A total 95.8 million tonnes of raw materials were extracted from the Irish environment in 2024, down slightly by 1.4% on the 2023 figure. Over half (56%) of these raw materials were related to Construction, including 20.4 million tonnes of sand and gravel and 24.6 million tonnes of crushed rock. Both were similar to the 2023 figures (See Table 2).
The Agri sector is also a key driver of material extraction from the Irish environment, representing 42.7% of total resource extraction. This includes grazed grass (or grazed biomass) at 22.9 million tonnes and fodder crops at 11.7 million tonnes in 2024 (See Table 2).
Fossil fuel production in Ireland (mainly natural gas and peat) fell slightly in Ireland in 2024, down from 1.229 million tonnes in 2023 to 1.208 million tonnes in 2024. The 2024 figure includes 794,000 tonnes of natural gas and 414,000 tonnes of peat (See Table 2). However, the vast majority of fossil fuel usage in Ireland in 2024 came from imports – at more than 13 million tonnes.
Most metals used in Ireland in 2024 were attributable to imports at 8.2 million tonnes rather than domestic extraction. By contrast, the volume of lead and zinc gross ore extracted dropped to a record low at 159,000 tonnes in 2024 (See Tables 1 and 2).
Ireland’s Domestic Material Consumption (DMC), the amount of materials used in the economy, was 22.9 tonnes per capita in 2024 which was very similar to the 2023 figure (See Table 4 and Figure 5).
In terms of decoupling economic performance from consumption of materials, Ireland’s economy is becoming less materials-intensive and is using less materials per unit of economic activity. In 2024 Ireland’s Resource Productivity Index (which measures the relationship between materials used and economic performance) was €2.48 of Modified Gross National Income at constant prices per kilogram of Domestic Material Consumption compared with €1.20 in 1995 (See Figure 4). In effect this has roughly doubled the value created from a kg of material used between 1995 and 2024 and indicates a relative decoupling between economic growth and resource consumption.
In 2024, the amount of material released back into the environment through air emissions was stable at 55.1 million tonnes, compared to 55.2 million tonnes in 2023 (See Table 1).
Fodder crop figures were revised from last year’s report due to the adoption of a new methodological approach.
Air emission figures for 2000-2024 are now calculated using the Residence Principle, rather than the Territorial Principle as in previous years.
More information is available in the Background Notes.
Figure 1 shows the total materials that were used in the economy (DMC) from 1994-2023 in tonnes. DMC is broken down into its main components: Domestic extraction, imports and exports (in volumes). As can be seen from this graph, variations in domestic extraction are the main driver of the trends displayed by the DMC figures.
| Domestic Material Consumption | Domestic Extraction | Imports | Exports | |
| 1994 | 96.5 | 82 | 24.7 | 10.1 |
| 1995 | 96.9 | 83.3 | 24.4 | 10.8 |
| 1996 | 101.5 | 86.7 | 25.2 | 10.4 |
| 1997 | 105.6 | 89.9 | 27.2 | 11.5 |
| 1998 | 113.9 | 95.8 | 30.3 | 12.2 |
| 1999 | 124.3 | 106.8 | 29.6 | 12.1 |
| 2000 | 136.1 | 117.6 | 31.9 | 13.5 |
| 2001 | 137.1 | 118.2 | 31.7 | 12.8 |
| 2002 | 137.7 | 117 | 34.3 | 13.6 |
| 2003 | 158.6 | 138.1 | 33 | 12.5 |
| 2004 | 167.9 | 145.4 | 36.7 | 14.2 |
| 2005 | 170.9 | 147.6 | 37.5 | 14.2 |
| 2006 | 180.3 | 156.2 | 38.8 | 14.7 |
| 2007 | 187.1 | 159.5 | 42.3 | 14.7 |
| 2008 | 162.6 | 138.6 | 38.9 | 14.9 |
| 2009 | 124.7 | 104.5 | 33.4 | 13.2 |
| 2010 | 110.3 | 89.2 | 35.8 | 14.7 |
| 2011 | 94.9 | 75.7 | 34.9 | 15.7 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 76.2 | 34.8 | 16.4 |
| 2013 | 102.1 | 81.1 | 36.6 | 15.7 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 79.6 | 36.4 | 16.7 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 81.6 | 39.1 | 18.5 |
| 2016 | 109.3 | 89.5 | 38.7 | 18.8 |
| 2017 | 116.2 | 94.3 | 40.3 | 18.5 |
| 2018 | 124.3 | 98.7 | 43.9 | 18.3 |
| 2019 | 126.8 | 103.7 | 41.5 | 18.3 |
| 2020 | 119.7 | 97.8 | 40.5 | 18.6 |
| 2021 | 120.2 | 95.8 | 43.7 | 19.3 |
| 2022 | 126.4 | 101 | 44.5 | 19.1 |
| 2023 | 121.4 | 97.2 | 42.3 | 18.1 |
| 2024 | 123.3 | 95.8 | 45.1 | 17.7 |
Table 1 shows the main components of net addition to the stock of materials in the economy, or Net Material Accumulation (NMA), from 2015-2024. NMA measures the net change in materials within the economy and shows how much material is added to the economy’s stock over time.
