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Measuring Ireland's Progress 2019

Society

Table 1.1 Ireland: Population distribution by age group, 2010-20201
Year0 - 14 years15 - 24 years25 - 44 years45 - 64 years65 years and overTotal
PercentageThousands
201021.013.531.722.411.34,554.8
201121.312.731.722.711.64,574.9
201221.512.331.222.912.04,593.7
201321.512.230.823.112.34,614.7
201421.512.230.323.312.74,645.4
201521.412.229.923.513.04,687.8
201621.212.129.623.813.34,739.6
201721.012.229.224.113.64,792.5
201820.812.528.724.213.94,857.0
201920.512.628.424.414.14,921.5
202020.212.728.124.614.54,977.4
Source: CSO Population and Migration Estimates
1Persons in April of each year. Data are preliminary for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
  • Ireland's population was 4.98 million in April 2020, an increase of 1.1% (i.e. 59,000 persons) on 2019.
     
  • The proportion of the population aged 65 years or over has increased over the last ten years, from 11.3% in 2010 to 14.5% in 2020. Similarly, the proportion of the population aged 45-64 years also increased, from 22.4% in 2010 to 24.6% in 2020.

  • Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 years decreased from 13.5% in 2010 to 12.7% in 2020, while the proportion of the population aged 25-44 years also decreased from 31.7% in 2010 to 28.1% in 2020.

  • Since 2010, the proportion of the population aged 0-14 years decreased marginally, from 21.0% in 2010 to 20.2% in 2020. Table 1.1 demonstrates that Ireland has an ageing population.

  • The proportion of the population aged 15-64 years decreased from 67.7% in 2010 to 65.4% in 2020.
Table 1.2 By country: Population, 2010 and 20201,2
Country20102020Change% Change
EU27440,660,421447,706,2097,045,7881.6
Germany81,802,25783,166,7111,364,4541.7
France64,658,85667,098,8242,439,9683.8
Italy59,190,14360,244,6391,054,4961.8
Spain46,486,61947,329,981843,3621.8
Poland38,022,86937,958,138-64,731-0.2
Romania20,294,68319,317,984-976,699-4.8
Netherlands16,574,98917,407,585832,5965.0
Belgium10,839,90511,549,888709,9836.5
Greece11,119,28910,709,739-409,550-3.7
Czech Republic10,462,08810,693,939231,8512.2
Sweden9,340,68210,327,589986,90710.6
Portugal10,573,47910,295,909-277,570-2.6
Hungary10,014,3249,769,526-244,798-2.4
Austria8,351,6438,901,064549,4216.6
Bulgaria7,421,7666,951,482-470,284-6.3
Denmark5,534,7385,822,763288,0255.2
Finland5,351,4275,525,292173,8653.2
Slovakia5,390,4105,457,87367,4631.3
Ireland4,549,4284,963,839414,4119.1
Croatia4,302,8474,058,165-244,682-5.7
Lithuania3,141,9762,794,090-347,886-11.1
Slovenia2,046,9762,095,86148,8852.4
Latvia2,120,5041,907,675-212,829-10.0
Estonia1,333,2901,328,976-4,314-0.3
Cyprus819,140888,00568,8658.4
Luxembourg502,066626,108124,04224.7
Malta414,027514,564100,53724.3
     
United Kingdom62,510,19767,025,5424,515,3457.2
     
EFTA Countries:
Switzerland7,785,8068,606,033820,22710.5
Norway4,858,1995,367,580509,38110.5
Iceland317,630364,13446,50414.6
Liechtenstein35,89438,7482,8548.0
     
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey72,561,31283,154,99710,593,68514.6
Serbia7,306,6776,926,705-379,972-5.2
Albania2,918,6742,845,955-72,719-2.5
Macedonia2,052,7222,076,25523,5331.1
Montenegro619,001621,8732,8720.5
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Population on 1st January of given year.
2Sorted by 2020, descending.
  • Ireland had the fourth highest percent increase (9.1%) in population growth among the European Union 27 (EU27) countries between 2010 and 2020, after Luxembourg (24.7%), Malta (24.3%), and Sweden (10.6%).

