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Table 1.1 Ireland: Population distribution by age group, 2011-20211
Year0 - 14 years15 - 24 years25 - 44 years45 - 64 years65 years and overTotal
PercentageThousands
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
202020.212.728.124.614.54,977.4
202119.912.727.725.014.85,011.5
Source: CSO Population and Migration Estimates
1Persons in April of each year. Data are preliminary for 2017 - 2021.
  • Ireland's population was 5.01 million in April 2021, an increase of 0.7% (i.e. 34,100 persons) on 2020.
     
  • The proportion of the population aged 65 years or over has increased since 2011 from 11.6% to 14.8% in 2021. Similarly, the proportion of the population aged 45-64 years also increased, from 22.7% in 2011 to 25.0% in 2021.
  • Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 years remained unchanged in 2011 and 2021 at 12.7%, while the proportion of the population aged 25-44 years decreased from 31.7% in 2011 to 27.7% in 2021.
  • Since 2011, the proportion of the population aged 0-14 years decreased, from 21.3% in 2011 to 19.9% in 2021. Table 1.1 demonstrates that Ireland has an ageing population.
  • The proportion of the population aged 15-64 years decreased from 67.1% in 2011 to 65.4% in 2021.
Table 1.2 By country: Population, 2011 and 20211,2
Country20112021Change% Change
EU27439,942,305447,007,5967,065,2911.6
Germany80,222,06583,155,0312,932,9663.7
France64,978,72167,439,5992,460,8783.8
Italy59,364,69059,257,566-107,124-0.2
Spain46,667,17447,394,223727,0491.6
Poland38,062,71837,840,001-222,717-0.6
Romania20,199,05919,186,201-1,012,858-5.0
Netherlands16,655,79917,475,415819,6164.9
Belgium11,000,63811,566,041565,4035.1
Greece10,486,73110,701,777215,0462.1
Czech Republic11,123,39210,682,547-440,845-4.0
Sweden9,415,57010,379,295963,72510.2
Portugal10,572,72110,298,252-274,469-2.6
Hungary9,985,7229,730,772-254,950-2.6
Austria8,375,1648,932,664557,5006.7
Bulgaria7,369,4316,916,548-452,883-6.1
Denmark5,560,6285,840,045279,4175.0
Finland5,375,2765,533,793158,5172.9
Slovakia5,392,4465,459,78167,3351.2
Ireland4,570,8815,006,907436,0269.5
Croatia4,289,8574,036,355-253,502-5.9
Lithuania3,052,5882,795,680-256,908-8.4
Slovenia2,050,1892,108,97758,7882.9
Latvia2,074,6051,893,223-181,382-8.7
Estonia1,329,6601,330,0684080.0
Cyprus839,751896,00556,2546.7
Luxembourg511,840634,730122,89024.0
Malta414,989516,100101,11124.4
     
United Kingdom63,022,532:::
     
EFTA Countries:
Switzerland7,870,1348,667,088796,95410.1
Norway4,920,3055,391,369471,0649.6
Iceland318,452368,79250,34015.8
Liechtenstein36,14939,0552,9068.0
     
