Fastest growing towns and counties in Ireland — Census 2022
Ratoath grew 28% between Census 2016 and Census 2022 — the fastest-growing town in Ireland by electoral division. Ashbourne, Maynooth, Celbridge, and Balbriggan are close behind. Over the same six years, rural electoral divisions in Leitrim, Roscommon, and Mayo lost residents. The data is below.
Ireland population — Census 2022 headline figures
Fastest-growing towns in Ireland — Census 2022
The Dublin commuter belt and major city suburbs led Ireland's fastest town growth between 2016 and 2022. All figures come from CSO Census 2016 and Census 2022 data at electoral division level.
| Town | County | Pop. 2022 | Growth 2016–2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ratoath | Meath | ~12,000 | +28% |
| Ashbourne | Meath | ~19,000 | +26% |
| Maynooth | Kildare | ~16,000 | +22% |
| Carrigaline | Cork | ~18,000 | +22% |
| Balbriggan | Dublin (Fingal) | ~28,000 | +20% |
| Greystones | Wicklow | ~20,000 | +19% |
| Celbridge | Kildare | ~23,000 | +18% |
| Trim | Meath | ~10,000 | +17% |
| Naas | Kildare | ~24,000 | +16% |
| Ballincollig | Cork | ~22,000 | +15% |
| Mullingar | Westmeath | ~22,000 | +13% |
| Swords | Dublin (Fingal) | ~56,000 | +12% |
| Athlone | Westmeath | ~27,000 | +14% |
Population figures approximate; growth rates derived from CSO Census 2016 and Census 2022 data at electoral division level.
Fastest-growing counties — where the growth is
Growth between Census 2016 and Census 2022 centred on the Dublin commuter belt. These counties absorbed most of the 387,274 new residents recorded nationally.
- Meath (+12.1%): the fastest-growing county in Ireland. Dublin commuters priced out of the capital drove demand along the M1, M2, and M3 corridors.
- Kildare (+10.1%): Maynooth, Naas, and Celbridge led growth. Strong road and rail links to Dublin make Kildare the most accessible commuter county.
- Fingal (Dublin North County): Swords, Balbriggan, and Blanchardstown grew sharply. Some EDs in north Dublin grew by 30%+ between 2016 and 2022.
- Wicklow (+8.3%): Bray, Greystones, and Wicklow town kept attracting Dublin commuters. Strong DART access drives demand in north Wicklow.
- Cork (+6.8%): Carrigaline, Ballincollig, and Midleton are Cork's fastest-growing suburbs. Cork county grew faster than Cork city as residents moved out.
Largest electoral divisions by population
Ireland's most populous electoral divisions sit mostly in outer Dublin suburbs and major urban extensions built in the 2000s.
| Electoral Division | Population |
|---|---|
| 1. BLANCHARDSTOWN-BLAKESTOWNFingal | 43905 |
| 2. LUCAN-ESKERSouth Dublin | 33849 |
| 3. NAVAN RURALMeath | 31940 |
| 4. NAAS URBANKildare | 26306 |
| 5. GLENCULLENDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 23596 |
| 6. CARRIGALINE/MONKSTOWN RURAL/DOUGLASCork City | 22029 |
Ireland's youngest areas — estimated median age
These areas have the lowest estimated median age (interpolated from five broad age bands, so indicative rather than exact). They typically reflect recent family settlement, high birth rates, or large student populations — mostly outer suburbs and university towns.
| Electoral Division | Est. median age |
|---|---|
| 1. CLONSKEAGH-BELFIELDDun Laoghaire/Rathdown | 21.6 yrs |
| 2. CAPPAVILLAClare | 22.7 yrs |
| 3. GILLABBEY CCork City | 24.2 yrs |
| 4. BISHOPSTOWN ACork City | 24.6 yrs |
| 5. GLASHEEN BCork City | 26.2 yrs |
| 6. GILLABBEY BCork City | 27.5 yrs |
Ireland's oldest areas — where is the population ageing?
These areas have the highest estimated median age. Young people have left over many years, leaving an older population behind. They are almost always rural.
| Electoral Division | Est. median age |
|---|---|
| 1. SHESKIN/BUNAVEELA/GLENCOMayo | 56.6 yrs |
| 2. SLIEVEMOREMayo | 56.1 yrs |
| 3. BELDERGMOREMayo | 55.9 yrs |
| 4. DOOEGAMayo | 55.1 yrs |
| 5. CROOKHAVENCork | 55 yrs |
| 6. KILFIAN WESTMayo | 54.7 yrs |
Fastest-growing counties — explore the data
These counties recorded the highest growth between Census 2016 and Census 2022. Each has a full data profile at electoral division level.
The sharpest contrast is between Meath and Leitrim. One grows faster than anywhere in Ireland. The other is smaller than a century ago. The commuter belt pattern is stable and will likely continue into Census 2027. Watch the map as new housing completions shift the picture.
Explore population data on the map
IrelandInsights maps Census 2022 population figures, household size, and age demographics for every electoral division in Ireland. See which areas are growing, which are ageing, and the demographic profile of each area.
Where to live in Ireland → · Deprivation map → · Housing crisis →
Population change 1926–2022 → · 1926 census overview →
More IrelandInsights reports
- → 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 Homes 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
- → Pobal Deprivation Index — All 26 Counties Mapped
- → Average Age in Ireland — by County
- → 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