Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Society

Table 1.1 Ireland: Population distribution by age group, 2009-20191
Year0 - 14 years15 - 24 years25 - 44 years45 - 64 years65 years and overTotal
PercentageThousands
200920.714.331.922.111.04,533.4
201021.013.531.722.411.34,554.8
201121.312.731.722.711.64,574.9
201221.512.331.222.912.04,593.7
201321.512.230.823.112.34,614.7
201421.512.230.323.312.74,645.4
201521.412.229.923.513.04,687.8
201621.212.129.623.813.34,739.6
201721.012.229.224.113.64,792.5
201820.812.528.724.213.94,857.0
201920.512.628.424.414.14,921.5
Source: CSO, Population and Migration Estimates
1Persons in April of each year. Data for 2017, 2018 and 2019 are preliminary.
  • Ireland's population was 4.92 million in April 2019, an increase of 1.3% (i.e. 64,500 persons) on 2018.
     
  • The proportion of the population aged 65 years or over has increased over the last ten years, from 11.0% in 2009 to 14.1% in 2019. Similarly, the proportion of the population aged 45-64 years also increased, from 22.1% in 2009 to 24.4% in 2019.

  • Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 years decreased from 14.3% in 2009 to 12.6% in 2019, while the proportion of the population aged 25-44 also decreased, falling from 31.9% to 28.4%.

  • Since 2009, the proportion of the population aged 0-14 years decreased marginally, from 20.7% in 2009 to 20.5% in 2019. Table 1.1 demonstrates that Ireland has an ageing population.
     
  • The proportion of the population aged 15-64 years decreased from 68.3% in 2009 to 65.4% in 2019.
Table 1.2 EU28: Population 2009 and 20191,2
Country20092019Change% Change
EU28502,090,235513,481,69111,391,4562.3
Germany82,002,35683,019,2141,016,8581.2
France64,350,22667,028,0482,677,8224.2
United Kingdom62,042,34366,647,1124,604,7697.4
Italy59,000,58660,359,5461,358,9602.3
Spain46,239,27346,934,632695,3591.5
Poland38,135,87637,972,812-163,064-0.4
Romania20,440,29019,401,658-1,038,632-5.1
Netherlands16,485,78717,282,163796,3764.8
Belgium10,753,08011,467,923714,8436.6
Greece11,094,74510,722,287-372,458-3.4
Czech Republic10,425,78310,649,800224,0172.1
Portugal10,563,01410,276,617-286,397-2.7
Sweden9,256,34710,230,185973,83810.5
Hungary10,030,9759,772,756-258,219-2.6
Austria8,335,0038,858,775523,7726.3
Bulgaria7,467,1197,000,039-467,080-6.3
Denmark5,511,4515,806,081294,6305.3
Finland5,326,3145,517,919191,6053.6
Slovakia5,382,4015,450,42168,0201.3
Ireland4,521,3224,904,226382,9048.5
Croatia4,309,7964,076,246-233,550-5.4
Lithuania3,183,8562,794,184-389,672-12.2
Slovenia2,032,3622,080,90848,5462.4
Latvia2,162,8341,919,968-242,866-11.2
Estonia1,335,7401,324,820-10,920-0.8
Cyprus796,930875,89878,9689.9
Luxembourg493,500613,894120,39424.4
Malta410,926493,55982,63320.1
     
Turkey71,517,10082,003,88210,486,78214.7
Switzerland7,701,8568,542,323840,46710.9
Serbia7,334,9376,963,764-371,173-5.1
Albania2,936,3552,862,427-73,928-2.5
Macedonia2,048,6192,077,13228,5131.4
Montenegro617,157622,1825,0250.8
Iceland319,368356,99137,62311.8
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1Population on the 1st of January of given year
2Data sorted by 2019 population in descending order
  • Ireland had the fifth highest percent increase (8.5%) in population growth among the European Union 28 (EU28) countries between 2009 and 2019, after Luxembourg (24.4%), Malta (20.1%), Sweden (10.5%) and Cyprus (9.9%).

  • Out of the EU28, ten countries experienced a decrease in population growth between 2009 and 2019: Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia.

  • Lithuania had the biggest percentage fall in population at 12.2%, while Luxembourg had the largest increase at 24.4%.

