Ireland’s population has risen above 5.5 million, as recent figures for County Roscommon raise questions over whether population projections underpinning local planning are already being overtaken.
New Central Statistics Office estimates put the population of the State at 5,525,600 in April 2026, an increase of 66,900 people, or 1.2%, in the space of a year.
The latest national figures come against a backdrop of significant population growth in Roscommon.
The CSO estimated the population of County Roscommon at approximately 75,200 in April 2025.
That figure is already above the population range of approximately 73,000 to 74,500 envisaged for Roscommon by 2031 in the county’s current planning framework.
While the figures relate to different statistical and planning periods and are not directly comparable forecasts, the gap highlights the pace at which Roscommon’s population has been changing.
Nationally, immigration remained a major contributor to population growth in the year to April.
An estimated 110,600 people immigrated to Ireland, down 12% on the previous year but marking the fifth successive 12-month period in which immigration exceeded 100,000.
There were also 65,100 emigrants during the year, leaving net migration of 45,500.
Natural population growth — the difference between births and deaths — accounted for a further 21,400 people.
The latest figures provide further context for debates around the capacity of housing, schools, healthcare, transport and other public infrastructure to keep pace with population growth.
