Conway Mill Trust

The population of the 26 counties is 4,588,252, the highest in 150 years. Most of the increase is due to the number of births, 365,000, since 2006. Migration from eastern European countries accounts for much of this increase. Population in the 26 counties rose from 62 people per square kilometer in 2006 to 67 in 2011. However, there are only 26 people per square kilometer in rural areas while the number is 1,736 people in urban areas. In Dublin and surrounding suburbs, the number is 3,498 per square kilometer.