  • Germany had the largest population in the EU28 in 2018 at just over 83 million people, about 17 times the size of Ireland's population.
Country% Change
Luxembourg24.3959473150963
Malta20.1089733918029
Sweden10.5207594313394
Cyprus9.90902588684075
Ireland8.46885048222622
United Kingdom7.42197792240051
Belgium6.64779765425348
Austria6.28400493677087
Denmark5.34577917865912
Netherlands4.83068233260566
France4.16132493458531
Finland3.59732828368737
Slovenia2.38864926622324
Italy2.30329915706261
EU282.26880652239731
Czech Republic2.14868274162238
Spain1.50382770940192
Slovakia1.26374827888149
Germany1.24003510338166
Poland-0.427586873840265
Estonia-0.817524368514831
Hungary-2.57421636481
Portugal-2.71131894741406
Greece-3.35706679153059
Romania-5.08129777023712
Croatia-5.41904999679799
Bulgaria-6.25515677465432
Latvia-11.2290633492908
Lithuania-12.2389957334754
Turkey14.6633210798536
Iceland11.7804538964455
Switzerland10.9125255003469
Macedonia1.39181565727937
Montenegro0.81421745196117
Albania-2.5176792315643
Serbia-5.06034339490578
CountryPopulation
Germany83019214
France67028048
United Kingdom66647112
Italy60359546
Spain46934632
Poland37972812
Romania19401658
Netherlands17282163
Belgium11467923
Greece10722287
Czech Republic10649800
Portugal10276617
Sweden10230185
Hungary9772756
Austria8858775
Bulgaria7000039
Denmark5806081
Finland5517919
Slovakia5450421
Ireland4904226
Croatia4076246
Lithuania2794184
Slovenia2080908
Latvia1919968
Estonia1324820
Cyprus875898
Luxembourg613894
Malta493559
Turkey82003882
Switzerland8542323
Serbia6963764
Albania2862427
Macedonia2077132
Montenegro622182
Iceland356991
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.3 Ireland: Migration and natural increase, 2009-20191
'000 persons
YearInward MigrationOutward MigrationNet MigrationBirthsDeathsNatural IncreasePopulation ChangeTotal Population
200973.772.01.675.328.646.748.34,533.4
201041.869.2-27.577.228.448.821.44,554.8
201153.380.6-27.475.127.747.520.14,574.9
201257.383.0-25.773.228.744.518.84,593.7
201362.781.3-18.769.429.839.621.04,614.7
201466.575.0-8.568.429.239.230.84,645.4
201575.970.05.966.429.936.542.34,687.8
201682.366.216.265.429.835.651.84,739.6
201784.664.819.863.930.833.152.94,792.5
201890.356.334.061.230.730.564.54,857.0
201988.654.933.761.230.430.864.54,921.5
Source: CSO, Population and Migration Estimates
1Data refer to the 12 months up to April of each year, and is preliminary for 2017, 2018, and 2019. 
  • Inward migration to Ireland in the twelve months ending to April 2019 is estimated to have decreased by 1.9%, from 90,300 to 88,600 persons.

  • The number of emigrants from Ireland in 2012 was estimated to be 83,000, but since then has dropped each year to 54,900 in 2019.

  • The combined effect of these trends resulted in negative net migration between 2010 and 2014 (i.e. more people emigrated from Ireland than immigrated). By 2015, there was a return to positive net migration, when a total of 5,900 more persons entered the country than left. By 2019, there was a net migration of 33,700 persons.

  • The number of births in Ireland in 2019 was 61,200, the same as in 2018. Over the last ten years, the natural increase in the population (i.e. the number of births less the number of deaths) has decreased from 46,700 in 2009 to 30,800 in 2019.

