Population Density in Ireland

Population Density in Ireland

1. Factors that influence population density in Ireland are: Physical, Socio-economic and Historical

   • Physical factors determine whether or not an area is suitable to live in.
     • The isolation of the islands off the west coast has led to population decline. The Blasket Islands, off the coast of Kerry were abandoned in 1954due to a combination of population decline and exhaustion of their only fuel source. The Aran Islands are also experiencing population decline, with many of its residents owning properties on the mainland where they spend the winter months.
     • A wet climate, unproductive soils and upland relief make the west unattractive for settlement, as are the peat soils of the midlands and other marshy areas along the River Shannon Basin. Many of these areas have population densities of less tham 25 per km squared. It is likely that these rural areas will continue to decline as Ireland's population becomes more and more urbanised due to rural-urban migration
     • In some Fertile areas to the south and east, large family-run farms have led to less dense settlement
   • Socio-Economic Factors: Places with high levels of employment are more desirable to live in than regions with fewer job opportunities
     • Socio-economic factors change over time and can cause changes in distribution and density. From 1995 to 2002, Ireland was a desirable destination for members of the European union who were seeking employment. However, since the economic downturn of 2008, many Irish people have been forced to emigrate to the US, Canada and Australia in search of work. The economic recovery experienced between 2013 and 2019 reversed this trend once again.
     • urban centres have the highest population densities. Settlements surrounding these urban centres also have high population densities in excess of 75 per km squared. Typically, these 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. As a result of this, 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 countries such as Wicklow,Kildare, Meath and Laois.
   • Historic Factors
     • Before the Great Famine, the republic of Ireland's population peaked at almost 6.5 million. At the time, Ireland's economy was based entirely on agriculture, meaning that most of the population lived in rural areas. Prior to the Great Famine, Ireland's 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.
       • The majority of death and emigration occurred along the western seaboard, as farmers there were unable to grow crops other than potatoes on their land. Furthermore, the mild, wet climate of the west suited thhe potato blight disease more than the drier east of the country. Death and outward migratiom led to a reduced population densityalong the west, while more and more families moved to Dublin (outward migration)

2. What is Population density? Population density and population distribution are the terms used to describe where in the world people live.

   • Population density is calculated by dividing the total population of the country or area by the total area of land (km squared) in the country or area.
     • Places with low population density in Ireland include the Burren, mountain ranges (such as MacGillycuddy's Reeks and the Wicklow Mountains) and parts of Connemara.​
       • Ireland's highest population densities are found in urban centres such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. The majority of Ireland's lager urban have developed along coastal lowlands or on the banks of the river
     • The people who calculate the population of the country or area are known as Demographers. They use a more accurate measurement known as physiological desnisty

3. Ireland has an uneven distribution of population. Generally, the north and west of Ireland are sparsely populated, while the south and east are more densely populated