Poverty and living standards in Northern and Western, Ireland: official figures
Disposable household income was 19,100 PPS per person in 2023; the lowest of 3 regions in Ireland.
How many people in Northern and Western are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 24.7% in 2025, against 18.8% for Ireland; the highest of 3 regions in Ireland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat percentage of people rent in the Northern and Western Region?
17.2% of households in the Northern and Western Region rented from a private landlord in Census 2022, while 45.2% owned their home outright and 27.2% had a mortgage or loan.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many vacant homes are there in the Northern and Western Region?
Census 2022 found 47,934 vacant dwellings in the Northern and Western Region (excluding holiday homes), 11.5% of the housing stock and the highest of 3 regions (Ireland: 7.7%); a further 29,839 were unoccupied holiday homes.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many one-parent families are there in the Northern and Western Region?
One-parent families made up 23.3% of families with children in the Northern and Western Region in Census 2022, below the national 24.8%.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many people are on the Live Register in the Northern and Western Region?
The Live Register count for the Northern and Western Region stood at 28,477 in September 2026 (17.0% of Ireland's 167,193 claimants).
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Northern and Western?
20.9% of people lived below the poverty line (60% of national median income after social transfers) in 2025 (Ireland: 13.0%). In 2016 it was 21.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Northern and Western cannot afford basic necessities?
In 2025, 6.5% of residents were severely materially and socially deprived (unable to afford 7 or more of 13 everyday necessities) (Ireland: 5.2%). In 2016 it was 6.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Northern and Western have nobody in work?
Very low work intensity affected 11.8% of people under 65 in 2025 (households where working-age adults worked under 20% of the time they could) (Ireland: 8.8%). In 2016 it was 20.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Northern and Western?
After taxes and benefits, households had €26,200 per person to spend or save in 2023, compared with €28,000 nationally and €21,000 in the EU. In 2013 it was €17,700.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Northern and Western use the internet?
99.7% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025 (Ireland: 99.7%). In 2018 it was 76.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 93% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In Census 2022 35,255 households in the Northern and Western Region (11.4%) had no motor car, compared with 14.4% nationally. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- 12.7% of households in the Northern and Western Region had no internet connection in Census 2022 (9.5% nationally) and 1.06% had no central heating. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- That was 1,259 fewer than in September 2025 (29,736), a change of -4.2% in a year; nationally the count changed by +1.2%. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- Relative to its Census 2022 population aged 15 to 64, the Northern and Western Region had 50 people on the Live Register per 1,000 in September 2026, the highest of 3 regions (Ireland: 50). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
How Northern and Western compares with other statistical regions
Households renting social housing (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households renting social housing (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 11.2% |
| 2 | Southern | 10.6% |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 7.9% |
Vacant dwellings, excluding holiday homes (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Vacant dwellings, excluding holiday homes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 11.5% |
| 2 | Southern | 7.9% |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 6.0% |
Households with no car (%) (2022)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with no car (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 17.0% |
| 2 | Southern | 12.3% |
| 3 | Northern and Western | 11.4% |
Social benefits and transfers as % of household income (2024)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Social benefits and transfers as % of household income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 20.7% |
| 2 | Southern | 19.1% |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 14.3% |
People on the Live Register per 1,000 aged 15-64 (Census 2022 population) (2026-09)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People on the Live Register per 1,000 aged 15-64 (Census 2022 population) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 50 |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 49 |
| 3 | Southern | 46 |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 20.9% |
| 2 | Southern | 12.7% |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 10.4% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 6.5% |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | 5.7% |
| 3 | Southern | 3.8% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern and Western | 11.8% |
| 2 | Southern | 9.3% |
| 3 | Eastern and Midland | 7.5% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2023)
Northern and Western ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | €28,700 |
| 2 | Eastern and Midland | €28,100 |
| 3 | Northern and Western | €26,200 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Northern and Western ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern and Midland | 99.8% |
| 2 | Northern and Western | 99.7% |
| 3 | Southern | 99.6% |
More on Northern and Western: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Ireland
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Estimates of Household Income by Region and County, 2000-2024 (PxStat table CIRGDP07, County Incomes and Regional GDP), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e9c131e91ab7…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Census 2022 Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS), all themes, by administrative county and city, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 32250e98c48a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland: Persons on the Live Register by age group, sex and county, monthly 2022-2026 (PxStat table LRM15), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d22c9fc2ec84…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.