Immigration to Ireland hits 17-year high as number emigrating reaches highest figure since 2015

It marks a 17-year high, while the total figure of 149,200 immigrants includes 30,000 returning Irish citizens, 27,000 other EU citizens and 5,400 citizens of the UK.

The remaining 86,800 immigrants were citizens of other countries.

It marked the third successive 12-month increase where over 100,000 people immigrated to Ireland.

The CSO also recorded the largest 12-month increase in the population of the State since 2008, with the population rising by 98,700 people from April 2023 to April 2024.

Over 69,000 people departed the State in those 12 months, the highest emigration figure since 2015. It compares with 64,000 in the same period in 2023.

The number of emigrants consisted of 34,700 Irish citizens, 10,600 other EU citizens, 3,000 UK citizens, and 21,500 other citizens including Ukrainians.

Estimates show that 10,600 people left Ireland to live in Australia, up 126pc on last year when 4,700 people were estimated to have emigrated to Australia.

It marks the highest level of emigration…