Republic of Ireland net migration continues to fall from Ukraine war peak

Net migration to the Republic of Ireland has continued to decline from its Ukraine war peak, new figures suggest.

An estimated 111,000 people came to live in the country in the year to April, while 62,500 people left meaning there was net immigration of approximately 48,000 people.

That compares to net immigration of almost 60,000 in 2025 and almost 80,000 in both 2023 and 2024.

Immigration became a major social and political issue in Ireland after the country accepted a large number of Ukrainian refugees alongside an increase in other sources of immigration.

Between March and December 2022 almost 68,000 people arrived in the Republic of Ireland from Ukraine under the EU's Temporary Protection Directive.

That sudden and unprecedented influx placed significant pressure on Irish state resources with the government having to take measures such as temporarily housing people in tents.

Ireland's government was already struggling with a housing crisis before the increase in immigration.

The country's centre-right coalition has continued to toughen its migration enforcement and is also gradually withdrawing emergency accommodation from Ukrainian refugees.

The new figures also suggest a continuing trend of migration from the United States.

Net migration from the US reached an estimated 4,000 people, up from 3,500 in 2025.

There has been some speculation that this has been driven by Donald Trump with the comedian and actress Rosie O'Donnell the most high profile emigrant who has talked about not wanting to live in Trump's America.