Welcome to the Celtic Tiger: Immigration and Diversity
The inflow of immigrants in Ireland is a relatively recent event, with most of it occurring in the last 30 years of contemporary Irish history. As a result of the economic boom known as the “Celtic Tiger” that began in the 1990s, the Emerald Isle became home to tens of thousands of immigrants from other countries. According to the Central Statistics Office, it is anticipated that they would account for 16% of the overall population by 2020, according to Central Statistics Office. As a result, Ireland is one of the most diversified countries in the twenty-first century’s first decade.
Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle of the Atlantic, attracts a growing number of expatriates. Is it because of the extraordinary natural beauty, the friendly and dynamic people, the vibrant music, the peaceful and quiet living environment, or the numerous work opportunities?
Through our exploration of the data, we will analyze what attracts people from all over the world to Ireland.
Migration to Ireland
Ireland achieved its independence from British domination in 1919 and has become one of Europe’s most impressive economic success stories in the decades that followed. Despite the severe consequences of the global financial crisis of 2008, Ireland has rebounded effectively, attaining excellent growth rates and routinely outperforming the majority of its European counterparts.
As we can see, it appears that 1996 marked the beginning of a sustained period of net migration to Ireland, which peaked in 2009 and then declined slightly after the economic crisis, before turning positive again in 2015. The data show that net migration to Ireland peaked in 1996 and became cheerful again in 2015.
Immigration, Emigration and Net migration 1987–2021
After decades of Irish migration, Ireland has become a net migration country due to the significant economic growth seen in the previous decade and the accompanying fast immigration of non-Irish citizens. As a result, Irish society has become more diversified in terms of race, ethnicity, and religious affiliation, among other things.
Social and Economic
Ireland is a highly developed country and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Most noteworthy, Ireland’s corporate income tax rate is merely 12.5%. The United Kingdom, which is only over the sea from Ireland, has a corporate income tax rate of 19%. In contrast, Germany and France have rates of 30% and 33.33%, respectively, making Ireland an attractive investment location. According to the Worldbank, Ireland achieved a miraculous 26.3% GDP growth in 2015 and never had a GDP growth rate lower than 7% in 2016 and 2017; an actual rocket speed compared to the EU average of only 2%-3%.
Furthermore, Ireland is recognized as the “Silicon Valley of Europe,” and several of the world’s top companies, including Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft, have chosen to establish their head offices there. The abundance of opportunities has drawn many foreigners to Ireland, with offices of top 500 corporations spread around the nation.
Nationalities at work excluding Ireland, 2016
As we can see, in April 2016, 293,830 non-Irish nationals worked in Ireland, representing 14.9% of the workforce. Polish and British citizens dominated the non-Irish workers, accounting for 42.1% of the total (123,599). The remaining 170,231 workers were from 185 different nationalities.
Ethnic Diversity
What is unique about immigration to Ireland? One of these is the diversity of nationalities.
In contrast to other European nations, migration patterns in Ireland differ depending on which ethnic group is being considered. For centuries various nations have witnessed waves of immigration from certain countries (for example, Turks in Germany), resulting in relatively significant numbers of distinct minority groups in those countries.
Irish immigration is unique in its diversity of nationalities. If you live in Ireland, you’re familiar with the PPS number. Your Personal Public Service (PPS) number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services, and information in Ireland. According to the Central Statistics Office, 79,600 PPSn have been allocated to foreigners from 180 countries between 2010 and 2018.
PPSN Allocations to Foreign Nationals 2010–2018
Apart from that, the number of migrants to Ireland has been relatively stable in recent years, thereby maintaining that the country retains its variety in nationalities and ethnicities. From 2015 to April 2020, the number of immigrants arriving in Ireland has stayed reasonably consistent, with no significant variations in the number of people coming. The number of non-EU citizens (from the rest of the world) entering the country decreased by 16,300 (-53.6 %) to 14,100 in the year ending April 2021, compared to 30,400 in the previous year of the covid-19.
Estimated Immigration 2015–2021
Stable Society
The development of a country should not just be concerned with economic progress but also with human development. The promotion of total human development is the most significant consequence of economic and social growth because focusing on the development of people themselves is the most sustainable kind of progress.
The Human Development Index was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone. The index is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and having a decent standard of living.
Human Development Index , 2020
Ireland has an extremely high degree of human development compared to the rest of the world. Ireland is ranked second out of 189 nations and territories based on its rating of 0.955.
Ireland was the country that improved the most in the Human Development Index rankings between 2012 and 2017, climbing 13 places. Ireland has always been on the rise, with a stable society and a high index of human well-being.
Diversity in Education
What is the first thing you would think about if you were a parent?
Education must be the answer.
Like the United Kingdom, Ireland is probably the first tier of educational powerhouses in the European Union, and the government has placed a strong focus on education for many years. Irish immigrants have a particularly unique educational history. Irish schools educate 160 immigrant students from various nations who are varied in terms of culture, linguistics, and religious background. Let’s take a look through the data.
Non-Irish primary, secondary, third level students, 2016
According to the Central Statistics Office, 96,497 non-Irish national students and learners aged 5 and above in Ireland in 2016, accounting for 18% of all non-Irish nationals. The Polish were the largest group (22,450). In 2016, Continental European students accounted for two-thirds of non-Irish pupils aged 5 and up. Then was followed by Asian students (14.3 %), with African students (6.5 %) being the least represented.
Immigrant students in Irish schools receive more than simply language assistance; they are adapted to ethnic and cultural diversity from various perspectives, including everyday life and intercultural education.
Welcome to the Celtic Tiger
‘Most countries send out oil or iron, steel or gold, or some other crop, but Ireland has had only one export and that is its people.’
— — John F. Kennedy on his presidential visit to Ireland, June 1963
On this peaceful and vibrant emerald island, you will find endless meadows, the stunning Atlantic Ocean, as well as undulating hills and slopes to explore. The rapidly growing economy, stable political and social environment, broad ethnicity and cultural diversity, and excellent educational facilities, all of which contribute to the country’s continuous stream of immigrants from across the world.
