IMMIGRATION TO IRELAND declined by 12% between April 2025 and April 2026, falling by 14,700 people.

According to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) today, the number of emigrants also fell in the same period from 65,600 to 62,500. 

The number of people who left Ireland to go to Australia also fell in these 12 months. In this period 11,800 people left Ireland to go to Australia, a decrease of 1,700 (-13%) from 2025.

Just 8,300 people came to Ireland from Australia in this time, an 18% decrease from the 10,100 in 2025.

Over 50% of both immigrants and emigrants to April 2026 were aged between 25 and 44 years old. 

More people arrived in Ireland than left, including returning emigrants, but net migration also declined between 2025 and 2026 by 19%. 

The overall population of the country rose again by 66,900 people in the 12 months, bringing the total Irish population to 5,525,600.

The number of people aged 65 and over in Ireland continued to go up, rising by 30,000 people (+3.5%) since April 2025 and now making up just over 16% of the population. 

Births also continued to decline. In 2010 there was 75,000 people being born while that fell to just under 55,000 in 2026. 

This is also the first time since 2014 that the population of those aged 0 to 14 fell below one million to 992,400 people.