  • The annual population change in 2009 was 48,300 persons, before decreasing to 18,800 in 2012. It since increased to 64,500 in 2019.
YearInward MigrationOutward MigrationNet Migration
200973.7721.6
201041.869.2-27.5
201153.380.6-27.4
201257.383-25.7
201362.781.3-18.7
201466.575-8.5
201575.9705.9
201682.366.216.2
201784.664.819.8
201890.356.334
201988.654.933.7
Table 1.4 Ireland: Immigration and emigration by country of origin/destination 2014-20191
'000 persons
Year201420152016201720182019
Immigrants      
United Kingdom13.516.418.218.720.119.7
Rest of EU 15211.711.914.715.114.914.0
EU 13310.811.911.912.211.09.1
United States4.44.45.35.47.36.2
Australia5.45.86.97.17.25.8
Canada2.22.73.13.22.52.4
Rest of the world18.622.822.222.827.431.4
Total persons66.575.982.384.690.388.6
       
Emigrants      
United Kingdom16.416.614.412.111.411.6
Rest of EU 15214.813.313.912.912.310.4
EU 1338.05.99.39.76.53.8
United States6.35.15.76.55.85.2
Australia9.26.55.35.34.56.5
Canada4.36.63.43.73.94.9
Rest of the world16.015.914.214.611.912.5
Total persons75.070.066.264.856.354.9
Source: CSO Population and Migration Estimates
1 Persons in April of the given year. Preliminary figures used for 2018 and 2019.
2 Rest of EU 15: Countries before enlargement on 1 May 2004 (i.e. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Portugal).
3 EU 13: defined as 10 countries that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 (i.e. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) along with Bulgaria and Romania who joined on the 1 July 2013
  • In 2019 there were 88,600 immigrants into Ireland. Of these, 19,700 arrived from the United Kingdom (UK), and 14,000 from the rest of the EU 15 (those EU countries before enlargement in May 2004).
  • About 31,400 persons immigrated from the rest of the world in 2019 (i.e. countries other than the EU, USA, Australia or Canada).
  • Of the total 54,900 persons who emigrated from Ireland in 2019, the number of people emigrating to the UK was 11,600, the most common destination country among emigrants.
  • Excluding Australia and Canada, there were more people immigrating into Ireland than emigrating from each region of origin in 2019. The total persons emigrating to Australia was 6,500 (while 5,800 immigrated from Australia), and the total persons emigrating to Canada was 4,900 (while 2,400 persons immigrated from Canada).
YearUnited KingdomRest of EU 15EU 13United StatesAustraliaCanadaOther Countries
200913400181001750030007100100013600
2010910078008700170065005007600
2011119009700980033004500130012900
201210100102001010053005400170014500
201311700116001070040006000190016700
201413500117001080044005400220018600
201516400119001190044005800270022800
201618200147001190053006900310022200
201718700151001220054007100320022800
201820100149001100073007200250027400
20191970014000910062005800240031400
Table 1.5 EU28: Young and old age dependency ratios, 20181,2
% of population aged 15-64
CountryYoung and old age dependency ratioYoung age dependency ratio (0-14)Old age dependency ratio (65 & over)
Luxembourg43.823.220.6
Slovakia45.222.722.5
Cyprus47.323.923.4
Poland47.822.525.3
Malta48.720.728.0
Austria49.521.627.9
Hungary50.321.928.5
Romania51.123.627.5
Spain51.922.729.2
Slovenia52.522.929.6
Croatia52.922.130.7
Lithuania53.023.030.1
Ireland53.131.921.2
Germany53.620.732.8
Netherlands53.724.729.0
Czech Republic53.824.229.6
Bulgaria54.522.032.5
EU2854.624.130.5
Portugal54.721.433.3
Belgium55.426.429.1
Latvia56.024.631.4
Estonia56.025.530.6
Italy56.020.835.2
Denmark56.125.930.1
United Kingdom56.628.128.6
Greece56.722.634.1
Finland60.125.934.2
Sweden60.128.431.7
France60.729.131.6
    
Macedonia43.123.619.5
Albania45.425.719.7
Turkey47.234.712.6
Liechtenstein47.521.725.8
Montenegro48.926.922.0
Switzerland49.822.427.4
Iceland50.229.021.1
Serbia52.121.830.3
Norway53.027.125.9
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1 Data refers to 1 January
2 Data sorted by young and old age dependency ratio in ascending order
  • In 2018, Ireland had the highest young-age dependency ratio (the percentage of the population aged under 15 years as a proportion of those aged 15-64) in the EU28 at 31.9%.

  • Ireland also had the second lowest old-age dependency ratio (the percentage of the population aged over 65 as a proportion of those aged 15-64) in the EU28 at 21.2%.

