"Ireland and Northern Ireland - A joint census publication 2021-2022" released
Date published:
‘Ireland and Northern Ireland - A joint census publication 2021-2022’ now available.
Population of the island of Ireland exceeds 7 million for first time in 170 years
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) and NISRA published a joint census publication showing that the population of the island of Ireland has exceeded 7 million people for the first time since 1851, according to their joint census publication 2021-2022.
Key findings
- In 2022, the population of the island of Ireland stood at 7.1 million people, an increase of 26%, or 1.5 million people, over the 20 years since 2002.
- Between 2002 and 2022, the population in Ireland increased by 31% and by 13% in Northern Ireland.
- Ireland now accounts for 73% of the all-island population with 5.15 million residents, while Northern Ireland makes up 27% with 1.91 million people.
- Population density in Northern Ireland (141 people per km²) is almost twice that of Ireland (73 people per km²).
- The median age is 38 years in Ireland and 40 years in Northern Ireland, both below the EU average of 44 years.
- Northern Ireland had a higher proportion of people aged 65 years and over (18%) compared with Ireland (15%).
About the publication
This statistical release is the product of collaboration between the CSO and NISRA, bringing together findings from Census 2021 in Northern Ireland and Census 2022 in Ireland in a single comprehensive report.
It covers a wide range of topics including demographics, marital status, ethnicity, language, health, unpaid care, religion, employment, and commuting patterns across the island.
"Through our ongoing collaboration, NISRA and the CSO are committed to delivering high-quality analysis of census data from both jurisdictions - providing the public and policymakers with a richer understanding of life across the island," said Daniel McConville, Statistician in Census Office, NISRA.
Read the full report: Ireland and Northern Ireland – A joint census publication 2021-2022
View the NISRA statistics press notice for this joint census publication.
Thank you for your support
The successful publication of the Census 2022 results in Ireland and Census 2021 results in Northern Ireland would not have been achieved without the overwhelmingly positive response of the public. We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to complete their census form.
We would also like to thank everyone involved in the preparation of this release in the CSO and NISRA culminating in today’s successful publication of the results.
Previous release
The publication ‘Census-based statistics UK: 2021’ was released at 9:30am on 27 June 2025. It presents UK-wide estimates for a range of census topics as of March 2021. These figures are derived from Census 2021 totals for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, added to estimated equivalent data for Scotland.
Things you might have missed
Census 2021 public microdata teaching sample for Northern Ireland
A public microdata teaching sample from Census 2021 is now available for Northern Ireland!
This dataset includes a 1% sample of individual census records, carefully anonymised to remove any identifying information. It’s a valuable resource for anyone teaching or learning about statistics, social sciences, or population studies.
- Published: 16 January 2025
- Who can use it? Anyone – it’s free and open to all!
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