  • Out of the EU27, ten countries experienced a decrease in population growth between 2010 and 2020: Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Latvia and Lithuania.

  • Lithuania had the biggest percentage fall in population at 11.1%, while Luxembourg had the largest increase at 24.7%.

  • Germany had the largest population in the EU27 in 2020 at just over 83.1 million people, nearly 17 times the size of Ireland's population.
Country% Change
Luxembourg24.7
Malta24.3
Sweden10.6
Ireland9.1
Cyprus8.4
Austria6.6
Belgium6.5
Denmark5.2
Netherlands5
France3.8
Finland3.2
Slovenia2.4
Czech Republic2.2
Italy1.8
Spain1.8
Germany1.7
EU271.6
Slovakia1.3
Poland-0.2
Estonia-0.3
Hungary-2.4
Portugal-2.6
Greece-3.7
Romania-4.8
Croatia-5.7
Bulgaria-6.3
Latvia-10
Lithuania-11.1
United Kingdom7.2
Iceland14.6
Switzerland10.5
Norway10.5
Liechtenstein8
Turkey14.6
Macedonia1.1
Montenegro0.5
Albania-2.5
Serbia-5.2
CountryPopulation
Germany83166711
France67098824
Italy60244639
Spain47329981
Poland37958138
Romania19317984
Netherlands17407585
Belgium11549888
Greece10709739
Czech Republic10693939
Sweden10327589
Portugal10295909
Hungary9769526
Austria8901064
Bulgaria6951482
Denmark5822763
Finland5525292
Slovakia5457873
Ireland4963839
Croatia4058165
Lithuania2794090
Slovenia2095861
Latvia1907675
Estonia1328976
Cyprus888005
Luxembourg626108
Malta514564
United Kingdom67025542
Switzerland8606033
Norway5367580
Iceland364134
Liechtenstein38748
Turkey83154997
Serbia6926705
Albania2845955
Macedonia2076255
Montenegro621873
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.3 Ireland: Migration and natural increase, 2010-20201
'000 persons
YearImmigrantsEmigrantsNet migrationBirthsDeathsNatural increasePopulation changeTotal Population
201041.869.2-27.577.228.448.821.44,554.8
201153.380.6-27.475.127.747.520.14,574.9
201257.383.0-25.773.228.744.518.84,593.7
201362.781.3-18.769.429.839.621.04,614.7
201466.575.0-8.568.429.239.230.84,645.4
201575.970.05.966.429.936.542.34,687.8
201682.366.216.265.429.835.651.84,739.6
201784.664.819.863.930.833.152.94,792.5
201890.356.334.061.230.730.564.54,857.0
201988.654.933.761.230.430.864.54,921.5
202085.456.528.958.331.227.155.94,977.4
Source: CSO, Population and Migration Estimates
1Data refer to the 12 months up to April of each year, and are preliminary for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
  • Inward migration to Ireland in the twelve months ending to April 2020 is estimated to have decreased by 3.6%, from 88,600 to 85,400 persons.

  • The number of emigrants from Ireland in 2012 was estimated to be 83,000, then dropped each year to 54,900 in 2019. It since increased to 56,500 in 2020.

  • The combined effect of these trends resulted in negative net migration between 2010 and 2014 (i.e. more people emigrated from Ireland than immigrated). By 2015, there was a return to positive net migration, when a total of 5,900 more persons entered the country than left. By 2020, there was a net migration of 28,900 persons.

  • The number of births in Ireland in 2020 was 58,300. Over the last ten years, the natural increase in the population (i.e. the number of births less the number of deaths) has decreased from 48,800 in 2010 to 27,100 in 2020.

