2016 census of Ireland

Although Irish law does not prescribe a regular interval for administering censuses, Census 2016 was held in accordance with Irish government tradition since 1951 to administer a census on a Sunday in April on years ending with the numbers '1' or '6'.{{cite web |title=Census through History - CSO - Central Statistics Office |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusthroughhistory/ |website=CSO |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723205551/https://www.cso.ie/en/census/censusthroughhistory/ |url-status=live }} This incidentally coincided with the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, which began on Easter Monday, 24 April 1916.{{cite news |title=Do you have your Census 2016 form? |url=https://www.independent.ie/storyplus/do-you-have-your-census-2016-form-34644865.html |work=Independent |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723224131/https://www.independent.ie/storyplus/do-you-have-your-census-2016-form-34644865.html |url-status=live }}

Responsibility for organising the census fell with the Central Statistics Office, which operates within the Department of the Taoiseach. The CSO hired 4,660 enumerators, supported by 430 field supervisors, who reported in turn to 44 regional supervisors. In delivering over two million census forms, enumerators were required to make personal contact with a resident at the property.{{cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Arminta |title=You fill up my census: preparing for April 24th |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/you-fill-up-my-census-preparing-for-april-24th-1.2612145 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2017-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429095702/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/you-fill-up-my-census-preparing-for-april-24th-1.2612145 |url-status=live }}

Census 2016 was the first Irish census that allowed respondents to report a marital status contracted with a person of the same sex. This followed a 2015 referendum to amend the Irish Constitution to permit same-sex marriages, which was passed into law by the Marriage Act 2015. Other than marital status, the 2016 census form copied all questions verbatim from the 2011 census form.{{cite web |title=2016 Census Forms |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/census/2016censusforms/ |website=CSO |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723222346/https://www.cso.ie/en/census/2016censusforms/ |url-status=live }} The same was not planned for the 2022 census, which underwent a public consultation process in 2017 to formulate new questions.{{cite web |title=Census 2022 Consultation on Form Content |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2022consultationonformcontent-closed/ |website=CSO |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723222658/https://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2022consultationonformcontent-closed/ |url-status=live }} These changes included a revision to questions on religion, which Atheist Ireland argued skewed responses towards religiosity. The new questions were trialed in West Cork in 2018.{{cite news |last1=McHugh |first1=Connell |title=New religion and Irish census questions to be tested throughout the country |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/census-sample-ireland-dublin-cork-13280353 |work=Irish Mirror |date=21 September 2018 |language=en |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723223456/https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/census-sample-ireland-dublin-cork-13280353 |url-status=live }}

Although most census forms in 2016 were collected in person by returning enumerators, over 15,000 forms were returned by post, with all recipients legally required to return completed forms.{{cite news |last1=McNamee |first1=Michael Sheils |title=It still isn't too late to hand back your census form, but you'll have to post it |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/census-cso-forms-handed-back-2787638-May2016/ |work=TheJournal.ie |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723223116/https://www.thejournal.ie/census-cso-forms-handed-back-2787638-May2016/ |url-status=live }}

The census's results on declining religiosity, the aging population, and rising homelessness all drew attention in Irish media.{{cite news |last1=Linehan |first1=Hugh |title=Census 2016 says we are older, less religious and speak less Irish |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/census-2016-says-we-are-older-less-religious-and-speak-less-irish-1.3038927 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022607/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/census-2016-says-we-are-older-less-religious-and-speak-less-irish-1.3038927 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Fewer Catholics, while 'no religion' up 74% - Census |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1012/911813-census/ |date=12 October 2017 |language=en |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803094001/https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1012/911813-census/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Elaine |title=Irish home ownership at lowest level in nearly 50 years |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-home-ownership-at-lowest-level-in-nearly-50-years-1.3055134 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034114/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irish-home-ownership-at-lowest-level-in-nearly-50-years-1.3055134 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Órla |title=One in 10 Irish people say they have no religion, the second largest group behind Roman Catholics |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/census-2016-statistics-3326599-Apr2017/ |work=TheJournal.ie |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723221434/https://www.thejournal.ie/census-2016-statistics-3326599-Apr2017/ |url-status=live }} Affiliation with the largest religion in Ireland, Roman Catholicism, dropped to 78%, down from 84% in 2011. The census also reported the first ever recorded fall in the absolute number of Roman Catholics. A thematic report on housing found that home ownership rates reached their lowest since 1971, which Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney described as a "stark story" emanating from "fundamental structural problems", which he associated with the 2008 Recession and Irish housing bubble.

