What is the employment rate in Westmeath?

The employment rate in Westmeath was 56.5% according to Census 2022, compared to a national average of 55.2%. IrelandInsights maps employment at electoral division level for every county in Ireland.

What is the housing tenure breakdown in Westmeath?

In Westmeath, 81.2% of households are owner-occupied and 8.7% rent privately, according to Census 2022. The national averages are 76.2% owner-occupied and 11.0% privately rented.

Census Profile · Westmeath · 2022

County Westmeath — Car-dependent employment profile

Q: Is Westmeath a commuter county?

Yes. 76.6% of Westmeath workers commute by car — 5.5pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 56.5% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 81.2% and third-level attainment at 52.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile. IrelandInsights maps journey time and commute mode at electoral division level.

76.6% of Westmeath workers commute by car — 5.5pp above the national figure of 71.1%. An employment rate of 56.5% and limited public transport options underpin the high car-dependency rate. Home ownership at 81.2% and third-level attainment at 52.8% reflect a working-age, car-dependent county profile.

        Westmeath is +5.5pp vs national on car commuting.
      

Key statistics — County Westmeath

Car Commute

76.6%

+5.5pp vs national

Employment Rate

56.5%

National: 55.2%

Owner-Occupied

81.2%

National: 76.2%

Third-Level

52.8%

National: 52.6%

Top electoral divisions — Car Commute in Westmeath

The electoral divisions within County Westmeath with the highest car commute rate, Census 2022.

Electoral Division	Car Commute Rate
1. CLONARNEY	87.2%
2. RUSSELLSTOWN	86.4%
3. RIVERDALE	85.9%
4. CLOGHAN	85.7%
5. BALLYMORE	85.5%

Explore Westmeath data on the map

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

Car-dependent employment profile — Westmeath map Employment — Westmeath Housing — Westmeath

County Westmeath — what stands out

What stands out?

County Westmeath has a housing vacancy rate of 10.1%, ranking 18th nationally — 10.1% in Census 2022.

Why does it matter?

Housing vacancy is a barometer of housing demand and population pressure. A high rate signals supply vastly exceeding demand — whether from rural depopulation, seasonal use, or post-2008 ghost estates. A low rate signals the opposite: demand that supply cannot match, which directly drives rent and price inflation.

How does it compare nationally?

Westmeath10.1%

National avg14.4%

Difference-4.3pp

Rank18 / 26

What's the likely explanation?

A low vacancy rate signals high housing demand relative to supply — typical in urban-dominated counties where rental pressure keeps dwellings occupied and new supply struggles to keep up. Low vacancy is a precondition for housing affordability pressure: when vacancy falls below ~3%, rents and prices typically rise faster than incomes.

County Westmeath — census data context

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

Compare counties

Meath Cavan Longford Roscommon Offaly 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 Westmeath · Electoral Division averages · cso.ie/census