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey73,722,98883,614,3629,891,37413.4
Serbia7,251,5496,871,547-380,002-5.2
Albania2,907,3612,829,741-77,620-2.7
Macedonia2,057,2842,068,80811,5240.6
Montenegro619,850620,7398890.1
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Population on 1st January of given year.
2Sorted by 2021, descending.
: Data is unavailable.
  • Ireland had the fourth highest percentage increase (9.5%) in population growth among the European Union 27 (EU27) countries between 2011 and 2021, after Malta (24.4%), Luxembourg (24.0%), and Sweden (10.2%).
  • Out of the EU27, ten countries experienced a decrease in population growth between 2011 and 2021: Italy, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Latvia.
  • Latvia had the biggest percentage fall in population at 8.7%, while Malta had the largest increase at 24.4%.
  • Germany had the largest population in the EU27 in 2021 at close to 83.2 million people, nearly 17 times the size of Ireland's population.
Country% Change
Malta24.4
Luxembourg24
Sweden10.2
Ireland9.5
Austria6.7
Cyprus6.7
Belgium5.1
Denmark5
Netherlands4.9
France3.8
Germany3.7
Finland2.9
Slovenia2.9
Greece2.1
EU271.6
Spain1.6
Slovakia1.2
Estonia0
Italy-0.2
Poland-0.6
Portugal-2.6
Hungary-2.6
Czech Republic-4
Romania-5
Croatia-5.9
Bulgaria-6.1
Lithuania-8.4
Latvia-8.7
Iceland15.8
Switzerland10.1
Norway9.6
Liechtenstein8
Turkey13.4
Macedonia0.6
Montenegro0.1
Albania-2.7
Serbia-5.2
CountryPopulation
Germany83155031
France67439599
Italy59257566
Spain47394223
Poland37840001
Romania19186201
Netherlands17475415
Belgium11566041
Greece10701777
Czech Republic10682547
Sweden10379295
Portugal10298252
Hungary9730772
Austria8932664
Bulgaria6916548
Denmark5840045
Finland5533793
Slovakia5459781
Ireland5006907
Croatia4036355
Lithuania2795680
Slovenia2108977
Latvia1893223
Estonia1330068
Cyprus896005
Luxembourg634730
Malta516100
Switzerland8667088
Norway5391369
Iceland368792
Liechtenstein39055
Turkey83614362
Serbia6871547
Albania2829741
Macedonia2068808
Montenegro620739
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.3 Ireland: Migration and natural increase, 2011-20211
'000 persons
YearImmigrantsEmigrantsNet migrationBirthsDeathsNatural increasePopulation changeTotal Population
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
202085.456.528.958.331.227.155.94,977.4
202165.254.011.255.532.722.834.05,011.5
Source: CSO, Population and Migration Estimates
1Data refer to the 12 months up to April of each year, and are preliminary for 2017 - 2021.
  • Inward migration to Ireland in the twelve months ending to April 2021 is estimated to have decreased by 23.7%, from 85,400 to 65,200 persons.

  • The number of emigrants from Ireland in 2012 was estimated to be 83,000, then dropped each year to 54,900 in 2019. It then increased to 56,500 in 2020 before falling to 54,000 in 2021.
  • The combined effect of these changes in immigration and emigration resulted in negative net migration between 2011 and 2014 (i.e. more people emigrated from Ireland than immigrated). However, by 2015 there was positive net migration, when a total of 5,900 more persons entered the country than left and positive net migration continued in each subsequent year. In 2021 there was a net migration of 11,200 persons.
  • The number of births in Ireland in 2021 was 55,500. 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 47,500 in 2011 to 22,800 in 2021.
  • The annual population change in 2011 was 20,100 persons, before decreasing to 18,800 in 2012. It increased to 64,500 in 2018, then decreased to 34,000 in 2021.
YearImmigrantsEmigrantsNet migration
20115330080600-27400
20125730083000-25700
20136270081300-18700
20146650075000-8500
201575900700005900
2016823006620016200
2017846006480019800
2018903005630034000
2019886005490033700
2020854005650028900
2021652005400011200
Table 1.4 Ireland: Immigration and Emigration by country of origin/destination, 2016-20211, 2
'000 persons
Year201620172018201920202021
Immigrants      
EU14 (excluding Ireland)114.715.114.914.013.86.9
EU15 to EU27211.912.211.09.18.77.7
UK18.218.720.119.715.319.1
US5.35.47.36.25.54.9
Australia6.97.17.25.86.45.1
Canada3.13.22.52.42.95.2
Rest of the world22.222.827.431.432.816.3
Total persons82.384.690.388.685.465.2
       