  • This had the combined effect of a young and old age dependency ratio of 53.1% in Ireland, which is 1.5 percentage points less than the EU28 average of 54.6%.

  • The highest combined dependency ratio in the EU28 in 2019 was France at 60.7%, while the lowest was Luxembourg at 43.8%.
Table 1.6 EU28: Total fertility rates, 2012-20171
Country20132014201520162017
France2.02.02.01.91.9
Sweden1.91.91.91.91.8
Ireland1.91.91.91.81.8
Denmark1.71.71.71.81.8
United Kingdom1.81.81.81.81.7
Romania1.51.61.61.61.7
Czech Republic1.51.51.61.61.7
Latvia1.51.71.71.71.7
Belgium1.81.71.71.71.7
Lithuania1.61.61.71.71.6
Netherlands1.71.71.71.71.6
Slovenia1.61.61.61.61.6
Estonia1.51.51.61.61.6
EU281.61.61.61.61.6
Germany1.41.51.51.61.6
Bulgaria1.51.51.51.51.5
Hungary1.41.41.51.51.5
Austria1.41.51.51.51.5
Slovakia1.31.41.41.51.5
Finland1.81.71.71.61.5
Poland1.31.31.31.41.5
Croatia1.51.51.41.41.4
Luxembourg1.61.51.51.41.4
Portugal1.21.21.31.41.4
Greece1.31.31.31.41.4
Italy1.41.41.41.31.3
Cyprus1.31.31.31.41.3
Spain1.31.31.31.31.3
Malta1.41.41.41.41.3
     
Turkey2.12.22.12.12.1
Montenegro1.71.81.71.81.8
Iceland1.91.91.81.71.7
Norway1.81.81.71.71.6
Switzerland1.51.51.51.51.5
Serbia1.41.51.51.51.5
Albania1.71.71.61.51.5
Macedonia1.51.51.51.51.4
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1Data sorted by year 2017 in descending order
  • Ireland had a fertility rate of 1.8 in 2017. This tied with Sweden and Denmark as the second highest rate in the EU28, after France (at 1.9).

  • Malta, Spain, Cyprus and Italy all had the lowest fertility rate in the EU28 in 2017 at 1.3. In general, Mediterranean countries had lower fertility rates than the EU28 average of 1.6

  • All countries in the EU28 fall below the theoretical replacement fertility rate of 2.1.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.7 EU28: Proportion of live births outside of marriage and mean age of women at birth of first child, 2012-20171
 %Age
CountryProportion of live births outside marriageMean age of women at birth of first child
2012201720122017
Italy25.032.8:31.1
Spain39.046.830.330.9
Luxembourg37.140.829.630.8
Greece7.610.329.630.4
Ireland35.137.629.330.3
Netherlands46.651.029.329.9
Cyprus18.620.328.829.7
Germany34.534.729.129.6
Portugal45.654.928.629.6
Denmark50.654.229.029.4
Austria41.542.028.729.3
Sweden54.554.529.129.3
EU2840.3::29.1
Finland41.544.828.529.1
Belgium47.7:28.229.0
Malta25.7:28.129.0
United Kingdom47.648.2:28.9
Slovenia57.657.528.528.8
France56.759.9:28.7
Croatia15.419.927.828.6
Czech Republic43.449.027.928.2
Hungary44.544.727.728.0
Estonia58.458.626.527.7
Lithuania28.826.726.627.5
Poland22.324.126.627.3
Slovakia35.440.126.827.1
Latvia45.040.426.026.9
Romania31.031.225.726.5
Bulgaria57.458.925.626.1
     
Turkey2.63.0::
Belarus18.2:25.0:
Switzerland20.225.230.330.7
Norway54.955.728.429.3
Iceland66.971.227.127.9
Serbia24.726.327.327.8
Macedonia11.611.626.226.9
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1 Data sorted by mean age of women at birth of first child, 2017 in descending order.
: indicates data unavailable.
  • The average age of first time mothers in Ireland increased from 29.3 years in 2012 to 30.3 in 2017. The EU28 average in 2017 was 29.1 years.

