In this chapter we take a look at land use in Ireland and the EU. These indicators include data on forestry, organic farming, fertiliser sales, livestock numbers and new dwelling completions over time. The area of land under forestry and organic farming are useful indicators of eco-friendly practices. They have improved over time in Ireland but are still relatively low compared to other EU Member States. Fertiliser and livestock numbers show the intensity of environmental pressures associated with agriculture in Ireland and the EU.
Grassland accounted for 60.9% of total land use in Ireland in 2021, up by 0.2% on the 2018 figure. The area under forest and woodland increased by 0.8% from 2018 to 2021, when it comprised 11.4% of total land use. The area under settlement increased by 5.4% while that of cropland fell by 5.8% over the 2018-2021 timeframe.
According to Eurostat, forestry accounted for 11.6% of Ireland’s total land area in 2022, the third lowest among EU Member States after Malta and the Netherlands. Finland had the highest proportion of land area under forest at 66.2% in 2022. The EU-27 average was 38.8%.
| Country | Total land area |
|---|---|
| Finland | 66.2 |
| Sweden | 62.5 |
| Slovenia | 58.2 |
| Estonia | 53.8 |
| Latvia | 52.9 |
| Austria | 46.4 |
| Slovakia | 39.8 |
| EU-27 | 38.7 |
| Portugal | 37.5 |
| Spain | 37.3 |
| Bulgaria | 35.1 |
| Croatia | 34.3 |
| Luxembourg | 34.2 |
| Czechia | 34 |
| Lithuania | 33.7 |
| Germany | 32.1 |
| France | 32 |
| Italy | 31.8 |
| Poland | 30.4 |
| Greece | 29.6 |
| Romania | 29.3 |
| Belgium | 22.5 |
| Hungary | 22.1 |
| Cyprus | 18.6 |
| Denmark | 14.6 |
| Ireland | 11.6 |
| Netherlands | 9.7 |
| Malta | 1.5 |
The area of agricultural land farmed organically in Ireland has increased steadily year by year from 1997, according to data collected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, under its Basic Income Support for Sustainability scheme.
In 2024, 221,400 hectares of agricultural land was farmed organically, or 4.8% of the total compared with 179,400 hectares (or 3.8% of the total) in 2023.
According to Eurostat, 3.6% of total Irish agricultural land in 2023 was land fully converted to or under conversion to organic farming. This the third lowest percentage among the 27 EU Member States. Austria, with 24.9%, had the highest proportion of agricultural land farmed organically in the EU-27 in 2023, and Malta the lowest at 0.7%.
| Country | Total agricultural land |
|---|---|
| Austria | 24.9 |
| Portugal | 23.6 |
| Estonia | 23.5 |
| Italy | 20.3 |
| Greece | 19 |
| Sweden | 18.2 |
| Czechia | 16.4 |
| Latvia | 15.8 |
| Slovakia | 13.7 |
| Finland | 13.6 |
| Spain | 12.8 |
| Denmark | 11.4 |
| Slovenia | 11.2 |
| Germany | 11.1 |
| France | 10 |
| Cyprus | 9.6 |
| Lithuania | 9 |
| Belgium | 7.8 |
| Croatia | 7.6 |
| Hungary | 6.9 |
| Luxembourg | 6.7 |
| Romania | 5.3 |
| Netherlands | 4.8 |
| Poland | 4.4 |
| Ireland | 3.6 |
| Bulgaria | 3.2 |
| Malta | 0.7 |
Total fertiliser sales in Ireland increased by 2.2% in 2024 after significant falls in 2023.
Lime is the most commonly used fertiliser in the State. Sales in 2024 at 1.017 million tonnes were 0.2% lower than the 2023 figure of 1.019 million tonnes.
The sales of Nitrogen and Potassium fertilisers in Ireland increased in Ireland in 2024, by 10.6% and 7.4% respectively, while sales of Phosphorous fell by 6.6%.
