Description
The charts shown below display the annual population of Ireland from 2011 to date and the percentage change of Ireland's population by counties and cities. Ireland's annual population is recorded by the European Commission's database Eurostat while the state's population change by county is based on data provided by the Census 2016 which is then compared with it's predecessor from 2011.
The charts also shows the average household size in Ireland. Average household size (people per household) is calculated by dividing the household population by total households. Households include all persons living together, regardless of their relationship.
Importance
Population growth is important to measure because it can aid in the development of plans and policies for individual cities or counties. It also helps develop the country as a whole ensuring that there is enough capacity to meet the housing needs of the population. The Central Statistics Office produce a range of population publications and data tables, available here
Average household size can be a reflection of personal or cultural preferences or economic choices. Anticipating changes in the size and composition of households is important for many housing-related issues and associated policies, including the needs of elderly single-person households, intergenerational housing options, and housing types to meet all life cycles. Broadly, the changing composition of households may create a demand for the design and price of new housing types.