Ireland's population tops five mln for first time in 170 years

Ireland's population topped five million for the first time in 170 years to reach an estimated 5.01 million in April 2021, according to an annual population survey released by the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Tuesday.

The survey showed that Ireland's population increased by 34,000 persons in the twelve months to April 2021, up 0.68 percent when compared with the population in April 2020, which stood above 4.97 million.

The additional 34,000 persons added to the country's population in the year to April 2021 included a natural increase of 22,800 persons and a net migration of 11,200 persons into the country.

The survey also showed that there were 742,300 persons aged 65 and older in Ireland in April 2021, accounting for 14.81 percent of the total population.

In the period extending from 2002 to 2011, the percentage of people falling into this age group in Ireland remained constantly at about 11 percent. This indicates that the aging pace of the population in the country has quickened in the last decade when compared with the previous decade.