Irish Census (2016)

Measuring religious adherence in Ireland.

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» Note: Statistics for Northern Ireland are available on the UK Christianity page.

Introduction

» Statistics for the previous census in 2011 are available on the Irish Census (2011) page.

Eire FlagA Census was held in Ireland in April 2016 and a preliminary report published a year later.

 


Religion in Ireland

Hover over each bar/slice to obtain the figures for the year shown.



Note: Over the period 2011-2016, the Irish population as a whole grew by 3.8%.


 


Roman Catholic Church Attendance in Ireland

Outside of the Census, statistics on weekly Mass attendance have revealed an overall decline over the last 30 years, which is most marked in urban areas. A 2006 Poll conducted by the Irish state broadcaster RTE revealed that 48% of those surveyed attended mass at least weekly, as compared to 81% in 1990. A 2011 Survey found weekly attendance rates in the Dublin area to be 14%.

As part of the European Social Survey in 2010, Roman Catholics in Ireland were questioned on their church attendance patterns:

Weighted Base: 1,844

 

Over the period 1972-2011, weekly church attendance by Irish Roman Catholics fell from 91% to 30%. For the population as a whole, the following graph details the decline in attendance:

 



Roman Catholic Priests in Ireland

The number of priests has fallen by 16.4% over a 10 year period (2004-2014).

Source: The Irish Catholic