Figure 2 shows the total materials were used in the economy (DMC) figures for Ireland for the 1994-2024 period broken down into biomass, metals, non-metallic minerals, fossil fuels and other products. As can be seen from this graph, the biggest contributor to DMC was non-metallic minerals which are used in construction such as marble, limestone, sand, gravel, and crushed rock.
| Non Metallic Minerals | Biomass | Fossil Fuels | Metallic Minerals | Other Products | |
| 1994 | 30.2 | 44.3 | 17.7 | 4.1 | 0.3 |
| 1995 | 29.1 | 44.6 | 18.2 | 4.7 | 0.4 |
| 1996 | 35.3 | 44.7 | 16.6 | 4.5 | 0.3 |
| 1997 | 40.2 | 45.2 | 15 | 4.8 | 0.3 |
| 1998 | 47.3 | 44.9 | 15.3 | 5.8 | 0.5 |
| 1999 | 56.4 | 45.7 | 16 | 5.7 | 0.4 |
| 2000 | 67.4 | 46.1 | 16.1 | 5.9 | 0.6 |
| 2001 | 68.1 | 46 | 15.8 | 6.1 | 1.1 |
| 2002 | 70.7 | 43.8 | 13.7 | 6.4 | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 87.8 | 44.2 | 17.4 | 7.7 | 1.6 |
| 2004 | 95.6 | 45 | 18.9 | 7.7 | 0.7 |
| 2005 | 101.4 | 43 | 17.9 | 7.9 | 0.7 |
| 2006 | 114.3 | 40.4 | 16.4 | 8.3 | 0.9 |
| 2007 | 118 | 41.2 | 18.3 | 8.7 | 0.9 |
| 2008 | 94.7 | 41.2 | 18.3 | 7.3 | 1.2 |
| 2009 | 59.6 | 41.4 | 17.1 | 6.1 | 0.6 |
| 2010 | 40.8 | 43 | 19.1 | 7 | 0.5 |
| 2011 | 28.4 | 42.6 | 17.2 | 6.1 | 0.5 |
| 2012 | 32.2 | 41.9 | 13.6 | 6.4 | 0.4 |
| 2013 | 30.9 | 44.3 | 20 | 6.2 | 0.6 |
| 2014 | 31 | 44.2 | 17 | 6.4 | 0.8 |
| 2015 | 34.5 | 43.4 | 16.7 | 6.8 | 0.9 |
| 2016 | 42.4 | 42.5 | 17.2 | 6.2 | 1 |
| 2017 | 46.9 | 44.1 | 18.1 | 6 | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 52.8 | 45.6 | 18.9 | 5.9 | 1.2 |
| 2019 | 58.3 | 45.7 | 15 | 6.7 | 1.2 |
| 2020 | 53.5 | 47 | 11.2 | 6.7 | 1.3 |
| 2021 | 52.4 | 46.2 | 13.1 | 7.2 | 1.3 |
| 2022 | 59.1 | 46 | 13.4 | 6.7 | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 55.3 | 46.9 | 13.1 | 5 | 1.2 |
| 2024 | 57.1 | 47.4 | 12.5 | 5.3 | 1 |
Figure 3 shows the most important contributors to the domestic extraction of raw materials in Ireland over the 1994-2024 period. Sand and gravel and crushed rock are the most important categories, peaking in 2007 and falling to a low in 2011 before rising afterwards.
