Population growth slows as 87,000 leave the country

Rising emigration is slowing population growth here, it has emerged.

Fri, 28 Sep, 2012 - 01:00

Evelyn Ring

Ireland’s population increased by 10,500 over the 12 months to April 2012, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

However, emigration increased to 87,100 to April, up from 80,600 the previous year.

Emigration is now at its highest level since 2008, when 49,200 people left the country. Irish nationals, at 46,500, accounted for 53% of the total who left Ireland in the year to April.

People aged 25 to 44 accounted for the largest group of emigrants, at 39,500 — an increase of 26% over the previous year.

The number of immigrants to Ireland fell slightly from 53,300 to 52,700 over the period.

Over the same period, there were 74,000 births and 29,200 deaths, resulting in a natural growth of 44,900 — a fall of 2,600 on the previous year’s figure of 47,500.

The combined effect of natural increase and negative net migration slowed population growth, now estimated at 4.59m.

It also emerged earlier this month that unemployment figures over the summer months were not as high because of emigration.

CSO figures show fewer people are working but also reveal that the total number of people at work had fallen by 30,000 in the past year.

There has been an increase in the number of Irish men emigrating — from 24,500 to 26,000.

The number of Irish women emigrating has also increased from 17,500 to 20,600.

The number of Irish people returning to live here increased from 19,600 to 20,600. Immigration figures show 2,200 people came from Britain to live here; 17,600 came from other EU states; and 12,400 from the rest of the world.

The National Youth Council of Ireland expressed concern at the escalation of emigration. It pointed out that the number of people aged 15 to 24, at 35,800, was the highest number since the start of the recession in 2008.

Its deputy director, James Doorley, said the Government should act to stem the flow of young people leaving the country and provide greater support and advice to under pressure to emigrate.