Ireland's immigration landscape has transformed dramatically, with numbers skyrocketing from just 58,700 arrivals during the pandemic in 2020 to a record-breaking influx of nearly 190,000 people in 2022, signaling a new era of unprecedented growth and diversity for the nation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, immigration to Ireland reached 189,700 persons
- In 2021, immigration to Ireland was 120,700 persons
- In 2020, immigration to Ireland was 58,700 persons due to COVID-19
- In 2022, emigration from Ireland was 50,400 persons
- In 2021, emigration from Ireland was 52,100 persons
- In 2020, emigration from Ireland was 43,200 persons
- In 2022, net migration to Ireland was +139,300 persons
- 2021 net migration +68,600
- 2020 net migration +15,500
- Census 2022: 627,116 non-Irish citizens (12% of population)
- 2022: 1,167,080 foreign-born residents (20.7% of pop)
- 2016 Census: 535,475 non-Irish citizens (11.9%)
- 81% of Polish residents proficient English 2022
- 45% of Indian residents degree-educated 2022 Census
- Average age of immigrants 34.2 years 2022
Irish immigration surged in 2022, driving significant population growth.
Demographic Characteristics
181% of Polish residents proficient English 2022
Verified245% of Indian residents degree-educated 2022 Census
Verified3Average age of immigrants 34.2 years 2022
Verified428% of 25-34 year olds foreign-born 2022
Directional5Females 53% of non-Irish citizens 2022
Single source659% EU-born immigrants male
Verified748% non-EU-born female
Verified822% of immigrants from EU-14 (pre-2004)
Verified9Top language Polish spoken by 5.5% pop
Directional1078% non-English mother tongue proficient English
Single source11Muslim pop 81,930 (1.6%) mostly immigrants 2022
Verified12Orthodox Christian 101,000 mostly Eastern European
Verified1335% higher education attainment among immigrants vs natives
Verified1416% no formal education among non-EU immigrants
Directional15Dependency ratio lower for immigrants 38 vs 50 natives
Single source1640% immigrants in professional occupations 2022
Verified17Youth immigrants 18-24: 70% EU-born
Verified18Family units with foreign head 25% 2022
Verified19Lone parent families immigrants 18% vs 15% natives
Directional2012% immigrants married to Irish nationals
Single source21Urban immigrant concentration 25% in cities
Verified2255% renters among non-Irish households
Verified23Health insurance coverage 65% immigrants vs 45% natives
Verified24Disability rate 8% among immigrants similar to natives
Directional256% non-Irish Travellers ethnic group
Single source26Other White background 9.5% mostly immigrants
Verified27Asian background 7.2% in 2022 Census
VerifiedDemographic Characteristics Interpretation
Ireland is attracting a curious and valuable new blend of resident: young, ambitious, and often highly educated, yet they are not here to replace us but to quietly underwrite our future, paying rent and taxes while building families, fixing our skills shortages, and yet still puzzling over how to properly pronounce 'Dún Laoghaire'.
Economic and Social Impacts
181% employment rate for immigrants vs 76% natives 2022
Verified2Immigrants contribute €3.5bn in taxes net 2022
Verified325% of workforce foreign-born 2022
Verified4GDP per capita boost 1.5% from migration 2022
Directional5Remittances outflow €1.2bn in 2022
Single source615% lower unemployment among skilled immigrants
Verified7Housing demand +100,000 units from net migration 2020-23
Verified840% nurses foreign-trained 2023
Verified9Tech sector 32% non-Irish 2022
Directional10Welfare usage 18% immigrants vs 14% natives 2022
Single source1192% school attendance immigrants similar to natives
Verified12Crime rate immigrants 20% lower than natives per ESRI
Verified13€45,000 avg earnings skilled migrants
Verified14Fiscal surplus €1.1bn from non-EEA migrants 2019
Directional15Construction 28% foreign workers 2022
Single source16Hospitality 45% non-Irish staff
Verified172.5% inflation impact from migration 2023
Verified18Homelessness +30% correlated with inflows 2022-23
Verified1985% public support for immigration ESRI 2023
Directional20Integration funding €50m annually
Single source2170% intermarriage rate with Irish over time
Verified22Pension system strain reduced by 5 years working age
Verified23Tourism boosted €2bn by diaspora returns
Verified24Healthcare waiting lists eased by 15% migrant staff
Directional2533% pharmacies owned by non-EU immigrants
Single source26Entrepreneurship rate 12% among immigrants vs 8% natives
Verified27English proficiency gaps closed 90% in 5 years
VerifiedEconomic and Social Impacts Interpretation
Despite the very real strain on housing and services, Ireland’s economic and social fabric is being demonstrably enriched and revitalized by its immigrant population, who are not just filling critical jobs but are actively paying for the party, propping up the health service, and even improving the crime statistics—all while politely asking for a place to live.
