Ireland · 1926 Census · All 26 Counties
Ireland 1926 census by county — population, Irish speakers, and change to 2022
Kildare's population grew 327% between 1926 and 2022. Leitrim's fell 37%. Both were measured in the same first Free State census — 2.97 million people across 26 counties, the first census of the Irish Free State. The century of change between then and Census 2022 was not evenly distributed. The data is below.
Ireland 1926 census — key figures
Population 1926
2.97M
First Free State census
Population 2022
5.15M
+73% over 96 years
Biggest growth
Kildare +327%
58,028 → 247,774
Biggest decline
Leitrim −37%
55,907 → 35,199
Source: CSO Census 1926 (TNLIA01, TNLIA02, HCA34 original volumes) and CSO Census 2022 — official primary sources, all 26 counties.
Population by county — 1926 vs 2022, ranked by change
All 26 counties ranked by population change from 1926 to 2022 (CSO Census). Irish speakers % is the share of each county's 1926 population able to speak Irish — Irish only, or Irish and English (CSO table HCA34); the 2022 census recorded spoken ability in more detail, so compare the two with care.
| County | Population 1926 | Population 2022 | Change 1926–2022 | Irish Speakers 1926 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kildare | 58,028 | 247,774 | +327.0% | 10% |
| 2. Meath | 62,969 | 220,826 | +250.7% | 9.7% |
| 3. Dublin | 505,654 | 1,458,154 | +188.4% | 7.8% |
| 4. Wicklow | 57,591 | 155,851 | +170.6% | 8.7% |
| 5. Louth | 62,739 | 139,703 | +122.7% | 10.7% |
| 6. Carlow | 34,476 | 61,968 | +79.7% | 9.4% |
| 7. Laois | 51,540 | 91,877 | +78.3% | 10% |
| 8. Wexford | 95,848 | 163,919 | +71.0% | 8% |
| 9. Westmeath | 56,818 | 96,221 | +69.3% | 9.8% |
| 10. Galway | 169,366 | 277,737 | +64.0% | 47.4% |
| 11. Waterford | 78,562 | 127,363 | +62.1% | 22.9% |
| 12. Cork | 365,747 | 584,156 | +59.7% | 18.7% |
| 13. Offaly | 52,592 | 83,150 | +58.1% | 9.6% |
| 14. Limerick | 140,343 | 209,536 | +49.3% | 12.3% |
| 15. Kilkenny | 70,990 | 104,160 | +46.7% | 10.4% |
| 16. Clare | 95,064 | 127,938 | +34.6% | 30.3% |
| 17. Tipperary | 141,015 | 167,895 | +19.1% | 11.6% |
| 18. Longford | 39,847 | 46,751 | +17.3% | 10.3% |
| 19. Donegal | 152,508 | 167,084 | +9.6% | 34.4% |
| 20. Kerry | 149,171 | 156,458 | +4.9% | 33% |
| 21. Monaghan | 65,131 | 65,288 | +0.2% | 11.3% |
| 22. Cavan | 82,452 | 81,704 | −0.9% | 10.7% |
| 23. Sligo | 71,388 | 70,198 | −1.7% | 17.5% |
| 24. Roscommon | 83,556 | 70,259 | −15.9% | 15.5% |
| 25. Mayo | 172,690 | 137,970 | −20.1% | 36.8% |
| 26. Leitrim | 55,907 | 35,199 | −37.0% | 10.8% |
Sources: CSO Census 1926 (TNLIA01, TNLIA02, HCA34) · CSO Census 2022. Irish speaker figure = people able to speak Irish — Irish only, or Irish and English, as recorded in 1926 — the 2022 census asked about ability in more detail.
The counties that grew — where Ireland concentrated
Five counties more than doubled their 1926 populations.
- Kildare (+327.0%): 58,028 people in 1926 and 247,774 in 2022 (+327.0%). Agricultural occupations accounted for 27% of everyone aged 12 and over in Kildare in 1926.
- Meath (+250.7%): 62,969 people in 1926 and 220,826 in 2022 (+250.7%). Agricultural occupations accounted for 35% of everyone aged 12 and over in Meath in 1926.
- Dublin (+188.4%): already the largest county in 1926 at 505,654 (17% of the Free State's population). By 2022 it held 1,458,154 — 28.3% of Ireland's population. The increase of 952,500 people is larger than the entire 1926 population of the next three counties combined.
