The 2016 Population and Migration Estimates released by the Central Statistics Office show that the number of immigrants coming to Ireland has increased by 14.4 per cent year-on-year to 79,300 from 69,300.
The number of emigrants has decreased by 5.8 per cent from 80,900 in April 2015 to 76,200 in the year to April 2016.
These combined changes have resulted in a return to net inward migration for Ireland (+3,100) for the first time since 2009.
Key figures from 2016 estimates:
- Irish nationals continued to experience net outward migration but at a lower rate than the previous year, decreasing from -23,200 in the year April 2015 to -10,700 over the year to April 2016.
- Net inward migration among non-Irish nationals increased for the fourth year in a row, from 11,600 to 13,800.
- Irish nationals remained the largest constituent group among emigrants, accounting for 31,800 (41.7 per cent) of the 76,200 people who emigrated. This represents a decrease of 3,500 (-9.9 per cent) on the year to April 2015 when 35,300 Irish nationals emigrated.
- The majority of those emigrating were either at work or a student in the period prior to departing with one in ten (10.4 per cent) being unemployed.
- Non Irish-nationals from outside the EU continued to display strong migration flows, accounting for 31,800 (40.1 per cent) of total immigrants and 18,500 (24.3 per cent) of total emigrants. This resulted in estimated net inward migration among non-Irish nationals from outside the EU of 13,300.
- Net migration of EU nationals was almost zero as immigration (26,500) cancelled emigration (25,800) flows.
- The combined effect of natural increase and positive net migration resulted in an overall increase in the population of 38,400 bringing the population estimate to 4.67 million in April 2016.
For more information:
See CSO statistical release Population and Migration Estimates (April 2016).
See also Useful Statistics.
