Home ownership rate in Ireland by area — Census 2022 data
66.4% of Irish households are owner-occupied according to Census 2022 — down from approximately 80% in the late 1990s. The rate ranges from 82% in Leitrim to approximately 36% in parts of Dublin City. The decline has been concentrated in urban areas, particularly Dublin, where the shift from ownership to renting has been most acute.
Ireland home ownership — Census 2022 overview
Areas with the highest home ownership rates
These electoral divisions recorded the highest proportions of owner-occupied homes in Census 2022. High ownership EDs are concentrated in rural Ireland, established suburban areas, and towns with limited rental infrastructure.
| Electoral Division | Owner Occupied % |
|---|---|
| 1. BORRISNOENorth Tipperary | 97.5% |
| 2. LICKEENKerry | 97.3% |
| 3. KILCRONATCork | 96.9% |
| 4. CREGGARoscommon | 96.6% |
| 5. CASTLETOWNClare | 96.2% |
| 6. BALLYLANEENWaterford | 95.9% |
Areas with the lowest home ownership rates
Electoral divisions with the lowest owner-occupancy in Census 2022. Low-ownership EDs are concentrated in urban cores — Dublin inner city, Cork city centre, and areas with high student or transient populations.
| Electoral Division | Owner Occupied % |
|---|---|
| 1. CUSTOM HOUSELimerick City | 1.5% |
| 2. SHANNON ALimerick City | 2.8% |
| 3. CUSTOM HOUSE BWaterford City | 3.2% |
| 4. ROYAL EXCHANGE BDublin City | 3.9% |
| 5. SHANNON BLimerick City | 4.2% |
| 6. CENTRE ACork City | 5.6% |
The long decline in Irish home ownership
Ireland had one of the highest home ownership rates in Europe in the 1990s — approximately 80%. Census 2022 records a fall to 66.4%. The decline has been uneven: rural counties retain ownership rates above 75%, while Dublin City has fallen below 50% overall and below 36% in specific inner-city electoral divisions.
Three factors drive the decline: rising prices relative to income, a structural shift toward build-to-rent development in Dublin, and demographic change as younger cohorts delay or abandon homeownership. Census 2022 shows the steepest declines in EDs with median age below 35.
What home ownership data reveals about an area
- Stability and tenure mix: High ownership areas (above 75%) tend to have more established communities, lower population turnover, and less rental market pressure. They can also indicate limited housing supply and reduced accessibility for new arrivals.
- Rental pressure: In urban areas, low ownership rates directly signal high rental demand. Dublin EDs below 40% owner-occupancy consistently show the highest private renting rates — and the most acute housing pressure.
- Affordability signal: High ownership in rural counties (Leitrim 82%, Roscommon ~77%) indicates affordable purchase prices relative to income. Low ownership in commuter belt towns indicates recent price appreciation outpacing wages.
- Investment and vacancy: Some EDs with lower ownership have higher proportions of vacant homes — particularly coastal and rural areas with holiday home stock. Census 2022 captures vacancy separately from ownership tenure.
Map home ownership by area
IrelandInsights shows owner-occupancy, private renting, and social housing rates for every electoral division in Ireland from Census 2022. Overlay unemployment, education, and age data to build a complete picture of housing tenure patterns.
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