Have you ever wondered how people in your local area travel to work or school? Or how many people volunteer in local community groups or sporting activities? Or how many people of your age live in your area which might support a new business idea?

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (21 September 2023) published the Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) from Census 2022. This is the most detailed set of data produced from the Census 2022 results covering topics such as sex, age and marital status, families, housing, education, commuting and occupation as well as new topics such as volunteering and childcare. Using our interactive maps, you can zoom in to your local area and learn more about your community.

Cormac Halpin, Senior Statistician, explained: “This is the most detailed set of data that is produced from the census. These statistics provide great detail on areas ranging from local communities and electoral divisions, right up to county and province level by using the Boundary dropdown menu. 

Today’s publication means data is available for the full set of 18,919 Small Areas, each of which generally covers between 60 and 120 households. The data is used for everything from providing people with information about their local neighbourhood to helping businesses make decisions on where to locate. This could be a bike shop hoping to expand into a new area, a local transport operator assessing the viability of a new bus service, or a local business wanting data on the household composition of their area. Census small area data can help inform these types of decisions. Communities can use the data to strengthen their case in the pursuit of additional services, whether that is for child-minding facilities, youth services, or elderly support. This data is an important national resource, is easily accessible, and freely available for all to use.”

The Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics are available via the Census 2022 interactive map. This easy-to-use interactive map allows you to search for your area by name or by Eircode and select a topic of interest to research. Data can also be downloaded in PDF or Excel format.