Mayo suffers 0.2% population decline - census
THE first results of the 2016 census, held just 12 weeks ago, were released today and show that Ireland’s population continues to grow, albeit more slowly than between the 2006 and 2011 censuses.
The total population of Ireland, enumerated on census night April 24, was 4,757,976, an increase of 169,724 (3.7%) on the 2011 census. The population of Mayo was recorded at 130,425.
The population change varied widely across the country with the increase in County Mayo being -213 (-0.2%). The county with the highest percentage increase was Meath with an increase of 5.9%.
Nationally there has been a substantial decrease in the number of vacant dwellings since 2011 – 13% or nearly 30,000. The overall vacancy rate was 12.8% (259,562 vacant dwellings).
In Mayo the figures show a total of 15,946 vacant dwellings - a vacancy rate of 24.0%.
The total change in the population between censuses is the combined effect of natural increase and net migration - a measure of the movements of persons into and out of the State.
The natural increase in the population is estimated at 198,282 giving an estimated net migration of -28,558 for the state.
Net migration on a county basis varied widely across the state with most counties experiencing net outward migration while a small number (such as Dublin and Cork) witnessed net inward movements.
Net migration for Mayo is estimated at -3,246 persons.
For now, only headcount totals for males and females are available. Scanning and processing of the two million census forms has begun and the first definitive results are due to be published next March, within a year of census day.
Brendan Murphy, statistician at the Central Statistics Office (CSO), explained: “The preliminary count is based on a clerical summary of each enumeration area compiled by the 4,663 enumerators.
'These counts have been returned to the CSO in advance of the census forms and the results published today are based on this information.
'The enumerators did an excellent job getting their summaries back to us, which allows us to prepare these early results of the census. We’d like to thank the entire census field staff for all their hard work and perseverance over the course of the census field campaign.
“We like to publish these preliminary figures while the thought of completing the census form is fresh in people’s minds. Additionally this data is available to immediately assist with public planning,' he said.