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Galway

Land Mass 615,052
% of Ireland 8.8%
Population Density (2022) 45.16
Galway

Human Resource

County Population 2022 277,737
Population Change (2016-2022) 7.6%

Key Centres of Population

Built Up Areas with Population over 1,000 (2022)
Galway city and suburbs, Co Galway 85,910
Tuam, Co Galway 9,647
Ballinasloe, Co Galway 6,597
Loughrea, Co Galway 6,322
Oranmore, Co Galway 5,819
Athenry, Co Galway 4,603
Gort, Co Galway 2,870
Bearna, Co Galway 2,336
Maigh Cuilinn, Co Galway 2,279
Oughterard, Co Galway 1,846
Portumna, Co Galway 1,690
Baile Chláir, Co Galway 1,632
Clifden, Co Galway 1,259
Headford, Co Galway 1,235
Craughwell, Co Galway 1,034

Source: CSO Census of Population 2022, Built Up Areas

Highest level of education completed by persons whose education has ceased (%)

2022
No Formal/Primary 10.0%
Secondary 38.3%
Third Level 51.6%

Source CSO Census of Population 2022

Natural Resources

Average Farm Size (AAU) 2020 26.5 ha
Farming, Fishing & Forestry workers (2022) 5,065

Employment

Employed* (2022) 125,519
Employment Change (2016-2022) 12.3%
Labour Force Participation Rate (2022) 60.8%
*Employed (incudes not stated, excludes unemployed)

Numbers Employed by Sector (2022)*

Total in Employment  117,251
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 5,065 (4.3%)
Industry & Construction 27,553 (23.5%)
Services 84,633 (72.2%)

Source: CSO Census of Population 2022

Download the 2-page WDC Insights Galway City’s Labour Market – Census 2016

Download the 2-page WDC Insights Galway County’s Labour Market – Census 2016

Agency Assisted Employment (2022)

Permanent Full Time Employment in Agency Assisted Companies 32,568

Source: DETE, Annual Employment Survey 2022

Local Sustainability

Fertility Rate (2022)* 11.0
Proportion of seats held by women in the 2019 local election** 21.1%
Domestic Building Energy Ratings (BER) % Grade B2 and above (2023)*** 13.5%

* Births per year per 1,000 population. Source: CSO Vital Statistics Yearly Summary (Galway city and county own calculation)

**Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Local Elections 2019 Results, Transfer of Votes and Statistics

*** Source: CSO Domestic Buildings Energy Ratings

Income and Earnings

Average Disposable Income per Person 2021* €23,495
Mean Annual Earnings 2021** €47,618

* Source: CSO County Incomes and Regional GDP

**Source: CSO Ireland, Earnings Analysis using Administrative Data Sources. 

Business Economy

Number of Active Enterprises 19,967
Percentage of Micro-Enterprises (10 or fewer employees) 92.9%
Percentage Change in Number of Enterprises (2019-2021) 11.6%

Source: CSO Business Demography 2021

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Labour Catchments in County Galway (2016)*

Download the 2-page county profile of Galway City’s Place of Residence and Place of Work, 2011 and 2016

Download the 2-page county profile of Galway County’s Place of Residence and Place of Work, 2011 and 2016

Galway city labour catchment 70,170 (2016),   64,455 (2006)
Ballinasloe labour catchment 4,804**(2016),   5,135  (2006)
Tuam labour catchment 5,506 (2016),   3,015  (2006)
Loughrea labour catchment 3,070 (2016),   2,311  (2006)
Clifden labour catchment 2,100 (2016),   1,845  (2006)
Gort labour catchment 1,329 (2016),   1,505  (2006)

* The labour catchment of a town is that area from which it draws most of its workforce. These figures are the number of workers living in the catchment areas of these towns.

** Part of the Ballinasloe labour catchment extends beyond the boundary of the Western Region and is not fully captured here.