  • The annual population change in 2010 was 21,400 persons, before decreasing to 18,800 in 2012. It increased to 64,500 in 2019, then decreased again to 55,900 in 2020.
YearImmigrantsEmigrantsNet migration
20104180069200-27500
20115330080600-27400
20125730083000-25700
20136270081300-18700
20146650075000-8500
201575900700005900
2016823006620016200
2017846006480019800
2018903005630034000
2019886005490033700
2020854005650028900
Table 1.4 Ireland: Immigration and Emigration by country of origin/destination, 2015-20201,2
'000 persons
Year201520162017201820192020
Immigrants      
United Kingdom16.418.218.720.119.715.3
EU14 excluding Ireland (UK and Ireland)111.914.715.114.914.013.8
EU15 to EU27211.911.912.211.09.18.7
United States4.45.35.47.36.25.5
Australia5.86.97.17.25.86.4
Canada2.73.13.22.52.42.9
Rest of the world22.822.222.827.431.432.8
Total persons75.982.384.690.388.685.4
       
Emigrants      
United Kingdom16.614.412.111.411.610.0
EU14 excluding Ireland (UK and Ireland)113.313.912.912.310.412.2
EU15 to EU275.99.39.76.53.89.1
United States5.15.76.55.85.26.0
Australia6.55.35.34.56.56.1
Canada6.63.43.73.94.93.1
Rest of the world15.914.214.611.912.510.1
Total persons70.066.264.856.354.956.5
Source: CSO Population and Migration Estimates
1Countries before enlargement on 1 May 2004 (i.e. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Portugal). Formerly referred to as "EU13".
2Accession countries joined post 2004.
  • In 2020 there were 85,400 immigrants into Ireland. Of these, 15,300 arrived from the United Kingdom (UK), and 13,800 from the rest of the EU 14, excluding the UK and Ireland (those EU countries before enlargement in May 2004).
  • About 32,800 persons immigrated from the rest of the world in 2020 (i.e. countries other than the EU27, USA, Australia or Canada).
  • Of the total 56,500 persons who emigrated from Ireland in 2020, the number of people emigrating to the UK was 10,000, or 17.7%. 
  • Excluding the United States, Canada, and the EU15 to EU27 countries, there were more people immigrating into Ireland than emigrating from each region of origin in 2020. The total persons emigrating to the United States was 6,000 (while 5,500 immigrated from the United States), the total persons emigrating to Canada was 3,100 (while 2,900 persons immigrated from Canada) and the total persons emigrating from the EU15 to EU27 countries was 9,100 (while 8,700 persons immigrated from this region).
YearAustraliaCanadaEU14 excluding UK and IrelandEU15 to EU27Other countriesUnited KingdomUnited States
20106.50.57.88.77.69.11.7
20114.51.39.79.812.911.93.3
20125.41.710.210.114.510.15.3
201361.911.610.716.711.74
20145.42.211.710.818.613.54.4
20155.82.711.911.922.816.44.4
20166.93.114.711.922.218.25.3
20177.13.215.112.222.818.75.4
20187.22.514.91127.420.17.3
20195.82.4149.131.419.76.2
20206.42.913.88.732.815.35.5
Table 1.5 By country: Young and old age dependency ratios, 20191,2
% of population aged 15-64
CountryYoung and old age dependency ratioYoung age dependency ratio (0-14)Old age dependency ratio (65 & over)
France61.529.032.5
Finland60.825.735.1
Sweden60.528.531.9
Greece57.222.534.6
Estonia56.725.731.0
Latvia56.624.931.7
Denmark56.425.830.6
Italy56.320.635.7
Belgium55.826.429.5
Bulgaria55.522.333.2
Portugal55.121.233.9
Czech Republic55.024.630.4
EU2754.923.531.4
Germany54.221.033.2
Netherlands53.924.429.5
Croatia53.822.231.6
Slovenia53.723.230.5
Lithuania53.523.230.4
Ireland53.031.421.6
Romania52.023.828.1
Spain51.922.429.5
Hungary51.322.029.3
Austria49.921.628.2
Poland49.322.926.4
Malta47.820.227.6
Cyprus47.623.823.8
Slovakia46.623.123.5
Luxembourg43.823.120.7
    
United Kingdom57.128.128.9
    
EFTA Countries:
Norway53.426.926.4
Switzerland50.322.627.8
Iceland49.728.421.3
Liechtenstein48.421.926.5
    
EU Candidate Countries:
Serbia53.221.931.3
Montenegro49.526.922.7
Turkey47.434.512.9
Albania45.625.120.5
Macedonia43.723.520.2
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Data refer to 1st January.
2Sorted by "Young and old age dependency ratio", descending.
  • In 2019, Ireland had the highest young-age dependency ratio (the percentage of the population aged under 15 years as a proportion of those aged 15-64) in the EU27 at 31.4%.

