The 2027 census date will be Sunday 09 May 2027.
For the first time, the public will be able to complete their census forms online as well as by paper.
People will be able to complete their census form in the weeks leading up to the census date.
The Census Advisory Group (CAG) included representatives from Government Departments and local authorities, the social partners, research institutes, interest groups and other relevant bodies and CSO staff.
The report on the public consultation and subsequent pilot is available from the Consultation 2027 page.
| Kathleen Goulding | (+353) 1 895 1413 |
|---|---|
| Tony Downes | (+353) 1 895 1319 |
| censuspublicity@cso.ie | |
| pressoffice@cso.ie |
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Changes to Census 2027
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is pleased to announce that Government has today (12 November 2025) approved the date of the next census which will be Sunday 09 May 2027.
New for Census 2027 will be the availability of an online census form. This is the first time in Ireland that people will have the option to complete their census digitally while paper forms will also be available.
In another significant change, the census will be available to complete in the weeks leading up to the census date rather than on a single night.
A further change will see a move to a “usually resident” count where people should complete the form for where they usually live and not where they spend census night, as has previously been the case. This adjustment ensures more precise data on population distribution.
The content of the census form was determined by a public consultation with more than 400 submissions which were then subject to review by a Census Advisory Group (CAG). The proposed questions were then tested by a Census Pilot Survey in September 2024 with the final question set based on the results of the Pilot Survey.
Commenting Eileen Murphy, Head of Census Digital Transformation, said: “The Census is an important national moment every five years when Ireland comes together to tell the story of who we are and how we live, to help to plan for a better future. With less than two years to go, the preparations are well underway and securing Government approval for the date marks a major milestone for Census 2027. This is an exciting time of change for the census in Ireland which will allow the public to choose to complete their census form online or on paper.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who made submissions to the public consultation and those who served on the Census Advisory Group. I also want to record my appreciation for the thousands of people who participated in, and those who worked on, the Census Pilot Survey last year.
The value of the census cannot be overstated. The results help to inform policy and decision making, provide the evidence to better target services where needed and offers insights into changes in Irish society. Moreover, it is a collective endeavour that forms a fundamental part of our national heritage and shared knowledge. We look forward to engaging with the public through an extensive awareness and communications campaign ahead of Census 2027.”