While Ireland's population continued to grow in the 2011–2016 period, the decline in growth rates was noted by multiple outlets and the CSO's reporting.{{cite press release |last1=Central Statistics Office |title=Population Change and Historical Perspective |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/population/2017/Chapter_1_Population_change_and_historical_perspective.pdf |website=CSO |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2020-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208120347/https://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/population/2017/Chapter_1_Population_change_and_historical_perspective.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=O’Doherty |first1=Caroline |title=Population increases and flows from west to east |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20410431.html |work=Irish Examiner |date=15 July 2016 |language=en |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723225618/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20410431.html |url-status=live }}

The local government area with the highest percentage growth rate was Fingal (8.1%{{increase}}), while Dublin city had the largest population increase (+26,942). Of Ireland's traditional counties, the largest overall population increase was in Dublin (+74,799), while both Dublin and Meath were jointly the fastest growing counties (5.9%{{increase}}). Three counties declined in population: Sligo (−0.1%{{decrease}}), Mayo (−0.2%{{decrease}}), and Donegal (−1.2%{{decrease}}).{{cite news |title=Ireland's population has grown according to Census 2016 |url=https://www.joe.ie/news/irelands-population-has-grown-according-to-the-latest-census-552991 |work=JOE.ie |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |archive-date=2021-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723225928/https://www.joe.ie/news/irelands-population-has-grown-according-to-the-latest-census-552991 |url-status=live }}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Cavan

|76,176

|73,183

|2,993

|4.0% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Donegal

|159,192

|161,137

| −1,945

| −1.2% {{decrease|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Leitrim

|32,044

|31,796

|248

| 0.5% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Monaghan

|61,386

|60,483

|903

| 1.3% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Sligo

|65,535

|65,393

| −142

| −0.1% {{decrease|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|Dublin

|1,345,402

|1,270,603

|74,799

|5.9% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Dublin city

|554,554

|527,612

|26,942

| 4.9% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown

|218,018

|206,261

|11,757

| 5.3% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Fingal

|296,020

|273,991

|22,029

| 8.1% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|South Dublin

|278,767

|265,205

|13,562

| 5.1% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|Mid-East

|688,857

|653,984

|34,873

|5.3% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Kildare

|222,504

|210,312

|12,192

|5.6% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Louth

|128,884

|122,897

|5,987

| 4.5% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Meath

|195,044

|184,135

|10,909

|5.9% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Wicklow

|142,425

|136,640

|5,785

|4.2% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|Mid-West

|473,269

|467,759

|5,510

|1.2% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Clare

|118,817

|117,196

|1,621

|1.2% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Limerick

|194,899

|191,809

|3,090

| 1.8% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Tipperary

|159,553

|158,754

|799

|1.1% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|Midland

|292,301

|282,410

|9,891

| 3.5% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Laois

|84,697

|80,559

|4,138

| 5.2% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Longford

|40,873

|39,000

|1,873

|4.6% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Offaly

|77,961

|76,687

|1,274

|1.7% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Westmeath

|88,770

|86,164

|2,606

| 2.9% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|South-East

|422,062

|409,146

|12,916

| 3.2% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Carlow

|56,932

|54,612

|2,320

| 4.1% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Kilkenny

|99,232

|95,419

|3,813

| 3.9% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Waterford

|116,176

|113,795

|2,381

| 2.3% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Wexford

|149,722

|145,320

|4,402

| 2.9% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|South-West

|690,575

|664,534

|26,041

| 3.9% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Cork city

|125,657

|119,230

|6,427

| 5.4% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Cork county

|417,211

|399,802

|17,409

| 4.4% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Kerry

|147,707

|145,502

|2,205

| 1.4% {{increase|}}

|-style="background:#f5f5d3;"

|style="text-align:center"|West

|453,109

|445,244

|7,865

| 1.8% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Galway city

|78,668

|75,529

|3,139

| 4.2% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Galway county

|179,390

|175,124

|4,266

| 2.4% {{increase|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Mayo

|130,507

|130,638

| −131

| −0.2% {{decrease|}}

|-

|style="text-align:left"|Roscommon

|64,544

|64,065

|479

| 0.6% {{increase|}}

|}

• Demographics of the Republic of Ireland
• Irish population analysis

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Census in Ireland}}

Category:2016 in the Republic of Ireland

Category:2016 censuses

Category:Censuses in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Demographics of Ireland

Category:Historical geography of Ireland