Sales of Phosphorous and Potassium have significantly declined over the 1981-2024 period. Phosphorous sales were 54.9% lower in 2024 compared with the average 1981-1984 figure. Sales of Potassium were 42.5% lower.
| Year | Lime | Nitrogen | Potassium | Phosphorous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1348.5 | 275.1 | 150.3 | 63.1 |
| 1982 | 1591.9 | 275.2 | 148 | 61.5 |
| 1983 | 2213 | 296 | 153.2 | 63.4 |
| 1984 | 1124.1 | 331.4 | 161.6 | 66.2 |
| 1985 | 878.4 | 327.7 | 163.8 | 66 |
| 1986 | 825.8 | 322.7 | 144.7 | 58.1 |
| 1987 | 824.4 | 371.7 | 165.5 | 65.9 |
| 1988 | 885.6 | 339.4 | 156 | 62.4 |
| 1989 | 940.6 | 349 | 160.7 | 64.7 |
| 1990 | 806.9 | 379.3 | 158.4 | 64.6 |
| 1991 | 716.2 | 370.1 | 152.6 | 62.6 |
| 1992 | 580.9 | 358.3 | 147.8 | 59.4 |
| 1993 | 812 | 378 | 151.6 | 61.5 |
| 1994 | 612.8 | 408.8 | 145.3 | 60 |
| 1995 | 1124.1 | 428.8 | 150.5 | 62.4 |
| 1996 | 1100.1 | 416.9 | 152.1 | 61.9 |
| 1997 | 962.5 | 379.5 | 132.1 | 53.8 |
| 1998 | 694.5 | 432 | 124.3 | 49.9 |
| 1999 | 871 | 442.9 | 125.7 | 50.5 |
| 2000 | 832.7 | 407.6 | 122.7 | 49.3 |
| 2001 | 875.6 | 368.7 | 106.9 | 42.7 |
| 2002 | 622.5 | 363.5 | 105.6 | 41.9 |
| 2003 | 879.7 | 388.1 | 111.1 | 43.8 |
| 2004 | 547.3 | 362.5 | 110.6 | 42.7 |
| 2005 | 606.2 | 352.2 | 100.7 | 38.6 |
| 2006 | 579.2 | 345.2 | 92.9 | 37.2 |
| 2007 | 856.3 | 321.6 | 84.7 | 32.4 |
| 2008 | 595.9 | 309 | 69.6 | 26.4 |
| 2009 | 698.5 | 306.8 | 52.4 | 20.2 |
| 2010 | 972.6 | 337.6 | 72.6 | 28.2 |
| 2011 | 819.7 | 295.8 | 71.4 | 28.1 |
| 2012 | 521.4 | 296.5 | 81.2 | 27.4 |
| 2013 | 1172 | 353 | 92.8 | 37 |
| 2014 | 868.9 | 331.8 | 93.8 | 35.6 |
| 2015 | 893.7 | 331 | 94.2 | 36.6 |
| 2016 | 967.3 | 339.1 | 95.6 | 37.1 |
| 2017 | 737.1 | 369.1 | 108.7 | 41.9 |
| 2018 | 1028.7 | 408.5 | 120.3 | 46.4 |
| 2019 | 762.9 | 367.4 | 114.3 | 42.7 |
| 2020 | 887.3 | 379.5 | 118 | 44.3 |
| 2021 | 1333.1 | 399.2 | 122.9 | 46.1 |
| 2022 | 1386.9 | 343.2 | 93.6 | 34.2 |
| 2023 | 1019 | 280.6 | 82 | 30.8 |
| 2024 | 1017.3 | 310.4 | 88.1 | 28.7 |
| Year | Lime | Nitrogen | Potassium | Phosphorous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1348.5 | 275.1 | 150.3 | 63.1 |
| 1982 | 1591.9 | 275.2 | 148 | 61.5 |
| 1983 | 2213 | 296 | 153.2 | 63.4 |
| 1984 | 1124.1 | 331.4 | 161.6 | 66.2 |
| 1985 | 878.4 | 327.7 | 163.8 | 66 |
| 1986 | 825.8 | 322.7 | 144.7 | 58.1 |
| 1987 | 824.4 | 371.7 | 165.5 | 65.9 |
| 1988 | 885.6 | 339.4 | 156 | 62.4 |
| 1989 | 940.6 | 349 | 160.7 | 64.7 |
| 1990 | 806.9 | 379.3 | 158.4 | 64.6 |
| 1991 | 716.2 | 370.1 | 152.6 | 62.6 |
