Ireland’s population exceeds 5.5 million as housing and infrastructure demand continues

Ireland's population has reached an estimated 5,525,600 after growing by 66,900 people in the year to April 2026.

According to figures reported by Irish Building Magazine, this represents a 1.2% increase over the 12-month period. Although the rate of growth has slowed compared to the previous year, the expansion continues to drive demand for new housing and sustained investment in utilities, transport, education, healthcare, and other essential infrastructure.

Net inward migration represented 72% of the total annual population growth. Over the 12-month period, 110,600 people immigrated to Ireland, while 62,500 emigrated, resulting in a positive net migration of 48,100. Although immigration dropped by 12% and net migration fell by 19% compared to the prior year, it marked the fifth consecutive year that immigration exceeded 100,000 people.

In regional terms, Dublin's population grew to nearly 1.6 million, accounting for 28.9% of the national total. This share has increased from 28.3% in 2020, highlighting ongoing infrastructure and development pressures in the capital region.

Demographic shifts are also evident in the data. The population aged 65 and over reached 891,100, reflecting an increase of 165,000 since 2020. This demographic now constitutes 16.1% of Ireland's total population.