Over 7,000 extra people in Westmeath since last census

The population of Westmeath has topped 90,000 for the first time since the foundation of the State.

Preliminary results from the 2022 census issued today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show the population of the county at 95,840.

It is an increase of over 7,000 people (up 8%) on the 2016 census population in the county.

Nationally, the population of the State is now 5.1 million people, up 7.6% on the Census 2016 figure.

The CSO said all counties in the country showed an increased population since 2016.

Longford saw biggest percentage increase (14.1%), followed by Meath (12.9%).

The population in Westmeath included 48,318 females and 47,522 males

The CSO said the rise of 7,070 people in Westmeath was made up of a natural increase (ie births minus deaths) of 3,721 and an estimated net inward migration of 3,349

Westmeath's population has been on the increase for the past six censuses. The last time the population of the county showed a decrease from the previous census was in 1991.

The 95,840 population figure for 2022 is 80% higher than the lowest population recorded in Westmeath since the foundation of the State (52,861 in 1961).

The total housing stock in Westmeath in April 2022 was 38,411. This shows an increase of 1,521 (4.1%) since 2016. There were 3,193 vacant dwellings, which was 535 fewer than in 2016, (14.4%). This does not include holiday homes, of which there were 334.