  • In 2017, 37.6% of live births in Ireland were outside of marriage, an increase of 2.5% on 2012.
  • In the EU28, more than half of live births occurred outside of marriage in eight countries in 2017: Netherlands (51.0%), Denmark (54.2%), Sweden (54.5%), Portugal (54.9%),  Slovenia (57.5%), Estonia (58.6%), Bulgaria (58.9%), and France (59.9%).

  • The country with the lowest proportion of births outside of marriage in 2017 was Greece, at 10.3%.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.8 EU28: Divorce rate 2006, 2011, and 20161
Divorces per '000 people
Country200620112016
Ireland0.90.60.7
Malta:0.10.8
Greece1.21.11.0
Slovenia1.21.11.2
Bulgaria2.01.41.5
Romania1.51.81.5
Italy0.90.91.6
Croatia1.11.31.7
Poland1.91.71.7
Slovakia2.42.11.7
Austria2.52.11.8
United Kingdom2.42.11.8
France2.22.01.9
EU282.12.01.9
Germany2.32.32.0
Hungary2.52.32.0
Netherlands1.92.02.0
Belgium2.82.52.1
Spain2.92.22.1
Luxembourg2.52.32.1
Portugal2.32.52.2
Cyprus2.32.32.3
Czech Republic3.12.72.4
Sweden2.22.52.4
Estonia2.82.32.5
Finland2.52.52.5
Denmark2.62.63.0
Latvia3.34.03.1
Lithuania3.43.43.1
    
Norway2.32.11.9
Switzerland2.82.22.0
Montenegro0.80.81.1
Macedonia0.70.91.0
Albania1.3:1.9
Serbia1.11.11.3
Turkey1.31.61.6
Iceland1.61.6:
Source: Eurostat
1 2015 data used for Ireland and EU28.
2 Data sorted by 2016, ascending
  • Ireland continues to have the lowest divorce rate in the EU28, at 0.7 divorces per 1,000 persons in 2016.

  • The average divorce rate in the EU28 is 1.9 divorces per 1,000 persons. 

  • Many of the countries in the EU28 with the highest divorce rates are in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions.

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.9 EU28: At risk of poverty rates, 20181
   %
CountryBefore Social Transfers and PensionsAfter social Transfers and PensionsReduction
Czech Republic34.09.624.4
Finland43.212.031.2
Denmark39.212.726.5
Hungary46.112.833.3
Netherlands37.913.324.6
Slovenia40.513.327.2
France45.713.432.3
Ireland40.914.026.9
Austria43.314.329.0
Poland44.414.829.6
Cyprus36.915.421.5
Germany42.016.026.0
Belgium42.216.425.8
Sweden44.316.427.9
Malta37.016.820.2
EU2843.616.926.7
Eurozone 1943.817.026.8
Portugal43.717.326.4
Luxembourg46.018.327.7
Greece50.018.531.5
Croatia42.919.323.6
Italy45.820.325.5
Spain44.621.523.1
Estonia38.721.916.8
Bulgaria45.222.023.2
Lithuania41.822.918.9
Latvia39.123.315.8
Romania45.923.522.4
Slovakia:::
United Kingdom:::
   
Norway42.512.929.6
Switzerland37.614.623.0
Serbia48.724.324.4
Source: Eurostat, CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)
1 Data are from the EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions. The risk of poverty threshold is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income.
2 Data sorted by after social transfers and pensions, ascending
  • In 2018, Ireland had an at risk of poverty rate of 40.9% before social transfers and pensions. This was the ninth lowest in the EU28 in 2018, and was 2.7% below the EU28 average of 43.6%.
  • After social transfers and pensions, the proportion of those at risk of poverty in Ireland decreased by 26.9 percentage points down to 14.0%. The EU28 average was 16.9%.
  • Romania had the highest at risk of poverty rate in 2018 after social transfers and pensions at 23.5%, while Czech Republic had the lowest at 9.6%.
YearAt Risk of Poverty Rate
200815.5
200915
201015.2
201115.2
201216.3
201315.7
201416.4
201516.2
201616.8
201715.6
201814
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.10 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by age group, 2016-20181,2
% of age group population
Age GroupAt Risk of Poverty Consistent Poverty
 201620172018 201620172018
0-1719.118.415.910.98.87.7
18-6416.416.213.78.47.05.6
65+9.88.611.41.81.71.7
State16.215.714.0 8.26.75.6
Source: CSO SILC
1 At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
2 A production error was discovered in Table 1.10 and related text. While State rates were correct, breakdowns by age group were incorrectly positioned in the table. Table 1.10 and related text updated on 26/02.
  • In 2018, 14.0% of all persons in Ireland were considered at risk of poverty. People aged 0-17 had the highest at risk of poverty rate, at 15.9%, followed by people aged 18-64 at 13.7%. People aged over 65 had the lowest at risk of poverty rate at 11.4%.