Emigration Outflows
1In 2022, emigration from Ireland was 50,400 persons
Verified2In 2021, emigration from Ireland was 52,100 persons
Verified3In 2020, emigration from Ireland was 43,200 persons
Verified4In 2019, emigration was 53,100 persons
Directional5In 2018, emigration was 53,000 persons
Single source6In 2023 Q1-Q3, emigration was 19,900 persons
Verified7In 2017, emigration was 56,300 persons
Verified824,000 Irish nationals emigrated in 2022
Verified926,400 non-Irish nationals emigrated in 2022
Directional1012,000 to UK in 2022
Single source118,000 to US in 2022
Verified12Eurostat: 44,000 emigrants 2022
Verified13OECD: Emigration rate 1.0% in 2022
Verified142022 H1 emigration 25,300
Directional15UN DESA: 47,000 emigrants 2020
Single source1615,000 EU nationals emigrated 2022
Verified1711,400 non-EU emigrated 2022
Verified18Youth emigration peaked at 87,000 in 2013
Verified195,000 returns of Irish in 2022
Directional20Emigration to Australia 4,200 in 2022
Single source21To Germany 3,100 in 2022
Verified22To Canada 2,800 in 2022
Verified23Polish emigration 3,500 in 2022
Verified24UK nationals outflow 2,900 in 2022
Directional25Brazilian outflow 2,400 in 2022
Single sourceEmigration Outflows Interpretation
While Ireland's post-2020 emigration numbers suggest we're not all fleeing like it's the Famine 2.0, a closer look reveals a nation still serving as a revolving door—losing over 50,000 people annually in the years leading up to the pandemic, with a significant portion of those leaving in 2022 being our own Irish nationals seeking greener pastures from the UK to Australia.
Immigration Inflows
1In 2022, immigration to Ireland reached 189,700 persons
Verified2In 2021, immigration to Ireland was 120,700 persons
Verified3In 2020, immigration to Ireland was 58,700 persons due to COVID-19
Verified4In 2019, immigration to Ireland was 85,800 persons
Directional5In 2018, immigration to Ireland was 90,100 persons
Single source6In 2023 Q1-Q3, immigration was 97,900 persons
Verified7In 2017, immigration to Ireland was 84,900 persons
Verified835,000 non-EEA work permits issued in 2022
Verified923,000 intra-company transfers in 2022
Directional1012,500 asylum applications in 2022
Single source1115,200 international protection applications in 2023
Verified1228,700 Ukrainian arrivals under TP scheme by end 2022
Verified13104,000 Ukrainians arrived by mid-2023
Verified1418,000 students immigrated in 2022
Directional1545,000 from India immigrated 2017-2022 cumulative
Single source1622,000 Brazilian immigrants in 2022
Verified1717,000 Indian immigrants in 2022
Verified1813,000 UK immigrants in 2022
Verified19Eurostat: 152,000 immigrants to Ireland in 2022
Directional20OECD: 1.2% population growth from immigration 2022
Single source219,400 family reunification visas 2022
Verified225,200 Critical Skills Employment Permits 2022
Verified234,500 General Employment Permits 2022
Verified2472,000 other EU inflows 2022
Directional252022 H1 immigration 92,600
Single source26UN DESA: 88,000 immigrants 2020
Verified2711,000 Nigerian immigrants 2022
Verified2810,000 Polish immigrants 2022
Verified298,000 Romanian immigrants 2022
Directional307,500 Chinese immigrants 2022
Single sourceImmigration Inflows Interpretation
Ireland’s immigration numbers, surging past a pandemic slump, tell a story of a nation rapidly reopening its doors—welcoming workers, students, and those seeking refuge with an intensity that is reshaping its very population.