Emigrants      
EU14 (excluding Ireland)13.912.912.310.412.211.5
EU15 to EU279.39.76.53.89.14.5
UK14.412.111.411.610.018.2
US5.76.55.85.26.02.5
Australia5.35.34.56.56.12.6
Canada3.43.73.94.93.11.7
Rest of the world14.214.611.912.510.113.0
Total persons66.264.856.354.956.554.0
Source: CSO Population and Migration Estimates
1Countries before enlargement on 1 May 2004 (i.e. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Portugal). Formerly referred to as "EU13".
2Accession countries joined post 2004.
  • In 2021 there were 65,200 immigrants into Ireland. Of these, 19,100 arrived from the United Kingdom (UK), and 6,900 from the rest of the EU14, excluding Ireland (those EU countries before enlargement from May 2004 onwards).
  • About 16,300 persons immigrated from the rest of the world in 2021 (i.e. countries other than the EU27, US, Australia, the UK or Canada).
  • Of the total 54,000 persons who emigrated from Ireland in 2021, the number of people emigrating to the UK was 18,200, or 33.7%. 
  • Apart from the EU14 (excluding Ireland), there were more people immigrating into Ireland than emigrating from each region of origin in 2021. The total number of persons emigrating and immigrating to the EU14 (excluding Ireland) was 11,500 and 6,900 respectively.
YearEU14 (excluding Ireland)EU15 to EU27UKUSAustraliaCanadaRest of the World
2011970098001190033004500130012900
201210200101001010053005400170014500
201311600107001170040006000190016700
201411700108001350044005400220018600
201511900119001640044005800270022800
201614700119001820053006900310022200
201715100122001870054007100320022800
201814900110002010073007200250027400
20191400091001970062005800240031400
20201380087001530055006400290032800
2021690077001910049005100520016300
Table 1.5 By country: Young and old age dependency ratios, 20201,2
% of population aged 15-64
CountryYoung and old age dependency ratioYoung age dependency ratio (0-14)Old age dependency ratio (65 & over)
France62.129.033.1
Finland61.425.436.0
Sweden60.628.532.1
Estonia57.525.931.6
Greece57.522.435.1
Latvia57.525.232.3
Denmark56.825.731.1
Italy56.720.336.4
Bulgaria56.322.533.8
Belgium56.226.329.9
Czech Republic56.125.031.1
Portugal55.621.134.5
EU2755.523.532.0
Germany 54.921.233.7
Croatia54.822.232.6
Slovenia54.623.331.3
Netherlands54.224.130.1
Lithuania53.923.330.6
Ireland53.131.022.1
Romania53.024.029.0
Hungary52.522.230.3
Spain51.822.129.7
Poland50.823.327.5
Austria50.321.728.6
Slovakia47.923.424.5
Cyprus47.823.724.1
Malta46.919.727.1
Luxembourg43.923.020.9
    
United Kingdom57.528.229.3
    
EFTA Countries:
Norway53.526.626.9
Switzerland50.822.728.1
Iceland49.628.021.6
Liechtenstein49.221.927.3
   
EU Candidate Countries:
Serbia54.422.032.4
Montenegro50.527.023.5
Turkey47.534.113.4
Albania46.224.621.6
Macedonia44.323.420.9
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Data refer to 1st January.
2Ordered by "Young and old age dependency ratio", descending.
  • In 2020, 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 EU27 at 31.0%.
  • Ireland 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 EU27 at 22.1%.
  • This had the combined effect of a young and old age dependency ratio of 53.1% in Ireland, which is 2.4 percentage points less than the EU27 average of 55.5%.
  • The highest combined dependency ratio in the EU27 in 2020 was France at 62.1%, while the lowest was Luxembourg at 43.9%.
Table 1.6 By country: Total fertility rates, 2015-20191,2
Country20152016201720182019
France2.01.91.91.91.9
Romania1.61.71.81.81.8
Czech Republic1.61.61.71.71.7
Ireland1.91.81.81.81.7
Sweden1.91.91.81.81.7
Denmark1.71.81.81.71.7
Estonia1.61.61.61.71.7
Latvia1.71.71.71.61.6
Lithuania1.71.71.61.61.6
Slovenia1.61.61.61.61.6
Belgium1.71.71.71.61.6
Bulgaria1.51.51.61.61.6
Netherlands1.71.71.61.61.6
Slovakia1.41.51.51.51.6
Hungary1.51.51.51.61.6
Germany1.51.61.61.61.5
EU271.51.61.61.51.5
Croatia1.41.41.41.51.5
Austria1.51.51.51.51.5
Poland1.31.41.51.51.4
Portugal1.31.41.41.41.4
Finland1.71.61.51.41.4
Greece1.31.41.41.41.3
Luxembourg1.51.41.41.41.3
Cyprus1.31.41.31.31.3
Italy1.41.31.31.31.3
Spain1.31.31.31.31.2
Malta1.41.41.31.21.1
      
