What is the employment rate in Kilkenny?

The employment rate in Kilkenny was 55.6% according to Census 2022, compared to a national average of 56.1%. IrelandInsights maps employment at electoral division level for every county in Ireland.

What is the housing tenure breakdown in Kilkenny?

In Kilkenny, 71.6% of households are owner-occupied and 12.7% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 65.9% owner-occupied and 18.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Kilkenny · 2022

County Kilkenny — Private renting — #25 in Ireland

Kilkenny records one of the lowest private renting rate figures in Ireland at 12.7%, against a national average of 18.0%. The gap reflects a historically owner-occupied housing market with limited rental infrastructure. Electoral division data shows the pattern is not uniform — certain EDs within Kilkenny diverge sharply from the headline county figure.

        Kilkenny is -5.3pp vs national on private renting rate.
      

Key statistics — County Kilkenny

Private renting

12.7%

#25 of 26 counties

National Average

18.0%

private renting rate

Owner-Occupied

71.6%

National: 65.9%

Unemployment

4.8%

National: 5.1%

Top electoral divisions — Rented in Kilkenny

The electoral divisions within County Kilkenny with the highest rented rate, Census 2022.

Electoral Division	Rented Rate
1. KILKENNY No. 2 URBAN	27%
2. KILKENNY No. 1 URBAN	26.8%
3. CALLAN URBAN	20.7%
4. KILKENNY RURAL	19.4%
5. URLINGFORD	19.4%

Explore Kilkenny data on the map

Every electoral division in County Kilkenny is mapped. Hover to inspect Census 2022 figures or ask the AI analyst for a plain-language explanation.

Private renting — #25 in Ireland — Kilkenny map Employment — Kilkenny Housing — Kilkenny

County Kilkenny — what stands out

What stands out?

County Kilkenny has one of Ireland's lowest non-Irish citizens rates, ranking 24th nationally — 6.4% in Census 2022.

Why does it matter?

The share of non-Irish citizens reflects patterns of economic migration — the sectors and regions that attract international workers. It reveals where specific industries (agri-food, healthcare, tech) are drawing workers from abroad, and where integration services are most needed.

How does it compare nationally?

Kilkenny6.4%

National avg10.6%

Difference-4.2pp

Rank24 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

The non-Irish citizens rate in Kilkenny reflects a combination of geographic, economic, and demographic factors. The map shows considerable variation within the county — individual electoral divisions often differ significantly from the county average.

County Kilkenny — census data context

County-level figures aggregate all electoral divisions within Kilkenny. The map reveals the internal variation those county averages suppress — the gap between the most and least deprived EDs in Kilkenny is typically far wider than the county-to-national difference highlighted above. View the full Kilkenny area guide →

Compare counties

Wexford Waterford Tipperary Laois Carlow Dublin Cork

Ireland census guides

→ Where to live in Ireland → Housing crisis by area → Home ownership rates → Education levels → Unemployment by area → Commuter towns → Deprivation map → Population growth

Data: CSO Census 2022 · County Kilkenny · Electoral Division averages · cso.ie/census