Ireland's Population Over Four And A Half Million

The first results from April's census shows the population in Ireland has grown to 4,581, 269 people, an increase of 341,421 since the last census in 2006.

The increase is more than 100,000 higher than expected, and could have implications for economic and regional planning.

The increase is mostly due to a baby boom, with a natural increase of 222,800 more births than deaths during the period.

This is a very high figure by international standards - Ireland is thought to have the highest birth rate in Europe.

Net immigration is also a factor with 118,650 more people moving to Ireland to live than leaving the country during the five year period.

The figures are skewed, with most of the arrivals in years just after 2006, and more people emigrating in more recent years as the economy tumbled.

However, the figures suggest not as many people are leaving the country as had been thought.

The increase the Republic's population represents a change of 8.1% over the past five years.

County Laois has shown the biggest growth, with an extraordinary 20% increase in population.

Other counties with strong growth included Cavan 13.9%, Fingal 13.8%, Longford 13.3%, Meath 13% and Kildare 12.7%.

Cork and Limerick cities showed drops in population of 0.4% and 5.0% respectively.

In a reversal from 2006, there are now more men than women living in Ireland with 981 males for every 1,000 females.

The growth in population in the five years prior to 2006 was 60-40 immigration to natural change, but that ration has switched around and is now 65-35 because of natural change.

The census also shows there are now more than two million houses in the State, and almost one in seven of those are empty.

The census figures will have significant implications for budgets and planning, as the higher than expected population means the government must find funding for extra health, education and other services.

Counties which have seen their populations significantly increase can expect more allocations from the slim resources available to the government.

The new numbers also have significant implications for plans to reduce the number of TDs in Dail Eireann.

Fine Gael had planned to cut the number by 20 before the election, but under Ireland's constitution there must be at least one TD for every 30,000 constituents.

Now, the maximum cut would be 13 and the minimum six.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has established a new Constituency Commission to decide on the exact numbers of TDs in the new Dail along with new boundaries.