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Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2006


This Yearbook presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland today. It provides detailed information, tables and graphs across a wide range of topics. These include the population, labour force, education, justice, the economy, agriculture, industry, services,
prices, housing and the environment.


Did you know that?


People

  • The preliminary total for the population enumerated on census night 23 April 2006 was 4,234,925 persons, compared with 3,917,203 in April 2002, representing an increase of 8.1% in four years.
  • The death rate continues to fall steadily. The number of deaths in 2005 fell below 28,000 for the first time ever.
  • The most popular babies’ names in 2005 were Jack and Emma.


Work

  • From 1985 to 2005 the number of persons in employment increased from almost 1.1 million to over 1.9 million.
  • In 2004 just over 19% of the population were at-risk-of-poverty, while 6.8% were considered to be in consistent poverty.
  • In 2005 there were over 26,600 days lost due to 15 industrial disputes in which just under 3,300 workers were involved.
  • In the last 10 years the unemployment rate has decreased from 12.2% in 1995 to 4.2% in 2005.


Economy

  • National Debt as a percentage of GDP has fallen from 87.7% in 1990 to 23.7% in 2005.
  • Credit card usage increased, with the number of cards in issue rising to almost 2.2m by end-year 2005; outstanding indebtedness arising from the use of credit cards was some €2.3bn at end-2005.
  • The General Government Balance was a surplus of €1,623m in 2005 compared with a surplus of €2,288m in 2004.
  • The output of manufacturing industry (including building) and the distribution, transport and communications industries increased by more than 25% in the last five years. In contrast the output of the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector remained almost static during these years.
  • In the last two years GNP in constant prices increased by an average of 4.7%. In the previous five years it grew on average annually by 4.3% in real terms.


Housing

  • The value of total construction output at current prices increased by 58% between 2001 and 2005.
  • The average price of new houses for which loans were approved in 2005 was  €276,221 for the State and €350,891 in Dublin.
  • The number of new houses granted planning permission increased by over 89% from 1998 to 2005.
  • Planning Permissions granted for new apartments more than tripled from 1998 to 2005.


Tourism/Transport

  • Overseas visits to Ireland increased by over 16% since 2001 while visits abroad by Irish residents increased by 45%.
  • Domestic trips by Irish Residents show a 14% increase since 2001 with a resultant increase in Expenditure of 32%.
  • New private cars licensed for the first time in 2005 increased by 11.1% on the figures for 2004.
  • Driving tests conducted in 2004 totalled 153,983 – an overall pass rate of 54% was achieved.


Education

  • In 2005, almost a quarter of those aged 15-64 had a third level qualification.
  • Third level student numbers increased by 105% between 1990/91 and 2004/05.
  • In 2005, 83% of first level school teachers were female.
  • 60% of new entrants to HEA institutions were female in 2004/2005.
  • At age 19, 61% of females and 45% of males were in full time education in 2004/05.


CSO thanks all the other departments and bodies who have helped in supplying data for the Yearbook, including those in Northern Ireland who have provided material for the Appendix.

The full text of these results is available free of charge on the CSO website at:


http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/statistical_yearbook_ireland_2006.htm


The Yearbook 2006 may be purchased from:


The Central Statistics Office, Information Section, Skehard Road, Cork


Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2


or through any bookseller


For further information, contact: Eamonn Dorney (021 - 4535036) Fax 021 4535555

e-mail: information@cso.ie

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