  • Ireland also had the second lowest old-age dependency ratio (the percentage of the population aged over 65 as a proportion of those aged 15-64) in the EU27 at 21.6%.

  • This had the combined effect of a young and old age dependency ratio of 53.0% in Ireland, which is 1.9 percentage points less than the EU27 average of 54.9%.

  • The highest combined dependency ratio in the EU27 in 2019 was France at 61.5%, while the lowest was Luxembourg at 43.8%.
Table 1.6 By country: Total fertility rates, 2014-20181
Country20142015201620172018
France2.02.01.91.91.9
Romania1.61.61.71.71.8
Sweden1.91.91.91.81.8
Ireland1.91.91.81.81.8
Denmark1.71.71.81.81.7
Czech Republic1.51.61.61.71.7
Estonia1.51.61.61.61.7
Lithuania1.61.71.71.61.6
Belgium1.71.71.71.71.6
Latvia1.71.71.71.71.6
Slovenia1.61.61.61.61.6
Netherlands1.71.71.71.61.6
Germany1.51.51.61.61.6
Bulgaria1.51.51.51.61.6
EU271.51.51.61.61.6
Hungary1.41.51.51.51.6
Slovakia1.41.41.51.51.5
Croatia1.51.41.41.41.5
Austria1.51.51.51.51.5
Poland1.31.31.41.51.5
Portugal1.21.31.41.41.4
Finland1.71.71.61.51.4
Luxembourg1.51.51.41.41.4
Greece1.31.31.41.41.4
Cyprus1.31.31.41.31.3
Italy1.41.41.31.31.3
Spain1.31.31.31.31.3
Malta1.41.41.41.31.2
     
United Kingdom1.81.81.81.71.7
     
EFTA Countries:
Iceland1.91.81.71.71.7
Liechtenstein1.61.41.61.41.6
Norway1.81.71.71.61.6
Switzerland1.51.51.51.51.5
     
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey2.22.12.12.12.0
Montenegro1.81.71.81.81.8
Serbia1.51.51.51.51.5
Macedonia1.51.51.51.41.4
Albania1.71.61.51.51.4
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
1Ordered by 2018, descending.
  • Ireland had a fertility rate of 1.8 in 2018. This tied with Romania and Sweden as the second highest rate in the EU27, after France (at 1.9).

  • Malta had the lowest fertility rate in the EU27 in 2018 at 1.2.

  • Spain, Italy and Cyprus all had the second lowest fertility rate in 2018, at 1.3. In general, Mediterranean countries had lower fertility rates than the EU27 average of 1.6

  • All countries in the EU27 fell below the theoretical replacement fertility rate of 2.1 in 2018.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.7 By country: Proportion of live births outside of marriage and mean age of women at birth of first child, 2013-20181
 %Age
CountryProportion of live births outside marriageMean age of women at birth of first child
2013201820132018
Italy26.934.030.631.2
Spain40.947.330.431.0
Luxembourg37.839.530.030.9
Ireland35.337.929.630.5
Greece7.011.129.930.4
Netherlands47.451.929.430.0
Cyprus20.2:29.029.8
Portugal47.655.928.929.8
Germany34.833.929.329.7
Denmark51.554.229.029.5
Austria41.441.328.829.5
EU2740.0:28.829.3
Sweden54.454.529.129.3
Malta25.9:28.429.2
Finland42.144.628.529.2
Belgium49.5:28.529.0
Slovenia58.057.728.528.8
Croatia16.120.728.028.8
France57.260.428.128.7
Czech Republic45.048.528.128.4
Hungary45.643.927.728.2
Lithuania29.526.426.727.8
Estonia58.954.126.527.7
Poland23.426.426.727.4
Latvia44.639.526.127.2
Slovakia37.040.026.927.1
Romania31.430.925.926.7
Bulgaria59.158.525.726.2
     
