Emigration

The most apparent reason for Ireland’s population decline is emigration. As economic troubles or political unrest have hit the island nation, many people have chosen to leave in search of a better life elsewhere. In the 19th century, over one million people left Ireland for the United States. From the 1920s to the 1950s, another million fled the Irish Free State in the wake of civil war and economic depression. In the 21st century, emigration continues to be a major factor in the population decline, with an estimated 150,000 people leaving the country between 2011 and 2016.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, with high poverty, disease, and malnutrition levels. The lack of economic opportunities in Ireland and the hope of a better life abroad led many Irish people to leave their homes and families and start a new life in other countries.

Emigration also continued to be a factor in Ireland's population decline in the 20th century. Many Irish people moved to other countries in search of work, and this trend has continued to the present day, with significant numbers of Irish people emigrating to other countries, particularly to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.