Central Statistics Office research shows the population of Ireland is growing with more people living longer.
The latest report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) predicts that the population will exceed four million by the year 2006.
The last time the population was at four million was in 1871.
Famine and emigration wiped out two and a half million people in 30 years. The population decline continued as a result of emigration in the 1950s. By 1961, the population had reached a historic low of 2.8 million. The last census figures of 1996 show the population was 3.6 million, the highest figure this century. This CSO report indicates that the population will exceed four million by 2006. There will be an older population living on average five years longer.
According to Aidan Punch of the CSO, the population of people over 65 will double from the last census in 1996 to over 800,000 in 2031. The number of people aged over 80 will rise from about 90,000 to over 200,000.
Births will continue to rise during the first few years of the 21st century but will then fall due to the decline in the number of women in the prime childbearing age group. The report also predicts that the labour force will rise by 28,000 people annually, largely caused by changing demographics and more women joining the workforce.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 July 1999. The reporter is Cathy Milner.