United Kingdom47.5:28.329.0
     
Switzerland21.125.730.430.9
Norway55.256.428.629.5
Iceland:70.527.428.3
Serbia25.126.827.328.1
North Macedonia11.312.126.426.9
Turkey2.72.9:26.3
Belarus16.113.025.125.8
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions
1 Data sorted by mean age of women at birth of first child, 2018 in descending order.
: indicates data unavailable.
  • The average age of first time mothers in Ireland increased from 29.6 years in 2013 to 30.5 in 2018. The EU27 average in 2018 was 29.3 years.

  • In 2018, 37.9% of live births in Ireland were outside of marriage, an increase of 2.6 percentage points from 2013.
  • In the EU27, more than half of live births occurred outside of marriage in eight countries in 2018: Netherlands (51.9%), Estonia (54.1%), Denmark (54.2%), Sweden (54.5%), Portugal (55.9%),  Slovenia (57.7%), Bulgaria (58.5%), and France (60.4%).

  • The country with the lowest proportion of births outside of marriage in 2018 was Greece, at 11.1%.
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.8 By country: Divorce rates, 2007, 2012 and 20171,2
Divorces per 1,000 people
Country200720122017
Ireland0.80.60.7
Malta:1.10.7
Slovenia1.31.21.2
Bulgaria2.21.61.5
Croatia1.11.31.5
Italy0.90.91.5
Romania1.71.61.6
Poland1.71.71.7
Greece1.21.31.8
Austria2.52.01.8
Slovakia2.32.01.8
EU272.01.91.9
Germany2.32.21.9
France2.12.01.9
Hungary2.52.21.9
Netherlands2.02.11.9
Belgium2.82.32.0
Luxembourg2.32.02.0
Spain2.82.22.1
Portugal2.42.42.1
Cyprus2.12.42.2
Czech Republic3.02.52.4
Finland2.52.42.4
Sweden2.32.52.4
Estonia2.82.42.5
Denmark2.62.82.6
Lithuania3.53.53.0
Latvia3.43.63.1
United Kingdom2.32.01.8
EFTA Countries:
Switzerland2.62.21.9
Norway2.22.02.0
Liechtenstein2.82.4:
Iceland1.7::
EU Candidate Countries:
Macedonia0.70.91.0
Montenegro0.70.81.2
Serbia1.21.01.3
Albania1.0:1.6
Turkey1.31.61.6
Source: Eurostat, Population and Social Conditions
12016 data used for EU27, France, and United Kingdom.
2Sorted by 2017, ascending.

  • Ireland and Malta both had the lowest divorce rate in the EU27 in 2017, at 0.7 divorces per 1,000 persons.

  • The average divorce rate in the EU27 was 1.9 divorces per 1,000 persons in 2017. 

  • Latvia had the highest divorce rate in the EU27 in 2017, at 3.1 per 1,000 persons. Many of the countries in the EU27 with the highest divorce rates are in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions.

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.9 By country: At risk of poverty rates, 20191,2
 %
CountryBefore social transfers and pensionsAfter social transfers and pensionsReduction
Romania45.223.821.4
Latvia39.322.916.4
Bulgaria42.222.619.6
Estonia39.321.717.6
Spain44.320.723.6
Lithuania42.920.622.3
Italy45.820.325.5
Croatia41.018.322.7
Greece48.417.930.5
Luxembourg46.117.528.6
Portugal43.417.226.2
Sweden44.017.126.9
Malta36.817.119.7
EU2743.116.526.6
Poland43.915.428.5
Belgium42.514.827.7
Germany41.114.826.3
Cyprus35.114.720.4
France45.713.432.3
Austria44.913.331.6
Netherlands37.313.224.1
Ireland41.412.828.6
Denmark38.912.526.4
Hungary43.012.330.7
Slovakia37.112.224.9
Slovenia39.212.027.2
Finland42.811.631.2
Czech Republic34.510.124.4
   
