LONDON

The population on the island of Ireland – including both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom’s Northern Ireland – has grown by nearly a third over the past two decades, reaching 7 million for the first time since the 19th century Potato Famine, according to newly published figures.

A joint study by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) and Northern Ireland’s Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) found that in 2022, the population of the island stood at 7.1 million people, up 26%, or 1.5 million people, over the 20 years since 2002.

The news marks the first time the total population of Ireland and Northern Ireland has topped 7 million people since the years of the Great Famine, which lasted from 1845 to 1852, according to the research, released on Wednesday.

The study also noted that Ireland saw a population jump of 31%, while Northern Ireland’s population rose 13%.

It added that the 5.15 million people living in Ireland in 2022 accounted for 73% of the island’s population, while the 1.91 million people in Northern Ireland accounted for 27%.

The research also showed that the median age of the population was 38 in Ireland and 40 in Northern Ireland, both below the EU average of 44 years.

"Northern Ireland had a higher proportion of people aged 65 years and over (18%) compared with Ireland (15%)," it added.

Ireland is known for its large expatriate population, driven by factors such as economic conditions and religious strife, but while many are still emigrating, the new research points to population growth despite Irish people moving abroad.