There were 11,661 French nationals usually resident in Ireland in April 2016, 1,912 persons more than in April 2011, a 20 per cent increase.
| Table 10.1 Population Usually Resident by Nationality and Census Year | |||
| 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | |
| French | 9,046 | 9,749 | 11,661 |
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5,576 French nationals were living in Dublin city and its suburbs in 2016, almost half the French population usually resident in Ireland (48%). A further 1,119 persons lived in Cork city.
The average age of the French population rose by 3 years between 2006 and 2016 (30.4 years to 33.4 years), but remained younger than the overall average age of the population of the State (37.3 years).
| Table 10.2 Population Usually Resident in the State by Nationality, Average Age, and Census Year | |||
| 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | |
| French | 30.4 | 32.2 | 33.4 |
| State | 35.5 | 36.1 | 37.3 |
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The age breakdown of French and State population can be seen by clicking an option below:
| Unable to work , retired or other economic status | Student or pupil | Looking after home/family | Unemployed | Persons at work | |
| French | 330 | 1211 | 497 | 581 | 8136 |
| State | 704262 | 415555 | 303034 | 294006 | 1970728 |
76 per cent of the French population (8,136 persons) aged 15 years and over was at work. Like the Spanish population usually resident in Ireland, this reflected the large proportion of French nationals aged 15 to 65 years (90%). Comparably, only 65 per cent of the State population was in this age bracket.
| Table 10.3 Population Aged 15 Years and Over, at Work, by Nationality, Broad Industrial Group, and Census Year | |||
| French 2011 | French 2016 | State 2016 | |
| At Work | 6,511 | 8,136 | 1,970,728 |
| Information and communication activities | 17% | 20% | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 15% | 15% | 10% |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 11% | 9% | 6% |
Table 10.3 shows the top three broad industrial groups among the French population at work in April 2016. One fifth (1,615) of French nationals were at work in the information and communication industry. This was the highest proportion of any of the ten nationalities profiled in this industry. Employment as programmers, sales executives and financial accountants as well as IT specialists, engineers, and customer service personnel were prevalent among French nationals. Comparably, only 4 per cent of the State population was at work in the same industry.
| Table 10.4 Population Aged 15 Years and Over, at Work, by Nationality and Broad Occupational Group, 2016 | ||
| French | State | |
| At Work | 8,136 | 1,970,728 |
| Associate professional and technical occupations | 24% | 12% |
| Professional Occupations | 23% | 19% |
| Sales and customer service occupations | 12% | 7% |
Table 10.4 shows the top three broad occupational groups among the French population at work. A quarter of the French population at work was in associate professional occupations (1,991 persons, 24%) – as business sales executives, and sales/financial managers, double the proportion for the State population (12%). A further 1,846 persons were in professional occupations (23% of French population at work) – as programmers, IT specialists, and management consultants.
| Postgraduate degree | Third level degree/professional qualification or both | Upper secondary, technical, vocational | Lower secondary, primary, no formal education, not stated | |
| State | 336913 | 1015481 | 1032231 | 1302960 |
| French | 3637 | 4633 | 1339 | 1146 |
There were 10,755 French nationals aged 15 years and over living in Ireland in April 2016 (92% of the French population). Of these, 34 per cent had a post graduate degree (3,637 persons), the greatest proportion of any of the ten profiled nationalities.
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