United Kingdom43.116.426.7
   
EFTA Countries:
Norway40.012.727.3
Switzerland38.116.022.1
    
EU Candidate Countries:
Serbia46.623.223.4
Turkey41.222.418.8
Source: Eurostat Population and Social Conditions, CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC)
12018 data used for Italy, France, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.
2Sorted by "After social transfers and pensions", descending.
  • In 2019, Ireland had an at risk of poverty rate of 41.4% before social transfers and pensions. This was the twelfth lowest in the EU27 in 2019, and was 1.7% below the EU27 average of 43.1%.

  • After social transfers and pensions, the proportion of those at risk of poverty in Ireland decreased by 28.6 percentage points down to 12.8%. The EU27 average was 16.5%.

  • Romania had the highest at risk of poverty rate in 2019 after social transfers and pensions at 23.8%, while Czech Republic had the lowest at 10.1%.
YearBefore social transfers and pensionsAfter social transfers and pensions
200946.215
201050.115.2
201150.515.2
201250.116.3
201349.215.7
201448.216.4
201546.316.2
201644.516.8
201742.615.6
20184114.9
201941.412.8
This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.10 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by age group, 2017-20191
% of age group population
Age groupAt risk of poverty Consistent poverty
201720182019 201720182019
0-1718.415.915.3 8.87.78.1
18-6416.213.712.3 7.05.65.1
65+8.611.410.5 1.71.72.3
State15.714.012.8 6.75.65.5
Source: CSO SILC
1At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
  • In 2019, 12.8% of all persons in Ireland were considered at risk of poverty. People aged 0-17 had the highest at risk of poverty rate, at 15.3%, followed by people aged 18-64 at 12.3%. People aged over 65 had the lowest at risk of poverty rate at 10.5%.

  • Approximately one in every eighteen people in Ireland were in consistent poverty in 2019 (5.5%). This was a small decrease from 2018 (5.6%), and a 1.2 percentage point decrease from 2017, where the rate was approximately one in fifteen people (6.7%).

  • In 2019, 8.1% of persons aged 0-17 were in consistent poverty, 5.1% of those aged 18-64, and 2.3% for those aged 65 and over.

  • With the exception of those aged 18-64, each age group saw an increase in consistent poverty rates between 2018 and 2019.
Agr groupAt risk of povertyConsistent poverty
0-1715.38.1
18-6412.35.1
65+10.52.3
State12.85.5
Table 1.11 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by household composition, 2017-2019
%
Household compositionAt risk of povertyConsistent poverty
 201720182019 201720182019
1 adult aged 65 years and over2.86.97.01.63.13.8
1 adult aged less than 65 years10.312.311.514.012.29.4
2 adults, at least 1 aged 65 years and over5.44.54.42.91.31.6
2 adults, both aged less than 65 years8.211.58.78.29.58.5
3 or more adults12.77.07.47.99.65.5
1 adult, with children under 18 years14.714.613.817.820.918.7
2 adults, with 1-3 children under 18 years20.423.431.019.929.337.1
Other households with children under 18 years25.619.816.227.714.315.5
State15.714.012.8 6.75.65.5
Source: CSO SILC
1At risk of poverty indicator calculated using the national income definition and equivalence scale, see Appendix 1.
  • In 2019, households consisting of 2 adults, with 1-3 children under 18 years had the highest at risk of poverty rate of 31.0%.

  • Consistent poverty rates were also highest in this group in 2019, at 37.1%.