United Kingdom1.81.81.71.61.6
      
EFTA Countries:
Iceland1.81.71.71.71.7
Norway1.71.71.61.61.5
Liechtenstein1.41.61.41.61.5
Switzerland1.51.51.51.51.5
      
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey2.12.12.12.01.9
Montenegro1.71.81.81.81.8
Serbia1.51.51.51.51.5
Macedonia1.51.51.41.41.3
Albania1.61.51.51.4:
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Ordered by 2019, descending.
2United Kingdom Data provided by the Office for National Statistics.
: Data is unavailable.
  • Ireland had a fertility rate of 1.7 in 2019. This tied with the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia as the third highest rate in the EU27, after France (at 1.9) and Romania (at 1.8).
  • Malta had the lowest fertility rate in the EU27 in 2019 at 1.1.
  • Spain had the second lowest fertility rate in 2019, at 1.2. In general, Mediterranean countries had lower fertility rates than the EU27 average of 1.5.
  • All countries in the EU27 fell below the theoretical replacement fertility rate of 2.1 in 2019.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.7 By country: Proportion of live births outside of marriage and mean age of women at birth of first child, 2014-20191
 %Age
CountryProportion of live births outside marriageMean age of women at birth of first child
2014201920142019
Italy28.835.430.731.3
Spain42.548.430.631.1
Luxembourg39.140.430.231.1
Ireland36.338.429.830.7
Greece8.212.430.030.6
Netherlands48.752.429.530.1
Cyprus15.421.229.230.0
Portugal49.356.829.229.9
Germany35.033.329.429.8
Denmark52.554.129.229.7
Austria41.740.629.029.7
Sweden54.654.529.229.5
EU27:42.728.929.4
Finland42.845.428.629.4
Belgium49.4:28.529.1
Malta::28.629.0
Croatia17.421.528.128.9
Slovenia58.357.728.628.9
France58.561.028.328.8
Czech Republic46.748.228.128.5
Hungary47.338.727.728.3
Estonia59.453.726.628.2
Lithuania29.026.827.028.0
Poland24.225.426.927.6
Latvia44.038.426.327.3
Slovakia38.940.127.027.2
Romania31.831.026.226.9
Bulgaria58.858.425.826.3
     
United Kingdom47.6:28.6:
     
Switzerland21.726.530.631.0
Norway55.557.628.729.7
Iceland:69.427.528.7
Serbia25.126.927.528.1
Macedonia:12.426.627.0
Turkey2.82.8:26.4
Belarus14.9:25.2:
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1 Data sorted by mean age of women at birth of first child, 2019 in descending order.
: Data is unavailable.
  • The average age of first time mothers in Ireland increased from 29.8 years in 2014 to 30.7 in 2019. The EU27 average in 2019 was 29.4 years.
  • In 2019, 38.4% of live births in Ireland were outside of marriage, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from 2014.
  • In the EU27, more than half of live births occurred outside of marriage in eight countries in 2019: Netherlands (52.4%), Estonia (53.7%), Denmark (54.1%), Sweden (54.5%), Portugal (56.8%), Slovenia (57.7%), Bulgaria (58.4%), and France (61.0%).
  • The country with the lowest proportion of births outside of marriage in 2019 was Greece, at 12.4%.
Table 1.8 By country: Divorce rates, 2008, 2013 and 20181,2,3
Divorces per 1,000 people
Country200820132018
Ireland0.80.60.7
Malta:0.80.7
Slovenia1.11.11.1
Bulgaria1.91.51.5
Croatia1.21.41.5
Italy0.90.91.5
Romania1.71.41.6
Hungary2.52.01.7
Poland1.71.71.7
EU272.01.81.8
Germany2.32.11.8
Greece1.21.51.8
Netherlands2.02.01.8
Austria2.41.91.8
Slovakia2.42.01.8
Belgium3.32.22.0
Spain2.42.02.0
Luxembourg2.02.12.0
Portugal2.52.22.0
Czech Republic3.02.72.3
Estonia2.62.52.4
Cyprus2.12.22.4
Finland2.52.52.4
Sweden2.32.82.5
Denmark2.73.42.6
Latvia2.93.53.1
Lithuania3.23.43.1
France2.11.9:
    