| Crushed Rock | Sand and Gravel | Grazed Biomass | Fodder Crops | |
| 1994 | 12.8 | 14.2 | 22.6 | 12.3 |
| 1995 | 12.5 | 12.3 | 22.7 | 12.3 |
| 1996 | 15.6 | 14.2 | 22.4 | 12.3 |
| 1997 | 19.4 | 15.7 | 22.8 | 12.8 |
| 1998 | 27.8 | 14.5 | 23 | 11.4 |
| 1999 | 33.2 | 16.5 | 23 | 11.5 |
| 2000 | 39.5 | 20.6 | 22.7 | 12.2 |
| 2001 | 39.9 | 20.8 | 22.8 | 12.3 |
| 2002 | 40.4 | 23.7 | 22.6 | 10.7 |
| 2003 | 51.7 | 27.9 | 22.6 | 10.5 |
| 2004 | 55.7 | 31.8 | 22.4 | 10.4 |
| 2005 | 59.1 | 33.6 | 21.8 | 10.7 |
| 2006 | 68.1 | 35.7 | 21.5 | 9.8 |
| 2007 | 68.6 | 38.5 | 22 | 10.6 |
| 2008 | 53 | 31.6 | 23.9 | 8.9 |
| 2009 | 32.2 | 20.1 | 24 | 9.2 |
| 2010 | 21.1 | 13 | 23.8 | 10.6 |
| 2011 | 13.6 | 9.6 | 23.6 | 10.4 |
| 2012 | 14.6 | 12.8 | 23.1 | 9.9 |
| 2013 | 13.3 | 13 | 23.1 | 10.8 |
| 2014 | 15.1 | 11.9 | 22.7 | 11 |
| 2015 | 17 | 13.5 | 22.5 | 10.3 |
| 2016 | 21.2 | 16.9 | 21.8 | 10.2 |
| 2017 | 23.5 | 17.5 | 22 | 10.8 |
| 2018 | 26.1 | 18.8 | 22.3 | 10.9 |
| 2019 | 29.7 | 20.5 | 22.4 | 11.4 |
| 2020 | 27.8 | 18 | 23.7 | 12 |
| 2021 | 22.7 | 21.9 | 22.8 | 12.2 |
| 2022 | 25.6 | 25.1 | 21.6 | 12 |
| 2023 | 24 | 22.9 | 22.5 | 12.8 |
| 2024 | 24.6 | 20.4 | 22.9 | 11.7 |
Table 2 shows the main components of the domestic extraction of raw materials in Ireland over the 2015-2024 period. This table gives a breakdown of domestic extraction into biomass, metals, non-metallic minerals and fossil fuels. The main components of biomass are fodder crops and grazed grass. Metal production consists of the extraction of lead and zinc, and a small amount of silver. Non-metallic minerals refer to materials mainly used in the construction sector such as marble, granite, limestone, crushed rock, sand and gravel.
Table 3 shows the breakdown of trade by stage of production in Ireland between 2015 and 2024. Trade imports and exports are broken down into raw products, semi-manufactured products and finished products and are measured in tonnes. Exports of finished products were higher than exports of raw products, unlike the situation with imports.
Figure 4 shows Ireland’s Resource Productivity Index for 1995-2024. This index refers to the relationship between Gross Domestic Product at Constant Prices and DMC measured in terms of Euro per kilogram. Figure 4 also contains time-series data for Gross National Income and Modified Gross National Income at Constant Prices. These indicators show the progress made in decoupling economic growth from resource consumption.
| GDP Constant Prices | GNI Constant Prices | Modified GNI Constant Prices | |
| 1995 | 1.13 | 1.12 | 1.2 |
| 1996 | 1.15 | 1.16 | 1.23 |
| 1997 | 1.23 | 1.21 | 1.29 |
| 1998 | 1.24 | 1.2 | 1.28 |
| 1999 | 1.26 | 1.19 | 1.26 |
| 2000 | 1.26 | 1.18 | 1.26 |
| 2001 | 1.32 | 1.19 | 1.26 |
| 2002 | 1.39 | 1.22 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 1.24 | 1.11 | 1.16 |
| 2004 | 1.25 | 1.12 | 1.17 |
| 2005 | 1.3 | 1.16 | 1.21 |
| 2006 | 1.29 | 1.16 | 1.2 |
| 2007 | 1.31 | 1.16 | 1.19 |
| 2008 | 1.44 | 1.28 | 1.31 |
| 2009 | 1.78 | 1.53 | 1.55 |
| 2010 | 2.05 | 1.79 | 1.75 |
| 2011 | 2.42 | 2.04 | 1.98 |
| 2012 | 2.42 | 2.03 | 1.94 |
| 2013 | 2.29 | 1.99 | 1.9 |
| 2014 | 2.58 | 2.24 | 2.12 |
| 2015 | 3.12 | 2.48 | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 2.95 | 2.45 | 2.01 |
| 2017 | 3.06 | 2.44 | 1.98 |
| 2018 | 3.08 | 2.37 | 1.89 |
| 2019 | 3.17 | 2.42 | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 3.6 | 2.66 | 1.96 |
| 2021 | 4.17 | 3.01 | 2.22 |
| 2022 | 4.26 | 2.9 | 2.18 |
| 2023 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 2.39 |
| 2024 | 4.37 | 3.28 | 2.48 |
Figure 5 shows DMC per capita for EU Member States in 2023. The figures are measured in terms of tonnes per capita.
