Charting some of the changes in Ireland’s economic and social history to mark 50 years of Ireland in the EU.
In this section we try to capture some of the societal changes that have occurred between 1973 and 2023 using key social measures.
We look at how our population has grown since 1973 and how our age profile has changed. We can see how brides and grooms are now older when they get married and how the ceremony choice has evolved. The average age of first-time mothers has also increased, as has the variety of names we choose for our children. The country’s changing economic fortunes can also be traced through migration trends throughout the last five decades, as can the growing emphasis on attaining higher levels of education. We also provide figures on car ownership and how our favourite car brands have changed over that time.
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.