  • Households consisting of two adults (with at least one aged 65 or over) had both the lowest at risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates, at 4.4% and 1.6% respectively.
Table 1.12 Ireland: At risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates by principal economic status, 2017-2019
       %
Principal Economic StatusAt risk of poverty Consistent poverty
 201720182019 201720182019
At work5.45.14.6 1.41.61.3
Unemployed42.047.335.4 24.127.620.2
Student35.422.219.4 13.87.85.4
Engaged on home duties25.523.222.8 10.48.49.9
Retired from employment9.112.311.1 1.51.92.1
Unable to work due to permanent sickness/disability35.447.737.5 24.021.318.1
State15.714.012.8 6.75.65.5
Source: CSO SILC
  • In 2019, the group with the highest at risk of poverty rate in Ireland were persons not at work due to a permanent illness or disability, with a rate of 37.5%. This group was followed by those who were unemployed (35.4%).

  • Unemployed persons and those who were not working due to illness or disability were the only two groups with a consistent poverty rate higher than 10%, at 20.2% and 18.1% respectively.

  • Those who were at work had both the lowest at risk of poverty and consistent poverty rates, at 4.6% and 1.3% respectively.
Principal economic statusAt risk of povertyConsistent poverty
At work4.61.3
Unemployed35.420.2
Student19.45.4
Engaged on home duties22.89.9
Retired from employment11.12.1
Unable to work due to permanent sickness/disability37.518.1
State12.85.5
Table 1.13 Ireland: Median weekly earnings by sex, 2011-2018
€
YearTotal PersonsMalesFemalesDifferential
2011544.60616.29480.00136.29
2012541.79609.25479.38129.87
2013547.10610.21484.60125.61
2014548.37608.93484.63124.30
2015550.68609.68486.54123.14
2016560.21618.70494.12124.58
2017575.75636.13504.77131.36
2018592.60659.58517.62141.96
Source: CSO Earnings
  • Between 2011 and 2012, the median weekly earnings across both sexes combined decreased from €544.60 to €541.79. It then increased to €547.10 in 2013, and increased each year thereafter, to €592.60 in 2018.

  • The difference in median weekly earnings between males and females was decreasing between 2011 and 2015, where it dropped from €136.29 in 2011 to €123.14 in 2015. It then increased to €124.58 in 2016, and increased each year after, to €141.96 in 2018.
YearDifference
2011136.29
2012129.87
2013125.61
2014124.3
2015123.14
2016124.58
2017131.36
2018141.96
Table 1.14 By country: Gender pay gap, 2013-20171,2
% of average gross hourly earnings of male paid employee
Country20132014201520162017
Estonia29.828.126.724.824.9
Czech Republic22.322.522.521.521.1
Austria22.322.221.820.820.7
Germany22.122.321.821.120.4
Slovakia18.819.719.719.220.1
Latvia16.017.318.419.719.8
Finland18.818.417.517.617.2
France15.515.515.315.515.6
Lithuania12.213.314.214.415.2
Netherlands16.616.216.115.615.1
Denmark16.516.015.115.114.8
EU2716.015.715.415.114.5
Ireland12.913.913.914.214.4
Bulgaria14.114.215.514.614.3
Hungary18.415.114.014.014.0
Spain17.814.914.114.813.5
Malta9.710.610.711.613.2
Sweden14.613.814.013.312.5
Croatia7.78.7:11.111.6
Cyprus14.914.213.212.311.2
Portugal13.314.916.013.910.8
Slovenia6.37.08.28.18.4
Poland7.17.77.37.17.0
Belgium7.56.66.46.05.8
Italy7.06.15.55.35.0
Romania4.94.55.64.82.9
Luxembourg6.25.44.73.92.6
      
United Kingdom21.020.921.020.720.8
      
EFTA Countries:
Switzerland17.617.417.217.017.0
Iceland19.016.717.515.815.3
Norway15.514.516.214.914.3
Source: Eurostat, Earnings
1Data unavailable for Greece.
2Sorted by 2017, descending.
  • In 2007, Ireland had a gender pay gap of 17.3%. It then decreased to 12.6% by 2009, before increasing again to 14.4% in 2017.

  • Ireland had the twelfth highest gender pay gap in the EU27 in 2017, and was 0.1 percentage point below the EU27 average of 14.5%.

