The Central Statistics Office offered a range of challenging population projections yesterday. They were, mostly, a continuation of well-established trends, though the scale of change may be surprising in particular instances.
The population, which stood at 4.74m in 2016, is projected to increase to between 5.33m and 5.81m souls. Dublin’s population is expected to increase by 31.9%, from 1.34m in 2016 to 1.76m by 2036. That, it is anticipated, will represent 31.6% of the State’s population.
This deepening concentration brings huge challenges for planners and the well-being of regions where change is not so dynamic.
Another detail that will almost inevitably demand new, more equitable ideas is the prediction that the number of people aged 65 years or over will grow by 65% to over 1.1m souls by 2036.
In a society with deeply inequitable and expensive pension systems, this must set alarm bells ringing — if it’s not too late already, as this huge change is less than 20 years away, mere minutes in terms of worthwhile pension provision.