Ireland's Ageing Population - Statistics That Shape Homecare Planning
Ireland's ageing population is changing how families, providers, and public services plan care at home. The figures below show why earlier planning matters.
At a glance:
The population aged 65 and over is projected to reach about 1.6 million by 2051.
Over one-quarter of people aged 65 and over live alone, which increases the need for steady homecare, companionship, and family support.
Only 3.3% of people aged over 65 live in nursing home care funded by the Nursing Home Support Scheme, so most older persons continue to live in the community.
The old-age dependency ratio is projected to rise by 2052, placing more pressure on family carers, home support, and workforce planning.
Ireland's population is ageing rapidly, a shift with significant implications for homecare planning and support for older persons.
To anticipate future homecare needs, Comfort Keepers has compiled recent Irish data on demographics, living situations, and active ageing.
The statistics, from population growth to the rates of living alone, are drawn from reputable sources like the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Social Justice Ireland, and Irish government reports.
Ireland's Ageing Population - Statistics at a Glance
Ireland's over-65 population is projected to reach 1.6 million by 2051 and up to 1.9 million by 2057, signalling a need to scale homecare services nationwide.
Only 3.3% of people aged 65+ are in nursing homes under the Nursing Home Support Scheme, so the vast majority live in the community. Over one-quarter live alone, ~190,000 people. This highlights the importance of personalised in-home support, including personal care, for older persons who want to stay independent.
Many older persons stay active beyond retirement. Approximately 135,000 people aged 65+ were at the end of 2025 (≈15% of the 65+ population of around 861,000). Additionally, 33% of adults aged 65–74 meet WHO guidelines, and 14% of the Irish population (of all ages) volunteer. This suggests that any homecare package should be flexible enough to fit around routines, work, and community involvement.
Ireland's care burden is rising as the old-age dependency ratio doubles from 23.1 in 2022 to 46.5 by 2052, and the HSE delivered over 22 million home support hours in 2023, making workforce development and retention critical.
Ireland's Ageing Population - What the Data Shows
The number of people over 65 in Ireland has grown dramatically in the past decade and is projected to expand further. Planners must recognise the scale of this growth when designing homecare services for the future.
Recent Growth (2013–2023)
In 2025, the estimated population aged 65 years and over was 861,000, a 37% increase on 2016 when it stood at 629,000, according to the CSO Older Persons Information Hub (April 2026). This reflects continued strong growth in Ireland’s older population.
A 2023 analysis by Social Justice Ireland notes a 21.8% jump in the 65+ population between 2016 and 2022 alone.
The group aged 70 and over expanded even faster, growing by 27% in the same period.
A 2024 TASC think-tank analysis highlights that Census 2022 counted 181,000 people aged 80 and over, a figure expected to more than triple by 2052.
Future Projections to 2051
CSO Population & Labour-Force Projections 2023-2057 show the 65 + cohort will pass the one-million mark by 2030 and reach ~1.55–1.60 million by 2051 in the central (M2) outlook.
Under the high-migration M1 scenario, numbers aged 65 + could climb to ≈1.94 million by 2057, representing almost 28% of the total population.
A 2025 joint report from Social Justice Ireland and ALONE projects the 65+ group will be 70% larger in 2040 than in 2022.
Ireland is expected to surpass 1 million residents over 65 by 2030.
Housing and Living Arrangements of Older Persons
Identifying where and how older persons live is fundamental for homecare planning. Most in Ireland live in private households, many on their own, rather than in institutional settings. These living arrangements influence demand for in-home care.
Ageing in Place - Who Lives Alone and Where
The overwhelming majority of older persons live in the community, not in nursing homes, as a 2023 Irish Examiner article reports. Only 3.3% of people over 65 reside in nursing home care.
Figures from the CSO's Census 2022 Profile 3 report show that over one-quarter of people aged 65 and over live alone. This figure rises to 44% among those aged over 85.
The number of older persons living by themselves grew from 156,800 in 2016 to nearly 190,000 in 2022. This includes over 30,000 people aged 85 and over.
Women are far more likely to live alone in later life. Of those 65+ living solo, 115,552 were women versus 74,022 men.
