asked the Taoiseach the number of people who emigrated from this country in 1950 and for each consecutive five year period up to and including 1985.
Written Answers. - Emigration Statistics.
41.
In the absence of comprehensive documentary or other administrative procedures relating to the movements of persons into and out of the State, there is no way of determining the actual number of inward and outward migrants in any period. The only reliable estimates of migration flows are those for net migration (i.e. the difference between the inward and outward flows) between successive censuses of population. The estimates for these periods are obtained by relating the intercensal population changes to data for births and deaths in the same period. In this way the following estimates of net migration for the intercensal period between 1951 and 1981 were derived:
|
Intercensal period |
Estimated Net Migration (Inward less Outward) |
|
1951-56 (five years) |
–196,800 |
|
1956-61 (five years) |
–212,000 |
|
1961-66 (five years) |
–80,600 |
|
1966-71 (five years) |
–53,900 |
|
1971-79 (eight years) |
108,900 |
|
1979-81 (two years) |
–5,000 |
A minus signifies a net outward movement.
For the post 1981 period, pending the availability of the results of the 1986 census of population, only very tentative estimates of net migration can be made based on the annual mid-April provisional population estimates. The provisional mid-April 1985 population estimate at 3,552,000 is 109,000 above the 1981 census figure. The natural increase (excess births over deaths) in the same period was 141,000. Thus for the four years April 1981 to April 1985, it is tentatively estimated that net migration was 32,000 outwards. A firm estimate for the five year 1981-1986 period will be available after the 1986 census.