Population passes 4.2 million mark

THE population has reached its highest level since 1861 with the census showing almost 4,235,000 people live in the State.

The 8.1% rise represents an increase of 318,000 in the four years since the last census was conducted. Ireland now has the largest population growth rate in the EU over the past decade — averaging 1.8% annually.

Despite many years of emigration during the 1960s and 1980s, our population has also increased by an unprecedented 50% since 1961.