United Kingdom2.22.01.5
    
EFTA Countries:   
Norway2.12.01.9
Switzerland2.62.11.9
Iceland1.7::
Liechtenstein2.8::
    
EU Candidate Countries:  
Macedonia0.61.00.8
Montenegro0.70.81.4
Serbia1.21.11.4
Albania1.1:1.7
Turkey1.41.61.7
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
12017 data used for Ireland and Greece.
2Sorted by 2018, ascending.
3United Kingdom data provided by the Office for National Statistics.
: Data is unavailable.
  • Ireland and Malta both had the lowest divorce rate in the EU27 in 2018, at 0.7 divorces per 1,000 persons.
  • The average divorce rate in the EU27 is 1.8 divorces per 1,000 persons. 
  • Latvia and Lithuania had the highest divorce rates in the EU27 in 2018, at 3.1 per 1,000 persons. Many of the countries in the EU27 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 By country: At risk of poverty rates, 20201,2
 %
CountryBefore social transfers and pensionsAfter social transfers and pensionsReduction
Bulgaria41.723.817.9
Romania44.623.421.2
Latvia38.421.616.8
Spain43.921.022.9
Lithuania41.020.920.1
Estonia39.720.719.0
Italy45.020.124.9
Germany43.718.525.2
Croatia39.318.321.0
Greece49.617.731.9
Luxembourg47.417.430.0
EU2743.017.225.8
Malta35.116.918.2
Portugal42.416.226.2
Sweden43.716.127.6
Poland43.914.829.1
Cyprus35.214.320.9
Belgium42.314.128.2
Austria42.413.928.5
France47.513.833.7
Netherlands37.213.423.8
Ireland37.913.224.7
Slovenia39.412.427.0
Hungary40.512.328.2
Finland42.812.230.6
Denmark40.412.128.3
Slovakia37.411.426.0
Czech Republic34.19.524.6
    
United Kingdom:::
    
EFTA Countries:
Switzerland38.015.522.5
Norway40.412.727.7
    
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey40.323.017.3
Serbia44.821.723.1
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions, CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)
12019 data used for Italy and EU27
2Sorted by "After social transfers and pensions", descending.
: Data is unavailable.
  • In 2020, Ireland had an at risk of poverty rate of 37.9% before social transfers and pensions. This was the sixth lowest in the EU27 in 2020, and was 5.1 percentage points below the EU27 average of 43.0%.
  • After social transfers and pensions, the proportion of those at risk of poverty in Ireland decreased by 24.7 percentage points down to 13.2%. The EU27 average was 17.2%.
  • Bulgaria had the highest at risk of poverty rate in 2020 after social transfers and pensions at 23.8%, while Czech Republic had the lowest at 9.5%.
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, 20201
 % of age group population
Age groupAt risk of povertyConsistent poverty
0-1716.98.0
18-3412.54.0
35-4911.75.2
50-6414.85.3
65+7.90.9
State13.25.0
Source: CSO SILC
1At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
  • In 2020, 13.2% of all persons in Ireland were considered at risk of poverty. People aged 0-17 had the highest at risk of poverty rate, at 16.9%, followed by people aged 50-64 at 14.8%. People aged over 65 had the lowest at risk of poverty rate at 7.9%.

  • Approximately one in every twenty people in Ireland were in consistent poverty in 2020 (5.0%).

  • In 2020, people aged 0-17 had the highest rate of consistent poverty at 8.0%, followed by those aged 50-64 at 5.3%. People aged 65+ had the lowest rate of consistent poverty in 2020 at 0.9%.

