Irish census: Catholic majority remains strong, but family breakdown soars

March 30, 2012

Ireland remains an overwhelmingly Catholic nation, new census figures prove. But the statistics show an alarming rise in family breakdown.

The census figures, released March 30, show that 84% of Ireland’s people identify themselves as Catholic. The number of Catholics in the country has grown by 4.9% since the last census, in 2006. But because of heavy immigration, the Catholic proportion of the overall population declined; in 2006 that figure was almost 87%.

In terms of religious affiliation, the closest rival to Catholicism is the group that declares “no religion.” That group has grown by 45% in the past 5 years, and now accounts for 5% of the population. Immigrants account for a disproportionate number of those who claim no religious affiliation, the census figures show.

Perhaps the most striking trend revealed by the 2011 census is the sharp increase in divorce. Since 1986, the number of Irish adults who have been divorced or separated has skyrocketed: from just over 40,000 to 250,000, or roughly 600%. Today more than 21% of all Irish children—well above the European average—are being raised in single-parent homes. Another 6% of children are being raised by couples who are living together but not married.

 

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Further information:

• Ireland remains overwhelmingly Catholic (Irish Times)
• Catholicism remains religion of ninety percent of Irish nationals (Iona Institute)
• Census shows almost 250,000 Irish adults have experienced marital breakdown (Iona Institute)