Galway population at its highest since the famine
Galway’s population is at its highest level since just after the Great Famine, according to preliminary results from the latest Census.
A rising birth rate coupled with an increase in net migration pushed Galway’s population to over 276,451, according to preliminary results of the Census taken on April 3.
This represents an increase in population in Galway City and County of 18,393 or 7.1% compared with the last Census in 2016.
According to Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Galway’s population was 440,198 in 1941 before the Famine.
It dipped to 321,684 by the 1851 Census taken two years after the Famine; and had fallen further to 271,478 in 1861.
This latest Census records Galway’s highest population in 170 years.
The latest increase in population is driven by a natural increase (births outstripping deaths) coupled with a net inward migration (more people moving to Galway to live than leaving).
The rise in population is made up of 8,655 males and 9,738 females. Natural increase accounted for 9,584, which arose due to the average annual birth rate of 12.1 per 1,000 running at almost twice the death rate of 6.2 per 1,000.
Get the full breakdown on the Census figures in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.