  • Just over one in every eighteen people in Ireland were in consistent poverty in 2018 (5.6%). This was a decrease from 2017, where the rate was approximately one in fifteen people (6.7%).
  • In 2018, 7.7% of persons aged 0-17 were in consistent poverty, compared to 5.6% of those aged 18-64, and just 1.7% for those aged 65 and over.
Age GroupAt Risk of PovertyConsistent Poverty
0-179.81.8
18-648.61.7
65+11.41.7
State145.6
Table 1.11 Ireland: at risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by household composition, 2016-20181
%
Household CompositionAt Risk of Poverty Consistent Poverty
 201620172018 201620172018
1 adult aged 65 years and over12.810.019.7 3.72.43.5
1 adult aged less than 65 years35.334.234.0 17.020.013.6
2 adults, at least 1 aged 65 years and over9.79.26.9 1.42.10.8
2 adults, both aged less than 65 years12.511.914.5 5.35.14.8
3 or more adults11.213.77.5 3.73.74.1
1 adult, with children under 18 years39.439.933.5 23.220.719.2
2 adults, with 1-3 children under 18 years12.19.49.9 6.53.95.0
Other households with children under 18 years23.524.415.5 15.111.34.5
State16.215.714.0 8.26.75.6
Source: CSO SILC
1 At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
  • In 2018, households consisting of one adult aged under 65 years had the highest at risk of poverty rate of 34.0%.
  • Consistent poverty rates were highest in households consisting of one adult and 1-3 children under 18 years, at 19.2%.
  • Households consisting of two adults (with at least one aged 65 or over) had both the lowest at risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates, at 6.9% and 0.8% respectively.
Table 1.12 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by principal economic status 2016-2018
       %
Principle Economic StatusAt Risk of PovertyConsistent Poverty
 201620172018 201620172018
At work5.85.45.1 2.11.41.6
Unemployed39.242.047.3 23.424.127.6
Student30.835.422.2 15.813.87.8
Home duties25.325.523.2 12.010.48.4
Retired11.09.112.3 1.71.51.9
Not at work due to illness or disability39.235.447.7 25.924.021.3
State16.215.714.0 8.26.75.6
Source: CSO SILC
  • In 2018, the group with the highest at risk of poverty rate in Ireland were persons not at work due to a permanent illness or disability, with a rate of 47.7%. This group was closely followed by those who were unemployed (47.3%).
  • Unemployed persons and those who were not working due to illness or disability were the only two groups with a consistent poverty rate higher than 10%, at 27.6% and 21.3% respectively.
  • Those who were at work had both the lowest at risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates, at 5.1% and 1.6% respectively.
X-axis labelAt Risk of PovertyConsistent Poverty
At work5.11.6
Unemployed47.327.6
Student22.27.8
Home duties23.28.4
Retired12.31.9
Not at work due to illness or disability47.721.3
State145.6
Table 1.13 Ireland: Median weekly earnings by sex, 2011-2018
YearTotal PersonsMalesFemalesDifferential
2011544.60616.29480.00136.29
2012541.79609.25479.38129.87
2013547.10610.21484.60125.61
2014548.37608.93484.63124.30
2015550.68609.68486.54123.14
2016560.21618.70494.12124.58
2017575.75636.13504.77131.36
2018592.60659.58517.62141.96
Source: CSO Earnings
  • Between 2011 and 2012, the median weekly earnings across both sexes combined decreased from €544.60 to €541.79. It then increased to €547.10 in 2013, and increased each year thereafter, to €592.60 in 2018.

