Ireland's immigration history (and of one of a multi-ethnic society) is most of that of a country of emigration, remaining exclusively homogeneous for the vast majority of 20th century history, rather than one of net migration and increased ethnic and racial diversity. However, from the 1990s, with the rise of the '
Celtic Tiger', the nation shifted to one of a net receiver of immigration at a rapid pace, changing from one of the most 'homogeneous countries in the EU, to a country with a rate of change almost unparalleled in speed and scale'. •
Country comparison to the world: 13th
Nationalities Ireland contains several immigrant communities, especially in
Dublin and other cities across the country. The largest immigrant groups, with over 10,000 people, being
Poles, British,
Indians,
Romanians,
Lithuanians,
Brazilians,
Italians,
Latvians,
Spaniards,
French,
Croats,
Americans,
Chinese,
Germans and
Ukrainians.
Nationality of mothers Of the 54,062 births in 2024, there were 39,024 babies (72.2%) born to mothers of Irish nationality compared to 45,381 (78%) in 2021. There were 7% of births to mothers of EU15 to EU27 nationality, 1.6% of mothers were of UK nationality, and 2.6% were of EU14 nationality (excluding Ireland). Mothers of nationalities other than Ireland, UK and the EU accounted for 16% of total births registered. There were 0.6% of mothers where the nationality was not stated.
Migration data for Ireland, 1987-present Country of birth In 2022, 20% of the usually resident population in Ireland were born elsewhere, an increase of 3% since 2016. This represented 1,017,437 people, an increase of 207,031 from six years previously.
Support and opposition Migrants are supported/represented by the
Immigrant Council of Ireland,
Irish Refugee Council,
Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland,
Nasc and the state's
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. They are managed by the
International Protection Accommodation Service under the
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) as well being policed by the
Garda National Immigration Bureau. Some minor parties have voiced
opposition to immigration in the country and its capability to continue to let refugees in; that "
Ireland is full". They include the
National Party and the
Irish Freedom Party. In May 2023, a Red C/The
Business Post poll found that 75% of people thought that Ireland is taking in too many refugees. The DCEDIY projected a shortfall of 15,000 beds for refugees in December 2022 and admitted that there was mounting pressure to house 65,000 people. Approximately 7,400 refugee adults and
children were projected to be living in 38 "
direct provision" centres across 17 counties in Ireland by the end of April 2020. The
government of Ireland have said that they project to end direct provision by 2024 and are looking towards alternative forms of accommodation. == Religion ==