  • Estonia had the highest gender pay gap in 2017, at 24.9%. Luxembourg had the lowest, at 2.6%.
YearPay gap
200717.3
200812.6
200912.6
201013.9
201112.7
201212.2
201312.9
201413.9
201513.9
201614.2
201714.4
Table 1.15 By country: Net Official Development Assistance, 2015-20191,2
% of GNI
Country20152016201720182019
Sweden1.40.91.01.01.0
Luxembourg1.01.01.01.01.0
Denmark0.80.80.70.70.7
Germany0.50.70.70.60.6
Netherlands0.70.60.60.60.6
France0.40.40.40.40.4
Finland0.60.40.40.40.4
Belgium0.40.50.50.40.4
Ireland % GNI*0.40.40.40.40.4
Ireland % GNI0.30.30.30.30.3
Malta0.20.20.20.20.3
Iceland0.20.30.30.30.2
Italy0.20.30.30.20.2
Austria0.40.40.30.30.2
Hungary0.10.20.10.10.2
Spain0.10.30.20.20.2
Greece0.10.20.20.10.2
Portugal0.20.20.20.20.2
Slovenia0.10.20.20.20.2
Estonia0.20.20.20.20.2
Poland0.10.10.10.10.1
Czech Republic0.10.10.10.10.1
Lithuania0.10.10.10.10.1
Slovakia0.10.10.10.10.1
Bulgaria0.10.10.10.10.1
Romania0.10.2:0.10.1
Latvia0.10.10.10.10.1
      
United Kingdom0.70.70.70.70.7
      
Turkey0.50.81.01.11.2
Norway1.01.11.00.91.0
Switzerland0.50.50.50.40.4
Source: OECD, CSO National Accounts
1 Data are preliminary for 2019
2 Sorted by 2019, descending
  • In 2019, Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) was 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) for Ireland. Additionally, it accounted for 0.4% of Ireland’s Modified GNI (GNI*).
  • In all, three countries had attained the United Nation (UN) target ODA of 0.7%:  Luxembourg(1.0%), Sweden (1.0%) and Denmark (0.7%).
YearODA as a % of GNIODA as a % of GNI*UN Target % GNI
20090.50.50.7
20100.50.50.7
20110.50.50.7
20120.40.50.7
20130.40.50.7
20140.40.40.7
20150.30.40.7
20160.30.40.7
20170.30.40.7
20180.30.40.7
20190.30.40.7
Table 1.16 By country: Private households with internet access, 2016-20201,2
% of households
Country20162017201820192020
Netherlands9798989897
Germany9293949596
Finland9294949496
Denmark9497939595
Spain8283869195
Luxembourg9797939594
Sweden9495939694
Cyprus7479869093
Ireland8788899192
EU278486889091
Belgium8586879091
Estonia8688909090
Latvia7779828590
Malta8185848690
Austria8589899090
Poland8082848790
Slovenia7882878990
Czech Republic8283868788
Hungary7982838688
Romania7276818486
Slovakia8181818286
Croatia7776828185
Portugal7477798184
Lithuania7275788282
Greece6971767980
Bulgaria6467727579
France86868990:
Italy79818485:
     
United Kingdom9394959697
      
EFTA Countries:
Iceland:98999898
Norway9797969896
Switzerland:93:96:
      
EU Candidate Countries:
Turkey7681848891
Serbia:68738081
Montenegro:71727480
Macedonia75747982:
Source: Eurostat, Science and Technology
1Data determines the percentage of households who have internet access at home, and all forms of internet use are included.
2Sorted by 2020, descending.
  • The percentage of households in Ireland with access to the internet has increased from 87% in 2016 to 92% in 2020.
  • In 2020, Ireland had the sixth highest rate of household internet access to the internet in the EU, and was just above the EU27 average of 91%.

  • Nearly all households (97%) in the Netherlands had access to the internet, while the rate in Bulgaria was 79%.

  • Five countries in the EU27 had internet access rates at or above 95% in 2019: the Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Spain.

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