The 2019 Population and Migration Estimates released by the Central Statistics Office show that the number of immigrants decreased by 1.9 per cent year-on-year, from 90,300 in 2018 to 88,600 in 2019. The number of emigrants decreased by (-2.5 per cent) from 56,300 to 54,900 in the year to April 2019.
These combined changes have resulted in a positive net inward migration (+33,700) for Ireland in the year up to April 2019. The combined effect of positive net migration and sustained natural increase resulted in an overall increase in the population of 64,500, bringing the population estimate to 4.92 million in April 2019.
Immigration, Emigration and Net Migration in Ireland, 2009 – 2019
Of the 88,600 people who migrated to Ireland in the year to April 2019, some 26,900 (30.4 per cent) were estimated to be Irish nationals. Irish nationals experienced a return to net outward migration of -2,100 in 2019 from +100 in 2018.
Key figures as at April 2019:
- 662,700 non-Irish nationals were resident in Ireland accounting for 12.7 percent of the overall population. (increased from 593,600 in 2018)
- 19,700 migrants arrived to live in in Ireland from the UK while 11,400 emigrants left Ireland to live in the UK.
- Non EU-nationals continued to display strong migration flows, accounting for 30,600 (34.5 per cent) of total immigrants and 11,200 (20.4 per cent) of total emigrants.
- 53,000 (66.9%) of immigrants aged 15 or over had a third-level qualification.
- Irish nationals remained the largest constituent group among emigrants, accounting for 29,000 (52.8 per cent) of the 54,900 people who emigrated. This represents an increase of 700 (+2.5 per cent) on the year to April 2018 when 28,300 Irish nationals emigrated.
- The number of births was 61,200, while 30,400 people died, resulting in a natural population increase of 30,800.
For more information:
See CSO statistical release: Population and Migration Estimates (April 2019)
