The preliminary estimates from Census 2022 have been released by the CSO.
In this short Insights Blog Post, I show changes in the Western Region’s total population since Census 2016.
A more detailed analysis of the Census release will be contained in future blogs and WDC publications.
It is important to note that these estimates are provisional and subject to change until the final figures are released by the CSO next year.
Summary
The preliminary results show an estimated national population of 5,123,536 on Census night. This is a remarkable figure as it is the highest population recorded since the 1841 Census and represents a 7.6% increase since 2016.
The seven-county Western Region’s population was estimated at 882,323 a 6.5% increase from 2016.
The Western region’s share of the total national population fell slightly from 17.4% in 2016 to 17.2% in 2022.
All counties recorded growth and this is in contrast to 2016 when three Western Region counties recorded population declines (Mayo, Sligo & Donegal).*
For two Western Region counties, the population growth estimates were above the 7.6% national average (Leitrim 9.5% and Roscommon 8.4%).
The lowest population growth in the country was also recorded in the Western Region (Donegal 4.5%).
*Note Sligo recorded a population decline initially but the revisions showed slight growth of 0.2% from 2011-2016.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the WDC
Dr Luke McGrath
Economist
Policy Analysis Team