Age GroupAt risk of poverty rateConsistent poverty rate
0-1716.98
18-3412.54
35-4911.75.2
50-6414.85.3
65+7.90.9
State13.25
Table 1.11 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by household composition, 20201
   %
Household compositionAt risk of poverty Consistent poverty
1 adult aged 65 years and over15.8 1.9
1 adult aged less than 65 years30.7 12.2
2 adults, at least 1 aged 65 years and over3.8 0.4
2 adults, both aged less than 65 years8.9 4.1
3 or more adults6.7 0.8
1 adult, with children under 18 years31.8 21.6
2 adults, with 1-3 children under 18 years10.7 3.5
Other households with children under 18 years19.3 8.4
State13.2 5.0
Source: CSO SILC
1At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
  • In 2020, households consisting of 1 adult with children aged under 18 years had the highest at risk of poverty rate of 31.8%.
  • Households consisting of 1 adult with children under 18 years also had the highest rate of consistent poverty, at 21.6%.
  • 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 3.8% and 0.4% respectively.
Table 1.12 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by principal economic status, 2020
   %
Principal Economic StatusAt risk of poverty Consistent poverty
Employed6.3 1.7
Unemployed32.0 16.6
Retired8.1 1.0
Unable to work due to long-standing health problems33.7 17.0
Student, pupil20.2 6.5
Fulfilling domestic tasks19.4 5.9
State13.2 5.0
Source: CSO SILC
  • In 2020, the group with the highest at risk of poverty rate in Ireland were persons unable to work due to long-standing health problems, with a rate of 33.7%. This group was followed by those who were unemployed (32.0%).
  • Unemployed persons and those who were not working due to long-standing health problems were the only two groups with a consistent poverty rate higher than 10%, at 16.6% and 17.0% respectively.
  • Those who were at work had the lowest risk of poverty at 6.3% while those retired from employment had the lowest rate of consistent poverty at 1.0%.
Principal economic statusAt risk of povertyConsistent poverty
Employed6.31.7
Unemployed3216.6
Retired8.11
Unable to work due to long-standing health problems33.717
Student, pupil20.26.5
Fulfilling domestic tasks19.45.9
State13.25
Table 1.13 Ireland: Median weekly earnings by sex, 2013-2020
YearTotal PersonsMalesFemalesDifferential
2013530.00590.63469.74120.89
2014530.21587.52469.85117.67
2015533.90590.25473.55116.70
2016543.04599.92479.88120.04
2017556.61615.37488.85126.52
2018573.35636.63500.00136.63
2019598.36666.22523.10143.12
2020629.46690.56561.23129.33
Source: CSO Earnings
  • Between 2013 and 2020, the median weekly earnings across both sexes combined increased from €530.00 to €629.46.

  • The difference in median weekly earnings between males and females was decreasing between 2013 and 2015, where it dropped from €120.89 in 2013 to €116.70 in 2015. It then increased to €143.12 by 2019 before falling to €129.33 in 2020.

YearDifference
2013120.89
2014117.67
2015116.7
2016120.04
2017126.52
2018136.63
2019143.12
2020129.33
Table 1.14 By country: Gender pay gap, 2014-20181,2
as a % of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employee
Country20142015201620172018
Estonia28.126.724.824.921.8
Austria22.221.820.820.720.4
Czech Republic22.522.521.521.120.1
Germany22.321.821.120.420.1
Slovakia19.719.719.220.119.8
Latvia17.318.419.719.819.6
Finland18.417.517.517.116.9
France15.515.615.916.316.7
Netherlands16.216.115.615.114.7
Denmark16.015.115.114.814.6
EU2715.715.515.114.614.4
Hungary15.114.014.015.914.2
Lithuania13.314.214.415.214.0
Bulgaria14.215.514.614.313.9
Malta10.610.711.613.213.0
Sweden13.814.013.312.512.1
Spain14.914.114.813.511.9
Croatia8.7:11.612.311.4
Ireland13.913.914.214.411.3
Cyprus14.213.212.311.210.4
Slovenia7.08.28.18.49.3
Portugal14.916.013.910.88.9
Poland7.77.37.17.08.5
Belgium6.66.46.05.85.8
Italy6.15.55.35.05.5
Romania4.55.64.82.92.2
Luxembourg5.44.73.92.61.4
      
