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Western Region Analysis

Land Mass (ha) 2,601,501
% of Ireland 37.10%
Population Density (persons per sq km) (2022) 34.07
Western Region Analysis

Human Resource

Population (2022) 886,385
Population Change (2016-2022) 7.0%

 

 

Top 12 Centres of Population in the Western Region

 

Top 12 Centres of Population* in the Western Region (2016) Built Up Areas (2022) in Western Region Population > 5,000
Galway city and suburbs, Co Galway 85,910
Ennis, Co Clare 27,923
Letterkenny, Co Donegal 22,549
Sligo, Co Sligo 20,608
Castlebar, Co Mayo 13,054
Ballina, Co Mayo 10,556
Shannon, Co Clare 10,256
Tuam, Co Galway 9,647
Buncrana, Co Donegal 6,971
Westport, Co Mayo 6,597
Ballinasloe, Co Galway 6,872
Roscommon, Co Roscommon 6,555
Loughrea, Co Galway 6,322
Oranmore, Co Galway 5,819
Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Co Donegal 5,406
*Built Up Areas, Census 2022

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

No Formal/Primary 12.1%
Secondary 42.5%
Third Level 45.4%

Source: CSO Census of Population 2022

Natural Resources

Average Farm Size (AAU) 2020 26.7 ha
Farming, Fishing & Forestry workers (2022) 20,016 (5.6%)

Employment

Employed (2022) 382,761
Employment Change (2016-2022) 12.8%
Labour Force Participation Rate (2022) 58.8%

Numbers Employed by Sector (2022)

Total 359,439
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 20,016 (5.6%)
Industry & Construction 78,461 (21.8%)
Services 260,962 (72.6%)

Source: CSO Census of Population 2022

Download the 2-page WDC Insights Census 2016: What do people in the Western Region work at?

Agency Assisted Employment

Permanent Full Time Employment in Agency Assisted Companies (2022) 72,067

Source: DETE, Annual Employment Survey 2022

Local Sustainability

Fertility Rate (2022)* 10.4
Proportion of seats held by women in the 2019 local election** 15%
Domestic Building Energy Ratings (BER) % Grade B2 and above (2023)*** 11.2%

* Births per year per 1,000 population.  Source: CSO Vital Statistics Yearly Summary 2022 (Western Region estimate only 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 July 2023 (Western Region own calculation)

Income and Earnings

Average Disposable Income per Person (2021)* €21,682
Mean Annual Earnings (2021)** €44,532

* Source: CSO County Incomes and Regional GDP  (Western Region own calculations)

**Source: CSO Ireland, Earnings Analysis using Administrative Data Sources (Western Region own calculations)

Business Economy

Number of Active Enterprises (2021) 61,170
Percentage of Micro-Enterprises (10 or fewer employees) 93.1%
Percentage Change in Number of Enterprises (2019-2021) 11.6%

Source: CSO Business Demography 2021 

Labour Catchments in the Western Region (2016)

Download the 2-page WDC Insights Census 2016: Where do People in the Western Region Work?

Galway city labour catchment 70,170 (2016),  64,455 (2006)
Ennis labour catchment 21,409 (2016),  21,333 (2006)
Sligo borough labour catchment 21,824 (2016),  20,321 (2006)
Letterkenny labour catchment 19,717 (2016),  17,886 (2006)
Castlebar labour catchment 13,931 (2016),  13,757 (2006)
Roscommon labour catchment 7,235 (2016),  7,306 (2006)
Carrick-on-Shannon labour catchment 7,785 (2016),  6,632 (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.