The average age in Ireland, as per Census 2016 stands at 37.4 years. In 2011 the average age in the state was 36.5 years. The county with the youngest age profile is Fingal, which boasts an age of 34.3 years. This stands to reason when one looks at the population boom in Fingal in recent years. Since 2011 the population of Fingal has increased by a whopping 8%, to 296,000. Fingal also boasts three of the fastest growing electoral divisions in the state, namely Balbriggan, Blanchardstown and the Ward. It is quite startling when one thinks that in 1991 the population of Fingal was 152,766 and in 2016 the population now stands at 296,214, representing a population increase of 94%. When combined with the fact that Fingal has the highest birth rate in the country (19 per 1000 population) and Ireland has the highest birth rate in the EU, it comes as little surprise that Fingal holds onto this accolade.
Since 2011, the population of Dublin city has increased by 5% to over 554,000 people. South Dublin has increases by just under 5% to just over 278,000 people. South Dublin now boasts the fourth youngest population in the state, with an average age of 35.5 years.
At the other end of the scale the counties of Kerry and Mayo have the joint accolade of having the oldest average age in the state, at 40.2 years. This is followed by the counties of Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo who have average ages of 39.8,39.7 and 39.2 years respectively. This could be explained to a great degree but the prevalence of urbanisation in Ireland with many young people moving to Dublin or other urban centres outside of these counties to explore new career opportunities. In 1966 the percentage of people living in urban areas was 46.4% and by 2016 the percentage of people living in urban areas had increased to 62.7%. However, it should be noted that small towns along with large towns have also experienced significant growth so not all urbanisation is from rural Ireland to cities like Dublin. In fact, 26% of the total urban population now live in large towns (10,000 + people).
On a macro scale the population of Ireland is growing at an impressive rate (3.8% since the last census in 2011). When you delve into the micro or county/town/rural analysis the story becomes even more interesting, especially for state agencies and employers alike.
