The first major census, using a household form, was the so-called Great Census of 1841. Censuses were subsequently taken at ten-year intervals up to 1911. The first census following the formation of the State was undertaken in 1926. This was followed by censuses in 1936 and 1946. Commencing with 1951, censuses have been taken every five years. The census planned for 1976 was cancelled at a late stage as a Government economy measure. However, the need for up-to-date population figures resulted in a census being specially undertaken in 1979 with a restricted number of questions. This was followed by a full census in 1981, and a resumption of the five-year interval for census taking. This five-year periodicity was broken in 2001 when the census planned for that year was postponed until April 2002 due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The most recent census was carried out in April 2011.
A Census of Population was taken on the night of Sunday, 10 April 2011, in accordance with the Statistics (Census of Population) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 207 of 2010). A copy of the census questionnaire, including the explanatory notes which accompanied it, is available on the Central Statistics Office (CSO) web site (see Census 2011 Forms).
The census figures relate to the de facto population, i.e. the population recorded for each area represents the total of all persons present within its boundaries on the night of Sunday, 10 April 2011, together with all persons who arrived in that area on the morning of Monday, 11 April 2011, not having been enumerated elsewhere. Persons on board ships in port are included with the population of adjacent areas. The figures, therefore, include visitors present on Census Night as well as those in residence, while usual residents temporarily absent from the area are excluded from the census count.
A temporary field force consisting of 6 Census Liaison Officers, 44 Regional Supervisors, 438 Field Supervisors and some 4,854 part-time enumerators carried out the census enumeration. Blank census questionnaires were distributed to every household and communal establishment in the State during the four weeks immediately preceding Census Night. Collection of completed questionnaires commenced on Monday, 11 April. The enumerators examined the questionnaires at the time of collection to ensure that they were correctly completed and, where necessary, they assisted householders in their completion.
Each enumerator first prepared and returned to the CSO a summary of the population in his/her enumeration area. These summaries formed the basis for the preliminary 2011 census results published in June 2011. The completed questionnaires for the individual households were subsequently transmitted to the CSO for processing.
The population summaries, dwelling listings and enumeration maps for individual enumeration areas were checked for consistency and used to determine the boundaries of census towns and suburbs/environs of towns with legal boundaries. The capture and processing of the responses to questions on the census questionnaire proceeded concurrently.
The Census 2011 results are summarised in two reports - This is Ireland – Part 1 and This is Ireland – Part 2. The first report This is Ireland – Part 1 looked at overall population change by county and also examined age, marriage, households and families as well as including first results on nationality, foreign languages, the Irish language, religion and housing. This is Ireland – Part 2 provided a broad overview of the socio-economic situation in Ireland in 2011. A further ten thematic profile reports provide more detailed results on a range of individual topics.
All of the reports are available on the CSO web site (Census 2011 Reports) and all tables can be downloaded from the web site (Interactive Tables) using interactive software. This software gives users the ability to select and view data online and then download the same data to their computers.
For further information contact:
Census Inquiries Section
Central Statistics Office
Swords Business Campus
Balheary Road
Swords
Co Dublin
Ireland
Phone: 353-1-8951460
LoCall: 1890 236 787
Fax: 353-1-8951399
E-mail: census@cso.ie
Web: www.cso.ie
Census of Population
Census Section, Demography.
Collection of information relating to persons and households and dissemination of Census of Population statistics through a range of specialised publications, releases and other media.
S.I. No. 786 of 2005: Statistics (Census of Population) Order, 2005
5-year intervals
Census
Census
1,400,000 households
Person Variables - Sex, household composition, age, location, marital status, Irish language, religion, membership of the Traveller Community, disability, commuting pattern, education, 3rd level qualification, carers, economic status, employment, occupation, place of work, industry and labour force.
Household Variables - Accomodation type, year built, nature of occupancy, rent paid, number of rooms, heating/water/sewerage facilities, cars, P.C. and internet access.
Government, international bodies, general public and specialist users of Census of Population statistics.
All requests for information can be e-mailed to census@cso.ie