Ireland’s population has seen its most significant growth in over a decade, increasing by nearly 99,000 people from April 2023 to April 2024. This rise marks the highest annual population boost since 2008. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports that most of this increase, about 79,300 people, came from net migration, while the remaining 19,400 was due to a natural increase of births over deaths.
The net migration figure of 79,300 is the highest Ireland has experienced since 2007, when it reached a record level of over 100,000. In the last year, the number of immigrants coming into Ireland was estimated at 149,200, while approximately 69,900 people emigrated. Eva Leahy, a statistician at the CSO, highlighted that this increase brought Ireland’s population to an estimated 5.38 million by April 2024, the largest annual increase in 16 years.
Breaking down the immigration numbers, 30,000 of the newcomers were returning Irish citizens, 27,000 were other EU citizens, 5,400 were UK citizens, and 86,800 were from other countries, including a significant number of Ukrainians. Meanwhile, the emigrants included 34,700 Irish citizens, 10,600 other EU citizens, 3,000 UK citizens, and 21,500 from other countries, also including Ukrainians.
The recent rise in immigration has become a hot topic in Ireland, particularly after the country took in a large number of Ukrainian refugees under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. Between March and December 2022, nearly 68,000 Ukrainians arrived in Ireland, leading to substantial strain on state resources and prompting the government to implement emergency housing solutions, such as using tents to accommodate the influx.
This surge in immigration has intensified Ireland’s ongoing housing crisis, which was already a significant issue before the arrival of new migrants. The housing shortage, coupled with rising immigration, has fueled social and political tensions. Right-wing groups have protested at asylum accommodation centers, and there have been incidents of buildings designated for asylum seekers being set on fire. With a general election on the horizon, recent polls indicate that housing and immigration are now key concerns for Irish voters.