- Wicklow (+170.6%): 57,591 people in 1926 and 155,851 in 2022 (+170.6%). Agricultural occupations accounted for 27% of everyone aged 12 and over in Wicklow in 1926.
- Louth (+122.7%): 62,739 people in 1926 and 139,703 in 2022 (+122.7%). Agricultural occupations accounted for 20% of everyone aged 12 and over in Louth in 1926.
The counties that lost population — rural Ireland's long decline
Five counties recorded lower populations in 2022 than in 1926: Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Cavan.
- Leitrim (−37.0%): 55,907 people in 1926 and 35,199 in 2022 (−37.0%). A loss of 20,708 people over 96 years. Agricultural occupations accounted for 47% of everyone aged 12 and over in Leitrim in 1926 — the highest share of any county. Its 1926 Church of Ireland population was 3,286 (5.9% of the county, against 5.5% nationally).
- Mayo (−20.1%): 172,690 people in 1926 and 137,970 in 2022 (−20.1%). A loss of 34,720 people over 96 years. Agricultural occupations accounted for 46% of everyone aged 12 and over in Mayo in 1926. Its 1926 Church of Ireland population was 2,066 (1.2% of the county, against 5.5% nationally).
- Roscommon (−15.9%): 83,556 people in 1926 and 70,259 in 2022 (−15.9%). A loss of 13,297 people over 96 years. Agricultural occupations accounted for 46% of everyone aged 12 and over in Roscommon in 1926. Its 1926 Church of Ireland population was 1,147 (1.4% of the county, against 5.5% nationally).
- Sligo (−1.7%): 71,388 people in 1926 and 70,198 in 2022 (−1.7%). A loss of 1,190 people over 96 years. Agricultural occupations accounted for 40% of everyone aged 12 and over in Sligo in 1926. Its 1926 Church of Ireland population was 4,245 (5.9% of the county, against 5.5% nationally).
- Cavan (−0.9%): 82,452 people in 1926 and 81,704 in 2022 (−0.9%). A loss of 748 people over 96 years. Agricultural occupations accounted for 45% of everyone aged 12 and over in Cavan in 1926. Its 1926 Church of Ireland population was 10,102 (12.3% of the county, against 5.5% nationally).
→ See the 1926–2022 change for every county on the map
The Gaeltacht in 1926 — where Irish was still a living language
The 1926 census recorded the share of each county's population able to speak Irish — Irish only, or Irish and English. The 2022 census recorded spoken ability in more detail, including how often Irish is used (CSO, Census 2022 Profile 8), so the two sets of figures are not directly comparable. They show the geographic distribution of the language in 1926.
- Galway (47.4%): highest rate of any county. 169,366 people in the county in 1926, 277,737 in 2022 (+64.0%).
- Mayo (36.8%): second highest of the 26 counties. 172,690 people in the county in 1926, 137,970 in 2022 (−20.1%).
- Donegal (34.4%): third highest of the 26 counties. 152,508 people in the county in 1926, 167,084 in 2022 (+9.6%).
- Kerry (33.0%): fourth highest of the 26 counties. 149,171 people in the county in 1926, 156,458 in 2022 (+4.9%).
- Clare (30.3%): fifth highest of the 26 counties. 95,064 people in the county in 1926, 127,938 in 2022 (+34.6%).
- Waterford (22.9%): sixth highest of the 26 counties. 78,562 people in the county in 1926, 127,363 in 2022 (+62.1%).
Galway — 47.4% Irish speakersMayo — 36.8% Irish speakersDonegal — 34.4% Irish speakersKerry — 33% Irish speakersClare — 30.3% Irish speakersWaterford — 22.9% Irish speakers
Note: the 1926 Irish speaker rate is the share of each county's population able to speak Irish — Irish only, or Irish and English, as recorded in the first Free State census. The 2022 census asked about ability and frequency of use in more detail, so it is not directly comparable. IrelandInsights maps the 1926 data as a historical record of where the language lived — not as a comparison with current rates.
Explore 1926 county data on the map
IrelandInsights maps four 1926 county-level metrics alongside Census 2022 — agricultural occupations %, Irish speakers %, population change 1926–2022, and one-room dwellings. Hover any county to compare directly.