Active Ageing - Employment and Engagement Past 65
Many older Irish persons lead active, engaged lives, continuing to work or participate in community life well past the traditional retirement age. These trends influence how and when they might seek homecare.
Work, Volunteering, and Physical Activity Rates
A CSO press statement from April 2026 reported that 135,300 individuals aged 65 and over were in employment in Quarter 4 2025, up from 103,300 in Quarter 4 2022, a 31% increase. This reflects a continued rise in employment among older persons.
Survey data published by Age Friendly Ireland shows that about 33% of adults aged 65–74 meet physical activity recommendations.
About one in seven people in Ireland engages in voluntary work, and many volunteers are older retirees.
Care Demand and the Old-Age Dependency Ratio
As Ireland's ageing population grows, the balance between working-age people and older dependents shifts. This has direct effects on homecare demand, workforce planning, and public spending.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio: Ireland's Projections
Ireland's Old Age Dependency Ratio was 23.1 in 2022. This is about 4.3 working-age adults for every one person over 65.
This ratio is projected to reach 46.5 by 2052, shrinking to a 2-to-1 balance of working-age people to retirees.
The HSE delivered over 22 million home support hours to over 55,000 older persons in 2023, according to its 2023 annual reporting. That scale makes HSE home support an important part of planning for families who may need public funding.
Unmet need for homecare leads to delayed hospital discharges and excess pressure on nursing homes, and can add to waiting lists for community-based care.
Meeting the Demand for Independent Living
The data shows that more older persons in Ireland are living longer and continuing to live in their own homes and communities. As population numbers rise and dependency ratios shift, demand for reliable in-home support is likely to grow.
Planning early can help families identify the right mix of family support, HSE-funded care, and private homecare. It can also protect independence, routine, and quality of life for those we support.
For families comparing options, the benefits of homecare include familiar routines, community connection, and tailored daily support. If you are thinking about getting care at home, this is a practical place to begin.
Contact our local office to book a homecare consultation and discuss personalised support options.
References and Data Sources
Law Society of Ireland Gazette – Ireland’s population reached 5.3 million in 2023
https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2024/february/irelands-population-reached-5.3-million-in-2023Social Justice Ireland – Government is failing older people, more support required in Budget 2024
https://www.socialjustice.ie/article/government-failing-older-people-more-support-required-budget-2024Central Statistics Office – Population & Labour-Force Projections 2023-2057 (main report page)
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-plfp/populationandlabourforceprojections2023-2057/Central Statistics Office – Population Projections Results (detailed tables)
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-plfp/populationandlabourforceprojections2023-2057/populationprojectionsresults/Social Justice Ireland & ALONE – Policies for Ageing Well at Home (2025)
https://www.socialjustice.ie/publication/policies-ageing-well-home-ireland-health-and-wellbeing-2025Age Friendly Ireland – CSO projections news item
https://agefriendlyireland.ie/news/the-central-statistics-office-statistics/Central Statistics Office – Older Persons Information Hub January 2024
https://www.cso.ie/en/csolatestnews/pressreleases/2024pressreleases/pressstatementolderpersonsinformationhub2024/CSO – Census 2022 Profile 3: Private Households and Living Alone
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp3/censusofpopulation2022profile3-householdsfamiliesandchildcare/privatehouseholdsandlivingalone/The Irish Times – Number of people working beyond retirement age reaches record levels (5 Jun 2023)
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/2023/06/05/number-of-people-working-beyond-retirement-age-reaches-record-levels/Age Friendly Ireland – WHO physical-activity news release
https://agefriendlyireland.ie/news/who-global-levels-of-physical-inactivity-in-adults-off-track-for-2030/CSO – Census 2022 Spotlight Series: Volunteering in Ireland
https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpsv/censusofpopulation2022spotlightseriesvolunteeringinireland/volunteeringinireland/TASC – Employment Rates, Not Age, as Predictor of Dependency (19 Aug 2024)
https://www.tasc.ie/blog/2024/08/19/employment-rates-not-age-is-a-better-predictor-of/HSE – Annual Report & Financial Statements 2023 (PDF)
https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/board-members/board-meetings/march-2024/hse-annual-report-and-financial-statements-2023.pdf
