Population Density in Ireland

Population Density in Ireland

1. Physical Factors

   • wet, unproductive and upland relief= west unattractive
     • Population Density of less than 25 per km
   • isolation of the islands off the west coast has led to population decline.
   • The Blasket Islands abandoned in 1954
     • • In some fertile areas to the south and east,, large family-run farms have led to less dense settlement.

2. Historic Factors

   • Before the Great Famine, population peaked at almost 6.5 million
     • population density was 106.9 per km squared and evenly spread throughout all rural areas of Ireland
       • The Great Famine led to the deaths of roughly 1 million people, while a further 1 million people emigrated
   • farmers were unable to grow crops other than potatoes on their land
     • mild, wet climate of the west suited the potato blight disease more than the drier east of the country.
       • Death and outward migration led to a reduced population density along the west, while more and more families moved to Dublin

3. Socio-Economical Factors

   • Rural-urban migration accelerated from the 1960s
     • economic policies introduced the Irish government
       • These policies attracted MNCs to newly built estates in Ireland's cities and towns
         • led to employment opportunities in Ireland's largest cities, which has drawn people away from rural areas.
   • urban centres have the highest population densities
     • Settlements surrounding these urban centres also have high population densities
       • surrounding towns lie within the commuter zone of the nearest city and attract workers due to their proximity
         • Dublin is the best Irish example of this, as it is a primate city.
           • Dublin has many factors that encourage settlement, such as more employment opportunities, higher wages than the national average and a better range of services.
           • the urban areas surrounding the city have a population density of over 75 per km2
             • In order to overcome high property prices and a housing shortage, the commuter zone of the city has spread to other counties such as Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Laois

4. Area of High Density

   • Ireland's highest population densities are found in urban centres such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway
   • majority of Ireland's larger urban centres have developed along coastal lowlands or on the banks of rivers
   • In 2019, nearly 2 million people in Ireland lived within 5 km of the coast