  • The difference in median weekly earnings between males and females was decreasing between 2011 and 2015, where it dropped from €136.29 in 2011 to €123.14 in 2015. It then increased to €124.58 in 2016, and increased each year after, to €141.96 in 2018.
YearDifference
2011136.29
2012129.87
2013125.61
2014124.3
2015123.14
2016124.58
2017131.36
2018141.96
Table 1.14 EU28: Net Official Development Assistance, 2014-20181,2
% of GNI
Country20142015201620172018
Sweden1.11.40.91.01.0
Luxembourg1.11.01.01.01.0
Denmark0.90.80.80.70.7
United Kingdom0.70.70.70.70.7
Germany0.40.50.70.70.6
Netherlands0.60.70.60.60.6
Belgium0.50.40.50.50.4
France0.40.40.40.40.4
Ireland % GNI*0.40.40.40.40.4
Finland0.60.60.40.40.4
Ireland % GNI0.40.30.30.30.3
Iceland0.20.20.30.30.3
Austria0.30.40.40.30.3
Italy0.20.20.30.30.2
Malta0.20.20.20.20.2
Spain0.10.10.30.20.2
Portugal0.20.20.20.20.2
Estonia0.10.20.20.20.2
Slovenia0.10.10.20.20.2
Czech Republic0.10.10.10.10.1
Hungary0.10.10.20.10.1
Poland0.10.10.10.10.1
Greece0.10.10.20.20.1
Slovakia0.10.10.10.10.1
Bulgaria0.10.10.10.10.1
Lithuania0.10.10.10.10.1
Romania0.10.10.2:0.1
Latvia0.10.10.10.10.1
      
Turkey0.40.50.81.01.1
Norway1.01.01.11.00.9
Switzerland0.50.50.50.50.4
Source: OECD, CSO National Accounts
1 Data are preliminary for 2018
2 Sorted by 2018, descending
  • In 2018, Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) was 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) for Ireland. Additionally, it accounted for 0.4% of Ireland’s Modified GNI (GNI*).
  • In all, four countries had attained the United Nation (UN) target ODA of 0.7%:  Luxembourg(1.0%), Sweden (1.0%), United Kingdom (0.7%), and Denmark (0.7%).
ODA as a % of GNIODA as a % of GNI*UN Target % GNI
20080.5662011156005730.5867589512192010.7
20090.5078869455755040.5355937734071980.7
20100.4808880034153980.5240694789081890.7
20110.4744039625120940.5199829057123410.7
20120.4455196548621790.4971620104665690.7
20130.4203088818371940.4651757095189070.7
20140.3738796259136290.4133846091785560.7
20150.3205203084629320.3981162699193390.7
20160.3275254405559690.4132413981586390.7
20170.3150738924607230.40413144519040.7
20180.3114409696950620.4009065127114350.7
Table 1.15 EU28: Private households with internet access, 2015-20191,2
% of households
Country20152016201720182019
Netherlands9697989898
Sweden9194959396
United Kingdom9193949596
Denmark9294979395
Germany9092939495
Luxembourg9797979395
Finland9092949494
Ireland8587888991
Spain7982838691
Belgium8285868790
Estonia8886889090
France8386868990
Cyprus7174798690
Austria8285898990
EU288385878990
Slovenia7878828789
Czech Republic7982838687
Poland7680828487
Hungary7679828386
Malta8181858486
Italy7579818485
Latvia7677798285
Romania6872768184
Lithuania6872757882
Slovakia7981818182
Croatia7777768281
Portugal7074777981
Greece6869717679
Bulgaria5964677275
Iceland::989998
Norway9797979698
Turkey7076818488
Macedonia6975747982
Serbia64:687380
Source: Eurostat: Digital Economy and Society
1 Data determines the percentage of households who have internet access at home, and all forms of internet use are included.
2 Sorted by 2019, descending.
: indicates data unavailable.
  • The percentage of households in Ireland with access to the internet has increased from 85% in 2015 to 91% in 2019.
  • In 2019, Ireland had the ninth highest rate of household internet access to the internet in the EU, and was just above the EU28 average of 90%.

  • Nearly all households (98%) in the Netherlands had access to the internet, while the rate in Bulgaria was 75%, the lowest of the EU28.

  • Six countries in the EU28 had internet access rates at or above 95% in 2019: the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg.

Go to next chapter: Economy