| DMC Tonnes per Capita 2023 | |
| Netherlands | 7.9 |
| Italy | 8.3 |
| Spain | 8.6 |
| Malta | 10.2 |
| Greece | 10.8 |
| Slovakia | 11.2 |
| France | 11.7 |
| Germany | 12.3 |
| Belgium | 12.3 |
| Croatia | 12.6 |
| Hungary | 13.4 |
| EU-27 | 13.5 |
| Czechia | 13.9 |
| Latvia | 14.1 |
| Slovenia | 14.7 |
| Portugal | 15.1 |
| Austria | 16.4 |
| Poland | 17.3 |
| Cyprus | 19.7 |
| Lithuania | 20.1 |
| Luxembourg | 21.4 |
| Sweden | 22.1 |
| Ireland | 22.7 |
| Denmark | 22.8 |
| Bulgaria | 22.9 |
| Estonia | 24.5 |
| Romania | 28 |
| Finland | 40 |
Table 4 compares DMC per capita in Ireland with the average EU figures for 2015-2023, broken down between biomass, metals, non-metallic minerals and fossil fuels. In 2023, Ireland’s total DMC per capita figures exceeded the EU-27average considerably, primarily due to the higher Irish DMC figures for biomass and non-metallic minerals.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (05 June 2026) published Material Flow Accounts 2024.
Commenting on the release Reamonn McKeever, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy and Transport Division, said: “This release outlines the quantity of materials used to support how we live in Ireland. Our extraction of materials from the Irish environment is largely confined to materials used for construction and agriculture, with imports of other materials (for example fossil fuels) required to support our economy and how we live. While our consumption levels of materials are generally high by international standards, we are increasingly using less materials per unit of economic activity indicating a decoupling between material use and economic performance.
“Nearly all domestic extraction from the Irish environment is used for the Construction (56% of total extraction) and the general Agri sectors (43% of total extraction). Construction activity in Ireland requires raw materials inputs like sand and rock and the Agri sector requires inputs like fodder crops. Ireland took slightly less materials from the environment in 2024. Domestic resource extraction fell by 1.4% from 97.2 million tonnes in 2023 to 95.8 million tonnes in 2024.
This decrease was mainly due to lower extraction of biomass and metals. The reduction in fodder crop production by more than 1 million tonnes in 2024 was the main driver behind the decrease in biomass extraction. Metal gross ores extraction fell by 85.7% from 1.093 million tonnes in 2023 to 156,000 tonnes in 2024.
The Agri sector played an important role in resource extraction, with 40.9 million tonnes of materials coming from Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing in 2024. This includes grazed biomass at 22.9 million tonnes and fodder crops at 11.7 million tonnes.
The net trade balance, which is the difference between physical imports and exports, has a considerable impact on Domestic Material Consumption (DMC). Physical trade imports in 2024 at 45.1 million tonnes were more than double trade exports at 17.7 million tonnes. Biomass and fossil fuels were the main components of trade imports by weight, with fossil fuels accounting for nearly 30% of trade imports compared with 10.7% of exports. Imports of raw products amounted to 37.6% of total imports by weight compared with 9.9% of exports, indicating that the majority of exports were of semi-manufactured or finished products.
Total materials used in the economy (DMC) was 123.3 million tonnes in 2024, down from a peak of 187.1 million in 2007, but higher than the low of 94.5 million tonnes in 2012. The rise and decline of construction activity over this period would have heavily influenced the quantity of materials extracted from the Irish environment, as will increased construction activity now.
Looking at how Ireland’s consumption of materials compares internationally, we can see that Ireland’s DMC was 22.9 tonnes per capita in 2024, similar to the 22.7 tonnes per capita figure reported to Eurostat in 2023. This 2023 figure was the sixth highest figure in the European Union, and well above the EU-27 average of 13.5 tonnes per capita. Finland had the highest DMC per capita figure in 2023 at 40.0 tonnes, while the Netherlands had the lowest figure at 7.9 tonnes per capita. It should be noted that the different structures of country’s economies can heavily influence this comparison. Countries relatively more engaged in construction activity for example will be using more materials, and materials which are naturally heavier.
As materials are consumed, elements of them are released back into the environment. In Ireland more than 80% of all materials released back into the environment are air emissions. These emissions were stable between 2023 and 2024, at 55.1 million tonnes in the latter year compared with 55.0 million tonnes in the former year.
In 2024, Ireland’s Resource Productivity Index was €2.48 of Modified Gross National Income at constant prices per kilogram of DMC compared with €1.20 in 1995. This indicates a relative decoupling between economic growth and resource consumption as there was roughly a doubling of the value created per kg of material used over that period.”