Ireland's Catholic population grows, but percentage declines
October 23, 2012
Ireland’s Catholic population has reached its highest recorded level, but the percentage of Catholics in the country’s population has declined, the latest census figures show.
The absolute number of Catholics in Ireland has risen especially since 2004, when the free movement of people in the European Union led to an influx of immigrants, especially from Poland.
Nevertheless, the growth of other religious groups—and of people reporting no religious affiliation—has led to a decrease in the Catholic proportion of Ireland’s population. Today Catholics account for 84% of the total, down from 96% in 1961.
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