline in growth rates was noted by multiple outlets and the CSO's reporting.[2][15][16]

Province

Population and population change in the Republic of Ireland by Province[17]
Rank Province Population as of
2011 census 		Population as of
2016 census 		Change Percent
change
1  Leinster 2,504,814 2,630,720 125,906 Increase 5.03% Increase
2  Munster 1,246,088 1,280,394 34,306 Increase 2.75% Increase
3  Connaught 542,547 550,742 8,195 Increase 1.51% Increase
4  Ulster[a] 294,803 296,120 1,317 Increase 0.45% Increase

Region and county

The local government area with the highest percentage growth rate was Fingal (8.1%Increase), while Dublin city had the largest population increase (+26,942). Of Ireland's traditional counties, the largest overall population increase was in Dublin (+74,799), while both Dublin and Meath were jointly the fastest growing counties (5.9%Increase). Three counties declined in population: Sligo (−0.1%Decrease), Mayo (−0.2%Decrease), and Donegal (−1.2%Decrease).[18]

Population by region and local government area
Region/county/city 2016 pop. 2011 pop. Change Percent
change
Border 394,333 391,992 2,341 0.6%
Cavan 76,176 73,183 2,993 4.0%
Donegal 159,192 161,137 −1,945 −1.2%
Leitrim 32,044 31,796 248 0.5%
Monaghan 61,386 60,483 903 1.3%
Sligo 65,535 65,393 −142 −0.1%
Dublin 1,345,402 1,270,603 74,799 5.9%
Dublin city 554,554 527,612 26,942 4.9%
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 218,018 206,261 11,757 5.3%
Fingal 296,020 273,991 22,029 8.1%
South Dublin 278,767 265,205 13,562 5.1%
Mid-East 688,857 653,984 34,873 5.3%
Kildare 222,504 210,312 12,192 5.6%
Louth 128,884 122,897 5,987 4.5%
Meath 195,044 184,135 10,909 5.9%
Wicklow 142,425 136,640 5,785 4.2%
Mid-West 473,269 467,759 5,510 1.2%
Clare 118,817 117,196 1,621 1.2%
Limerick 194,899 191,809 3,090 1.8%
Tipperary 159,553 158,754 799 1.1%
Midland 292,301 282,410 9,891 3.5%
Laois 84,697 80,559 4,138 5.2%
Longford 40,873 39,000 1,873 4.6%
Offaly 77,961 76,687 1,274 1.7%
Westmeath 88,770 86,164 2,606 2.9%
South-East 422,062 409,146 12,916 3.2%
Carlow 56,932 54,612 2,320 4.1%
Kilkenny 99,232 95,419 3,813 3.9%
Waterford 116,176 113,795 2,381 2.3%
Wexford 149,722 145,320 4,402 2.9%
South-West 690,575 664,534 26,041 3.9%
Cork city 125,657 119,230 6,427 5.4%
Cork county 417,211 399,802 17,409 4.4%
Kerry 147,707 145,502 2,205 1.4%
West 453,109 445,244 7,865 1.8%
Galway city 78,668 75,529 3,139 4.2%
Galway county 179,390 175,124 4,266 2.4%
Mayo 130,507 130,638 −131 −0.2%
Roscommon 64,544 64,065 479 0.6%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Includes the three counties of Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan, with six further Ulster counties within Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.

References

  1. ^ a b "Press Statement: Census 2016 Summary Results – Part 1" (PDF). CSO (Press release). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  2. ^ a b "Census 2016: Population growth slowest in 20 years". 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ Colgan, Laura (1 July 2021). "Next year's census won't include any questions on Covid-19 pandemic". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Census through History - CSO - Central Statistics Office". CSO. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  5. ^ "Do you have your Census 2016 form?". Independent. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  6. ^ a b Wallace, Arminta. "You fill up my census: preparing for April 24th". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  7. ^ "2016 Census Forms". CSO. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  8. ^ "Census 2022 Consultation on Form Content". CSO. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  9. ^ McHugh, Connell (21 September 2018). "New religion and Irish census questions to be tested throughout the country". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  10. ^ McNamee, Michael Sheils. "It still isn't too late to hand back your census form, but you'll have to post it". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  11. ^ a b Linehan, Hugh. "Census 2016 says we are older, less religious and speak less Irish". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  12. ^ a b "Fewer Catholics, while 'no religion' up 74% - Census". 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  13. ^ a b Edwards, Elaine. "Irish home ownership at lowest level in nearly 50 years". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  14. ^ Ryan, Órla. "One in 10 Irish people say they have no religion, the second largest group behind Roman Catholics". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  15. ^ Central Statistics Office. "Population Change and Historical Perspective" (PDF). CSO (Press release). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  16. ^ O’Doherty, Caroline (15 July 2016). "Population increases and flows from west to east". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2016". CSO. Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  18. ^ "Ireland's population has grown according to Census 2016". JOE.ie. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
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