"Our people are our greatest strength," says Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The Republic of Ireland's population is the highest it has been since the 1850s, according to new statistics released on Tuesday (27 August).
Compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the
Population and Migration Estimates 2019 report reveals that the current population of Ireland as of April 2019 stands at an estimated
4,921,500.
Of that number, 87.3% (4,298,800) represents Irish nationals, while 12.7% (622,700) represents non-Irish nationals.
In 1851, the population was declared at 5.1 million people.
In terms of male/female breakdown; 2,438,000 people have been recorded as male, while 2,483,500 have been recorded as female.
The total population of Dublin accounts for 28.4% of the overall country, with almost 1.4 million people living in the capital as of April.
Image via Central Statistics Office
Commenting on the figures, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar noted that Irish people are the country's greatest strength.
"Ireland’s population now approaching five million," the Taoiseach began.
"More people living, working and raising families in Ireland than at any point since independence. Our people are our greatest strength."
Varadkar's
tweet, issued on Tuesday afternoon, was met with a surge of criticism in the replies, as people cited ongoing issues relating to housing, rent, infrastructure, hospital waiting lists, and Direct Provision.
You can read the full report
here.
