Ireland’s population increases to more than 5.5 million, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The latest estimate places the population at 5.526 million in the 12 months to the end of April 2026, up by 66,900 people over the year.
The CSO figures also show demographic shifts. They indicate an increase in the number of people aged 65 and over and a decrease in the number of children under 14. In this way, the overall growth figure is accompanied by an ageing pattern in the population.
Across the outlets, the reported headline change is consistent: Ireland’s population passes 5.5 million based on CSO estimates for the year to April 2026. The main difference is emphasis—one outlet focuses on the size of the overall rise, while the other highlights the age-group changes alongside the growth total.