| 1992 | 580.9 | 358.3 | 147.8 | 59.4 |
| 1993 | 812 | 378 | 151.6 | 61.5 |
| 1994 | 612.8 | 408.8 | 145.3 | 60 |
| 1995 | 1124.1 | 428.8 | 150.5 | 62.4 |
| 1996 | 1100.1 | 416.9 | 152.1 | 61.9 |
| 1997 | 962.5 | 379.5 | 132.1 | 53.8 |
| 1998 | 694.5 | 432 | 124.3 | 49.9 |
| 1999 | 871 | 442.9 | 125.7 | 50.5 |
| 2000 | 832.7 | 407.6 | 122.7 | 49.3 |
| 2001 | 875.6 | 368.7 | 106.9 | 42.7 |
| 2002 | 622.5 | 363.5 | 105.6 | 41.9 |
| 2003 | 879.7 | 388.1 | 111.1 | 43.8 |
| 2004 | 547.3 | 362.5 | 110.6 | 42.7 |
| 2005 | 606.2 | 352.2 | 100.7 | 38.6 |
| 2006 | 579.2 | 345.2 | 92.9 | 37.2 |
| 2007 | 856.3 | 321.6 | 84.7 | 32.4 |
| 2008 | 595.9 | 309 | 69.6 | 26.4 |
| 2009 | 698.5 | 306.8 | 52.4 | 20.2 |
| 2010 | 972.6 | 337.6 | 72.6 | 28.2 |
| 2011 | 819.7 | 295.8 | 71.4 | 28.1 |
| 2012 | 521.4 | 296.5 | 81.2 | 27.4 |
| 2013 | 1172 | 353 | 92.8 | 37 |
| 2014 | 868.9 | 331.8 | 93.8 | 35.6 |
| 2015 | 893.7 | 331 | 94.2 | 36.6 |
| 2016 | 967.3 | 339.1 | 95.6 | 37.1 |
| 2017 | 737.1 | 369.1 | 108.7 | 41.9 |
| 2018 | 1028.7 | 408.5 | 120.3 | 46.4 |
| 2019 | 762.9 | 367.4 | 114.3 | 42.7 |
| 2020 | 887.3 | 379.5 | 118 | 44.3 |
| 2021 | 1333.1 | 399.2 | 122.9 | 46.1 |
| 2022 | 1386.9 | 343.2 | 93.6 | 34.2 |
| 2023 | 1019 | 280.6 | 82 | 30.8 |
Ireland had the 14th highest rate of fertiliser sales among the 27 EU Member States in 2023 at 62.8 tonnes per 1,000 hectares of agricultural land. The Netherlands had the highest rate of sales in 2023 at 104.7 tonnes per 1,000 hectares of agricultural land and Portugal had the lowest at 28.9 tonnes.
| Country | Sales per 1,000 hectares agricultural land |
|---|---|
| Portugal | 28.9 |
| Malta | 31.2 |
| Spain | 37.7 |
| Austria | 39 |
| Greece | 40.3 |
| Romania | 42.5 |
| Estonia | 43.2 |
| Latvia | 48.1 |
| Lithuania | 50.3 |
| Italy | 55.3 |
| Slovenia | 58.3 |
| Slovakia | 60.8 |
| Hungary | 62.1 |
| Ireland | 62.8 |
| Croatia | 62.8 |
| Sweden | 64.6 |
| Germany | 65.7 |
| Finland | 66.9 |
| France | 67.2 |
| Czechia | 71.7 |
| Luxembourg | 78.5 |
| Denmark | 78.5 |
| Bulgaria | 80.8 |
| Poland | 80.8 |
| Belgium | 84.6 |
| Cyprus | 92.3 |
| Netherlands | 104.7 |
In December 2024, there were 6.3 million cattle in Ireland, which was 3.3% below the 2023 figure. The 2024 figure was, however, 8.5% above the average 1980-1984 figure of 5.8 million.
Sheep numbers have fluctuated more widely. In December 2024 there were 3.6 million sheep in the State, which was 4.0% below the 2023 total. The 2024 figure was, however, 35.1% higher than the average 1980-1984 number.
