Where young people live in Ireland — Census 2022 age data
Where Ireland's young population lives has changed significantly since 2016. University towns, inner-city rental clusters, and fast-growing commuter towns all show distinct under-35 demographic profiles. Census 2022 maps these patterns at electoral division level — the most granular available picture.
Ireland's age profile — Census 2022 headline figures
Areas with the youngest population profiles
| Area | Profile note |
|---|---|
| 1. Dublin City — Liberties / Ringsend | High student & young professional density |
| 2. Maynooth, Kildare | University town · youngest median age nationally |
| 3. Galway City | Student population · tech sector |
| 4. Cork City — Leeside | UCC / MTU student population |
| 5. Limerick City — University area | UL campus catchment |
| 6. Dublin — Rathmines / Ranelagh | Young professional rental cluster |
What drives young population concentration
- University towns: Maynooth, Galway, Cork, and Limerick all have very low median ages driven by student populations. Maynooth consistently records the youngest median age among Irish towns in Census data — the NUI Maynooth student body makes up a significant share of its population.
- Rental clusters: Young people aged 25–34 are heavily concentrated in private rented accommodation. The electoral divisions with the highest private renting rates — inner Dublin, inner Cork, inner Galway — also have the youngest median ages outside of student catchments.
- Commuter belt family formation: Kildare and Meath have the highest share of children under 15 nationally — driven by first-time buyers and young families. The commuter belt is distinct from urban young-professional clusters: these areas are young because of family formation, not renting.
- Rural youth migration: The most rural EDs in Leitrim, Roscommon, and Mayo have the oldest median ages in the country. The 18–34 cohort consistently leaves for urban employment or education and does not always return. Remote working has begun to reverse this in some areas but the shift is not yet visible in full 2022 data.
Under-18s — where children are most concentrated
Kildare, Meath, and Louth have the highest shares of under-18s nationally. These are the family formation counties — households with children, owner-occupied homes, and a median age in the mid-30s rather than the early 40s of the most rural counties. School infrastructure pressure is most acute in these counties as a result.
Young workers and employment
Census 2022 captures employment status by age band. The highest youth employment rates are in south Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare — the professional employment belt. The highest youth unemployment rates are in the inner cities of Dublin, Cork, and Limerick — mirroring the broader deprivation patterns in those areas.
Third-level attainment among under-35s has risen sharply nationally. The gap between the most and least educated young cohorts — visible in the Pobal Deprivation Index at ED level — reflects both geography and socioeconomic inheritance.
Explore age demographics on the map
IrelandInsights maps Census 2022 median age, population, and employment for every electoral division. Compare young population clusters, commuter family belts, and rural age profiles.
County profiles — age & demographics
← Population growth · Where to live →