1926 census overview → · How Ireland changed → · Irish language 1926 →
Population growth 2016–2022 → · Rural Ireland today →
Primary sources: CSO Census 1926 original volumes ·
Vol. 1 — Population ·
Vol. 8 — Irish Language ·
National Archives — search household returns ·
CSO Then and Now 1926–2022
More IrelandInsights reports
Housing & Property
- → Average Rent Ireland — €/mo by County
- → House Prices Ireland by County — Official PPR Data
- → Cost of Living Ireland by County — Rent + Census
- → House Price-to-Income Ratio Ireland — by County
- → BER Rating Chart Ireland — E–G Certificates by County
- → Ireland’s Housing Crisis — Where It’s Worst
- → Empty Homes in Ireland — Vacancy by County
- → Cheapest Areas to Buy in Ireland — House Prices
- → Home Ownership in Ireland — Census 2022
Census & Demographics
- → Pobal Deprivation Index — All 26 Counties Mapped
- → Average Age in Ireland — by County
- → Population Growth in Ireland by County — Census 2022
- → Religion in Ireland by County — Census 2022
- → Unemployment Rate Ireland — By Area, Census 2022
- → Education in Ireland — Third-Level by County
- → Working from Home in Ireland — Census 2022
- → Young Population in Ireland — Census 2022
- → Rural Ireland — Census 2022 Data by Area
Elections & Politics
Where to Live
Frequently asked questions
What was the population of Ireland in the 1926 census?
The 1926 census recorded a total population of 2,971,992 across the 26 counties of the Irish Free State. Dublin was the most populous county at 505,654, followed by Cork at 365,747 and Mayo at 172,690. The total grew to 5,149,139 by Census 2022 — an increase of 73.3% over 96 years. National Archives released household-level 1926 census records in April 2026.
What was the population of Mayo in the 1926 census?
Mayo had a population of 172,690 in the 1926 census — the third largest county at the time. By Census 2022 that had fallen to 137,970, a decline of 20.1% over 96 years. Mayo's Irish speaker rate in 1926 was 36.8%, the second highest of the 26 counties.
What was the population of Galway in the 1926 census?
Galway had a population of 169,366 in the 1926 census. By 2022 it had grown to 277,737 — an increase of 64% over 96 years. Galway had the highest Irish speaker rate of any county in 1926 at 47.4%.
What was the population of Donegal in the 1926 census?
Donegal had a population of 152,508 in the 1926 census. By 2022 it had grown to 167,084 — an increase of 9.6% over 96 years. Donegal had a 34.4% Irish speaker rate in 1926 and a Church of Ireland population of 9.0% (13,774 people), against 5.5% nationally.
What was the population of Kerry in the 1926 census?
Kerry had a population of 149,171 in the 1926 census. By 2022 it had grown to 156,458 — an increase of 4.9% over 96 years. Kerry had a 33.0% Irish speaker rate in 1926 — the fourth highest of the 26 counties.
What was the population of Leitrim in the 1926 census?
Leitrim had a population of 55,907 in the 1926 census. By 2022 it had fallen to 35,199 — a decline of 37% over 96 years. That is the largest percentage loss of any Irish county over the period. Agricultural occupations accounted for 47% of everyone aged 12 and over in Leitrim in 1926 — the highest share of any county.
What was the population of Dublin in the 1926 census?
Dublin had a population of 505,654 in the 1926 census — already by far the largest county, containing 17% of the Free State's total population. By 2022 Dublin's population had grown to 1,458,154, an increase of 188.4% and an absolute gain of 952,500 people. Dublin in 2022 contains 28.3% of Ireland's total population — up from 17% in 1926. Dublin's Church of Ireland population in 1926 was 10.6% of the county, against 5.5% nationally.
Which county had the most Irish speakers in the 1926 census?
Galway had the highest Irish speaker rate of any county in the 1926 census at 47.4% of the population. Mayo at 36.8%, Donegal at 34.4%, Kerry at 33.0% and Clare at 30.3% followed in that order. The 1926 figure counts people able to speak Irish — Irish only, or Irish and English, and is not directly comparable to the 2022 census, which recorded spoken ability in more detail.
Which county grew the most since the 1926 census?
Kildare grew the most of any Irish county between 1926 and 2022, with a population increase of 327% — from 58,028 to 247,774. Meath grew by 250.7% and Dublin by 188.4%. Together, the five counties that more than doubled — Kildare, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow and Louth — account for 68% of Ireland's total population increase between 1926 and 2022.