Irish Emigration by Decade — Net Migration Since 1926

Net migration between censuses

1926–1936 −166,751

1936–1946 −187,111

1946–1951 −122,489

1951–1956 −196,763

1956–1961 −212,003

1961–1966 −80,605

1966–1971 −53,906

1971–1979 +108,934

1979–1981 −5,045

1981–1986 −71,883

1986–1991 −134,170

1991–1996 +8,302

1996–2002 +153,881

2002–2006 +191,331

2006–2011 +122,292

2011–2016 −24,669

2016–2022 +219,787

Red: more left than arrived. Green: more arrived. The periods are the gaps between censuses, so they vary in length (five to ten years).

Every census period

Period	Births minus deaths	Net migration	Population change	Population at end
1926–1936	163,179	-166,751	-3,572	2,968,420
1936–1946	173,798	-187,111	-13,313	2,955,107
1946–1951	127,975	-122,489	+5,486	2,960,593
1951–1956	134,434	-196,763	-62,329	2,898,264
1956–1961	132,080	-212,003	-79,923	2,818,341
1961–1966	146,266	-80,605	+65,661	2,884,002
1966–1971	148,152	-53,906	+94,246	2,978,248
1971–1979	281,035	+108,934	+389,969	3,368,217
1979–1981	80,233	-5,045	+75,188	3,443,405
1981–1986	169,121	-71,883	+97,238	3,540,643
1986–1991	119,246	-134,170	-14,924	3,525,719
1991–1996	92,066	+8,302	+100,368	3,626,087
1996–2002	137,235	+153,881	+291,116	3,917,203
2002–2006	131,314	+191,331	+322,645	4,239,848
2006–2011	226,112	+122,292	+348,404	4,588,252
2011–2016	198,282	-24,669	+173,613	4,761,865
2016–2022	167,487	+219,787	+387,274	5,149,139

Year by year since 1987 (thousands)

■ emigrants · ■ immigrants

Estimates for the twelve months to April of each year. Emigration peaked at 83k in 2012.

Quick answers

When was emigration from Ireland highest?

Between censuses, 1956–1961: net emigration of 212,003 people. In the yearly estimates since 1987, emigration peaked in 2012, at about 83k people.

How many people emigrated from Ireland after independence?

Net migration was outward in every intercensal period from 1926 to 1971, a combined 1,019,628 people more leaving than arriving. That is the net figure; the number who actually left was higher.

Is Ireland still an emigrant country?

The CSO estimates that in the year to April 2026, 62.5k people emigrated and 110.6k arrived, a net inflow of 48.1k.

Sources

Central Statistics Office tables F1005 ↗ (components of population change, 1926–2022) and PEA18 ↗ (estimated migration, 1987 onward). Figures are for the State; Northern Ireland is counted separately.

County populations since 1841 → · The Famine → · Where they went → · Famous emigrants →

Emigration, decade by decade