United Kingdom20.921.020.720.819.8
      
EFTA Countries:     
Switzerland17.417.917.417.618.6
Iceland16.717.515.815.313.8
Norway14.516.014.513.713.2
Source: Eurostat, Earnings
1Sorted by 2018, descending.
2Data unavailable for Greece.
: Data is unavailable.
  • The gender pay gap is defined as the difference between male and female gross hourly earnings as a percentage of average gross hourly male earnings. In 2008, Ireland had a gender pay gap of 12.6%. It then increased to 13.9% by 2010, before decreasing to 12.2% in 2012. The gender pay gap then increased to 14.4% in 2017, before falling to 11.3% in 2018.
  • Ireland had the ninth lowest gender pay gap in the EU27 in 2018, and was 3.1 percentage points below the EU27 average of 14.4%.
  • Estonia had the highest gender pay gap in 2018, at 21.8%. Luxembourg had the lowest, at 1.4%.
YearPay gap
200812.6
200912.6
201013.9
201112.7
201212.2
201312.9
201413.9
201513.9
201614.2
201714.4
201811.3
Table 1.15 By country: Net Official Development Assistance, 2016 - 20201,2
     % of GNI
Country20162017201820192020
Sweden0.91.01.11.01.1
Luxembourg1.01.01.01.01.0
Denmark0.80.70.70.70.7
Germany0.70.70.60.60.7
France0.40.40.50.40.6
Netherlands0.60.60.60.60.6
Belgium0.50.40.40.40.5
Finland0.40.40.40.40.5
Malta0.20.20.20.30.4
Ireland % GNI*0.40.40.40.40.4
Ireland % GNI0.30.30.30.30.3
Austria0.40.30.30.30.3
Hungary0.20.10.20.20.3
Iceland0.30.30.30.20.3
Estonia0.20.20.20.20.2
Italy0.30.30.20.20.2
Portugal0.20.20.20.20.2
Slovenia0.20.20.20.20.2
Spain0.30.20.20.20.2
Bulgaria0.10.10.10.10.1
Czech Republic0.10.20.10.10.1
Greece0.20.20.10.20.1
Latvia0.10.10.10.10.1
Lithuania0.10.10.10.10.1
Poland0.10.10.10.10.1
Romania0.10.10.10.10.1
Slovakia0.10.10.10.10.1
      
United Kingdom0.70.70.70.70.7
      
Norway1.11.00.91.01.1
Turkey0.81.01.11.21.1
Switzerland0.50.50.40.40.5
Source: OECD, CSO National Accounts
1Data are preliminary for 2020
2Sorted by 2020, descending
  • In 2020, 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 EU27 countries had attained the United Nation (UN) target ODA of 0.7%: Sweden (1.1%), Luxembourg (1.0%), Denmark (0.7%) and Germany (0.7%).

YearODA as a % of GNIODA as a % of GNI*UN Target % GNI
20100.50.50.7
20110.50.50.7
20120.40.50.7
20130.40.50.7
20140.40.40.7
20150.30.40.7
20160.30.40.7
20170.30.40.7
20180.30.40.7
20190.30.40.7
20200.30.40.7
Table 1.16 By country: Private households with internet access, 2017-20211,2
% of households
Country20172018201920202021
Luxembourg9793959499
Netherlands9898989799
Ireland8889919297
Finland9494949697
Denmark9793959596
Spain8386919596
Austria8989909095
France868990:93
Cyprus7986909393
Slovenia8287899093
Sweden9593969493
EU278688909192
Belgium8687909192
Germany9394959692
Estonia8890909092
Poland8284879092
Latvia7982859091
Hungary8283868891
Malta8584869091
Slovakia8181828690
Czech Republic8386878889
Romania7681848689
Lithuania7578828287
Portugal7779818487
Croatia7682818586
Greece7176798085
Bulgaria6772757984
Italy81848588:
      
United Kingdom94959697:
      
EFTA Countries:
Norway9796989699
Switzerland93:96:99
Iceland9899989898
      
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey8184889188
Serbia6873808182
Montenegro7172748081
Macedonia74798279:
Source: Eurostat, Science and Technology
1Data determines the percentage of households who have internet access at home, and all forms of internet use are included.
2Sorted by 2021, descending.
: Data is unavailable.
  • The percentage of households in Ireland with access to the internet has increased from 88% in 2017 to 97% in 2021.
  • In 2021, Ireland had the second highest rate of household access to the internet in the EU alongside Finland. The EU27 average was 92%.
  • Nearly all households (99%) in Luxembourg and the Netherlands had access to the internet, while the rate in Bulgaria was 84%, the lowest of the EU27.
  • Seven countries in the EU27 had internet access rates at or above 95% in 2019: Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Austria.

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