Window on the world as non-nationals make up 10% of population

THE number of foreign nationals living in Ireland officially counts for 10% of the population.

The latest census shows 419,733 non-Irish people were living here when figures were compiled last April.

The largest portion, over 275,000, hailed from the EU.

Within this group, the biggest number were from Britain (112,548), followed by Poland (63,276).

The third-largest group of non-Irish EU citizens living here were Latvians (24,628).

From other continents, the latest statistics show, there were more than 35,000 people from Africa living here. Most came from Nigeria (16,300).

An estimated 47,000 came from Asia, with the main nationality group from China (11,161), followed by the Philippines (9,548).

However, it is thought there are huge disparities in the number of foreigners registered in the latest census compared to previous estimates of foreign nationals in Ireland.

Some community numbers are much lower than current estimates.

The census shows that only 63,276 people declared they were from Poland, but it is thought there are at least over 100,000 Polish people here now.

In addition, although the census says only around 11,000 Chinese people were living here — there were more Americans living here, figures show — previous estimates suggest there are tens of thousands in Ireland.

Many are thought to be working illegally after remaining here when their student visas ran out.

Other figures show significant numbers of other Asian nationalities living here. These include Indians (8,460), Pakistanis (4,998) and Malaysians (nearly 3,000).

Aside from the nationality figures overall, in many cases the females here from the more established EU nations outnumber males from the same countries, such as Germans, Spanish and Swedes.

However, males from the newer European countries outnumber females from these countries in Ireland.

There are an estimated 4,000 Australians living here, as well as nearly 4,500 Russians, and more than 12,000 people from the US. The greatest number of non-Irish children up to the age of 14 living here were born in England and Wales (31,661). Over 9,000 children here were born in America, 7,000 in Asia, and nearly 8,000 in Africa.

THE WAY WE ARE NOW ...

420,000— population of non-nationals

2,090— number of same sex couples

468,000- number of people over 65

156— number of single women with nine or more children

1.4— average number of children per family

266,000— total of holiday homes

32,500— number of Muslims

35.6— average age

59,500— number of divorces

189,200— number of one-parent families

378,867— single people between the ages of 20-34

130— population of Slovenians

594— number of Travellers over 65

741,024— number of houses with more than six bedrooms

498,432— number of households with no mortgage

96.3— percentage increase in Hindus

41,378— number of people widowed

5,990— number of holiday homes in Co Kerry

1,656,790— number of people who can speak Irish