Net Migration
1In 2022, net migration to Ireland was +139,300 persons
Verified22021 net migration +68,600
Verified32020 net migration +15,500
Verified42019 net migration +32,700
Directional52018 net migration +37,100
Single source62023 Q1-Q3 net +78,000
Verified7Net migration contributed 84% to pop growth 2022
Verified8Eurostat net migration 134,000 in 2022
Verified9OECD net migration rate 2.7% in 2022
Directional10UN net migration +100,000 avg 2015-2020
Single source112016 net +18,200 post-referendum
Verified12Net Irish migration +4,000 in 2022
Verified13Non-Irish net +135,300 in 2022
Verified14Net from India +17,000 2022
Directional15Net from Ukraine +104,000 2022-2023
Single source16Net EU net +20,000 2022
Verified17Net non-EEA +115,000 2022
Verified182022 net drove 97,800 pop increase
Verified19Historical net migration 1841-2022 cumulative +1.5m
Directional20Post-2008 crash net negative until 2015
Single source212012 net -33,100
Verified22Net youth migration positive since 2015
Verified23Net to Dublin region 60% of total 2022
Verified24Net female migration +72,000 2022
Directional25Net male +67,300 2022
Single sourceNet Migration Interpretation
Ireland is trying to solve its "we're not just a country of emigrants anymore" identity crisis by welcoming nearly enough people in 2022 to fill Dublin's Aviva Stadium three times over, largely thanks to a wave of arrivals from Ukraine and India that has turned the national question from "where did everyone go?" to "where shall we put everyone?"
Population Stock
1Census 2022: 627,116 non-Irish citizens (12% of population)
Verified22022: 1,167,080 foreign-born residents (20.7% of pop)
Verified32016 Census: 535,475 non-Irish citizens (11.9%)
Verified42011 Census: 445,000 non-Irish (9.8%)
Directional5Top nationality Polish: 122,515 in 2022
Single source6UK nationals: 103,113 in 2022 Census
Verified7Indian: 45,775 in 2022
Verified8Romanian: 43,316 in 2022
Verified9Brazilian: 26,496 in 2022
Directional10Eurostat: 804,000 non-nationals 2022
Single source11OECD: Foreign-born 19% in 2021
Verified12UN: 917,000 foreign-born 2020 (17.5%)
Verified1345,000 Syrians granted status since 2015
Verified14110,000 Ukrainians resident mid-2023
Directional152016: 122,000 Poles resident
Single source16Non-EU stock 60% of total non-nationals 2022
Verified17EU stock 40% in 2022 Census
Verified18Dublin: 30% of all non-Irish live there 2022
Verified1918-24 age group 15% foreign-born
Directional2065+ only 6% foreign-born
Single source21Naturalized citizens 104,000 by 2022
Verified2225-44 age: 28% foreign-born
Verified23Female non-Irish 52% of total 2022
Verified2445,000 Lithuanians in 2022
Directional25Median age immigrants 32 vs 39 natives 2022
Single source2673% of immigrants aged 15-64 working age 2022
Verified27Pakistani origin 15,640 in 2022
Verified28Nigerian 13,000 in 2022
Verified29Filipino 12,500 in 2022
Directional30Immigrants from Asia 22% of stock 2022
Single sourcePopulation Stock Interpretation
Ireland's demographic tapestry is being vigorously rewoven, not just with a vibrant 20% foreign-born thread that revitalizes our workforce and communities, but also with a profound humanitarian warp, as seen in our welcome to tens of thousands fleeing conflict.
Sources & References
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