In December 2024 there were 1.5 million pigs in the State, up 4.7% on 2023. However, the 2024 figure was 41.4% higher than the average 1980-1984 number.
| Year | Cattle | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5825.5 | 2343.6 | 1030.8 |
| 1981 | 5763.2 | 2449.3 | 1027 |
| 1982 | 5795.2 | 2608.5 | 1081.1 |
| 1983 | 5830.5 | 2813.2 | 1053.4 |
| 1984 | 5860.9 | 3081.8 | 1019.5 |
| 1985 | 5813 | 3304 | 994.1 |
| 1986 | 5670.3 | 3671.8 | 980 |
| 1987 | 5632.7 | 4300.6 | 960.3 |
| 1988 | 5698.7 | 4991.2 | 1014.5 |
| 1989 | 5969.1 | 5713.9 | 1110.1 |
| 1990 | 6100.5 | 5863.7 | 1249.1 |
| 1991 | 6147.4 | 5982.6 | 1345.5 |
| 1992 | 6236.4 | 6109.2 | 1422.7 |
| 1993 | 6263.9 | 5966.5 | 1487.2 |
| 1994 | 6343.9 | 5739.7 | 1498.3 |
| 1995 | 6450.6 | 5543.4 | 1542.3 |
| 1996 | 6660.9 | 5341.9 | 1664.5 |
| 1997 | 6881.6 | 5577.2 | 1717 |
| 1998 | 6951.7 | 5559.1 | 1800.9 |
| 1999 | 6557.9 | 5318.6 | 1762.9 |
| 2000 | 6330.2 | 5056 | 1731.5 |
| 2001 | 6408.1 | 4807 | 1777.8 |
| 2002 | 6332.8 | 4828.5 | 1796.9 |
| 2003 | 6223.4 | 4850.1 | 1731 |
| 2004 | 6211.5 | 4556.7 | 1754.3 |
| 2005 | 6390.2 | 4257 | 1670.8 |
| 2006 | 6340.2 | 3826.3 | 1620 |
| 2007 | 6247.6 | 3530.5 | 1500.5 |
| 2008 | 6303.9 | 3422.9 | 1510.7 |
| 2009 | 6231.7 | 3182.6 | 1501.9 |
| 2010 | 5917.7 | 3122 | 1500.4 |
| 2011 | 5925.3 | 3321.3 | 1552.9 |
| 2012 | 6253.2 | 3430.3 | 1493.5 |
| 2013 | 6309.1 | 3324.1 | 1469.1 |
| 2014 | 6243.1 | 3324.9 | 1505.7 |
| 2015 | 6422.2 | 3324.8 | 1474.5 |
| 2016 | 6613.4 | 3438.2 | 1527.8 |
| 2017 | 6673.6 | 3981.8 | 1616.4 |
| 2018 | 6593.5 | 3798.5 | 1572.2 |
| 2019 | 6559.7 | 3809.4 | 1613.3 |
| 2020 | 6529.4 | 3877.2 | 1678.6 |
| 2021 | 6649.3 | 4026.4 | 1713.6 |
| 2022 | 6551.8 | 4018 | 1570.4 |
| 2023 | 6526 | 3740.9 | 1407.6 |
| 2024 | 6308.3 | 3591.6 | 1473.7 |
In December 2024 Ireland had the third highest number of cattle in the EU-27, with 8.8% of the total. France had the highest proportion of cattle numbers, with 22.9% of the EU total.
Ireland had 6.8% of the total sheep population in the EU-27 in December 2022, compared with Spain which had the highest proportion of sheep numbers at 24.4% of the total.
Ireland had 1.1% of the total pig population in the EU-27 in December 2024. Spain had the highest proportion of pig numbers in the EU with 26.2% of the total.
In 2024, there were 30,168 new residential dwelling completions in Ireland compared with an annual average of 5,500 units between 2011 and 2014. However, the 2024 figure was 7.2% lower than the 2023 figure of 32,498.
The share of apartments in new residential dwelling completions has nearly tripled from an average of 11% in 2011-2014 to 29% in 2024.
The proportion of new residential units in housing schemes has more than doubled over this time frame from an average of 24% in the 2011-2014 period to 54% in 2024.
By contrast, the share of single houses in new residential dwelling completions has fallen from an average of 65% in 2011-2014 to just 18% in 2024.
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