This publication is part of a series of results from Census 2022.
Over 10,300 people were counted as homeless on Census Night (03 April 2022).
Of these, 60% were male and 40% were female.
More than two-thirds of homeless people (7,238) were in the Dublin Region.
The average age of people counted as homeless was 29.5 years compared with an average age of 38.8 years for the State population.
Of those counted as homeless, 3,020 were young people aged 0 to 17 years.
More than 80% of homeless people aged 15 years and over were single in 2022 compared with 43% of the State population.
There were 1,367 family units enumerated as part of the homeless count, which represented 5,057 people.
This Census Profile 6 on Homelessness was originally due to be published on 16 November 2023. However, due to the identification of an incomplete data file during the data processing stage, the publication was postponed. In order to meet the required data standards, an additional administrative data file was required to prepare this profile and the necessary data governance processes have been completed. Under the Statistics Act, 1993, the CSO can legally use administrative data to complement survey data where needed (See Administrative Data FAQ - CSO - Central Statistics Office). This profile now meets the standards required for publishing official statistics.
The CSO apologises for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (23 May 2024) released Census 2022 Profile 6 Homelessness.
Commenting on the results, Sheelagh Bonham, Statistician in the Census Division, said:
"Today’s publication of the Census 2022 Homelessness report details the number of people who spent Census Night in either accommodation designated for homeless people or sleeping rough in April 2022. The report provides information on the numbers of males and females who were homeless, their ages, as well as their family status. Services for those who are homeless are provided on a regional basis across nine regions. In Census 2022, the 7,238 people who were homeless in the Dublin region made up more than two-thirds of all people who were homeless nationally. The South-West (Cork and Kerry) region had 731 people who were homeless. The Mid-East (Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and Louth) had the next highest number at 631 people.
Age and Sex
More than 6,000 of the 10,321 people who were homeless were male (60%). Just over 4,000 were female (40%). This compares with the State population breakdown of 49% male and 51% female.
The population of homeless people was generally younger than the State’s population. Just over 3,300 people who were homeless were aged under 20 years. This was almost one-third of the total homeless population. The average age of homeless people was 29.5 years compared with 38.8 years for the general population.
Females who were homeless had an average age of 25.5 years compared with 39.4 years for the general population. The average age of males who were homeless was 32 years, compared with an average of 38.2 years for the overall male population.
Marital Status
More than 80% of the homeless population aged 15 years and over who responded to the question on marital status (5,013 people) were single. This was 43% for the State population aged 15 and over. Only 12% of respondents who were homeless were married compared with 46% of all people aged 15 and over.
Families
There were almost 1,400 homeless families in Census 2022, accounting for more than 5,000 people. This included 711 one-parent families with children and 576 couples with children. Nearly 1,600 people were in families with four or more children.
Among the one-parent families, almost 300 had one child while 210 had two children. There were 166 couples with two children and 162 with four or more children.
Principal Economic Status and Level of Education
Based on the responses received to the census, 1,829 homeless people aged 15 years and over (59%) were in the labour force, and 776 of these were at work. Of the 1,053 unemployed homeless people, more than half (606) were in long-term unemployment (12 months or more).
Almost half of homeless people aged 15 years and over (3,754 people) provided information on their highest level of education. Of these, 1,183 people had completed lower or upper levels of secondary education, while 414 people were educated to third level.
Country of Citizenship and Ethnic Group/Background
Among those who responded to the question on country of citizenship, 3,148 people (65%) indicated that they had either Irish only or dual Irish citizenship. The biggest non-Irish groups were Romanian (732) and African (301), representing 15% and 6% of those who provided information on their census form.
Among people who responded to the ethnic group/background question, 1,830 (41%) identified as White Irish. A further 684 people identified as Black or Black Irish and 652 as Roma, both representing 15% of those who answered the question on the census form.
Appreciation
The publication of Census 2022 results could not have been achieved without the overwhelmingly positive response from the public and we thank everyone who completed their census form on 03 April 2022. We would also like to thank everyone involved in the Census 2022 campaign culminating in today’s successful publication of the results.”
For more commentary on the Census 2022 Profile 6 Homelessness results, please see the Press Release.