Census data show we need to plan - Population increases 3.7%

Preliminary results from the 2016 Census show that the population has increased by 169,724 to 4,757,976 over the past five years, an increase of 3.7%.

That means that by the time the next census comes around in 2021, we will have a population approaching, or even exceeding, 5m people.

A growing population offers us huge opportunities, but only if we put in place now social and economic strategies for the future.