Population and Urbanisation Trends in Ireland, Study notes of Geography of the U. S.

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2. Geographical

distribution

Population by constituency

Urbanisation

Urban centres

Population by constituency

The population by constituency is an important output

from each census as the total membership of the Dáil

is determined by the population as measured in the

census. The constituencies presented in Figure 2.

are those of the 44th Dáil as defined in the Electoral

(Amendment) (No.7) Act 2013.

The population per TD for the country as a whole in April

2016 was 30,138.

There were twenty five constituencies with more

than 30,000 people per TD and an additional eleven

constituencies where the number of people per TD was

in the range 29,000 to 30,000.

The constituency of Limerick County, with 27,

people, had the lowest population per TD in the country

in April 2016.

The constituency of Dublin North-West had the highest

with 32,331 people.

Dublin Central was the fastest growing constituency

increasing by 7,277 people or 8.2 per cent. It recorded

the second highest population per TD with 32,

people.

Only two constituencies, Donegal and Mayo, showed a

population decrease between the two censuses falling

by -1.1 per cent and -0.2 per cent respectively.

See web table EY

5 members 4 members 3 members Number of constituencies 11 16 13

Total persons represented 1,656,194 1,926,080 1,179,

Average persons represented 30,113 30,095 30,

Table 2.1 Persons represented by constituency type, 2016 Size type of constituency

Figure 2.1 Population per TD in each

constituency, 2016

Dublin North-West

Dublin Central

Dublin Rathdown

Galway East

Cork North-Central

Cavan-Monaghan

Dún Laoghaire

Galway West

Laois

Kildare North

Kildare South

Dublin Bay North

Cork South-Central

Dublin West

Dublin Fingal

Meath East

Cork East

Carlow-Kilkenny

Dublin Bay South

Longford-Westmeath

Louth

Meath West

Donegal

Dublin South-West

Mayo

Wexford

Dublin South-Central

Sligo-Leitrim

Tipperary

Cork North-West

Offaly

Kerry

Dublin Mid-West

Wicklow

Limerick City

Waterford

Cork South-West

Roscommon-Galway

Clare

Limerick County

'000s

More and larger urban centres

The table below shows the number of urban centres

classified by type along with the increase in the

respective populations.

The total number of urban centres increased from 197

in 2011 to 200 in 2016 (for definitions, see Appendix 3).

Small towns with population between 3,000 and 4,

people were the fastest growing category, increasing

their population by 11 per cent since 2011 and by 22.4 per

cent since 2006.

Two towns (Longford and Skerries) joined the category

of 10,000 or more (i.e. large towns) since the last census,

bringing the total number to 41. The population of all

large towns increased by 6.6 per cent, and by 26.4 per

cent since 2002.

Table 2.3 Number of urban population centres, 2011 and 2016

Area 2011 2016 % change Dublin city & suburbs 1 1 5. Cork city & suburbs 1 1 5. Limerick city & suburbs 1 1 3. Galway city & suburbs 1 1 4. Waterford city & suburbs 1 1 3. Towns 10,000 or over 39 41 6. Towns 5,000 -9,999 41 40 -1. Towns 3,000 -4,999 30 33 11. Towns 1,500 -2,999 82 81 0. Urban Total 197 200 3.

Population centres

Shifting share…….

Figure 2.3 clearly shows how Dublin city has lost

population share of the total urban population at the

expense of other urban areas over the past fifty years.

In 1966 Dublin city accounted for over half the urban

population of the country with 51 per cent living there. In

April 2016 this had fallen to 39 per cent.

This fall has been offset by the growth of large towns. In

1966, 1 in 10 people in urban areas lived in this category

of town, compared with more than 1 in 4 in 2016.

Figure 2.3 Share of population in urban

areas, 1966 and 2016

Dublin city

Cork city

Other 3 main cities

Towns 10,000 +

Towns 5,000 - 9,

Towns 1,500 - 4,

It’s a fact!

200

11%

6.6%

26%

51%

39%

The total number of urban centres in 2016

The percentage increase in the population of small towns - the fastest growing category

The percentage increase in the population of large towns - the second fastest growing category

Dublin’s share of the urban population in 1966

The percentage of the urban population living in large towns in 2016

Dublin’s share of the urban population 50 years later