Poverty and living standards in West (Northern and Western, Ireland): official figures
Social housing was home to 6.6% of households in the West region in Census 2022 (9,202 rented from the council and 1,978 from voluntary or co-operative bodies), against 10.4% nationally.
What percentage of people rent in the West?
18.7% of households in the West region rented from a private landlord in Census 2022, while 44.7% owned their home outright and 27.7% had a mortgage or loan.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many vacant homes are there in the West?
Census 2022 found 24,742 vacant dwellings in the West region (excluding holiday homes), 11.3% of the housing stock and the 2nd highest of 8 NUTS 3 regions (Ireland: 7.7%); a further 12,314 were unoccupied holiday homes.
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyHow many one-parent families are there in the West?
One-parent families made up 22.5% of families with children in the West 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 West?
The Live Register count for the West region stood at 14,053 in September 2026 (8.4% of Ireland's 167,193 claimants).
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copyMore figures
- In Census 2022 18,498 households in the West region (11.2%) had no motor car, compared with 14.4% nationally. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- 12.1% of households in the West region had no internet connection in Census 2022 (9.5% nationally) and 1.18% had no central heating. Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
- That was 425 fewer than in September 2025 (14,478), a change of -2.9% 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 West region had 46 people on the Live Register per 1,000 in September 2026, the 3rd lowest of 8 NUTS 3 regions (Ireland: 50). Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · saved copy
How West compares with other regional areas in Ireland
Households renting social housing (%) (2022)
West ranks 8 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Households renting social housing (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South-East | 11.9% |
| 3 | South-West | 10.4% |
| 4 | Midland | 10.4% |
| 5 | Mid-West | 9.8% |
| 6 | Mid-East | 9.6% |
| 7 | Border | 9.4% |
| 8 | West | 6.6% |
Vacant dwellings, excluding holiday homes (%) (2022)
West ranks 2 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Vacant dwellings, excluding holiday homes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Border | 11.7% |
| 2 | West | 11.3% |
| 3 | Midland | 8.5% |
| 4 | Mid-West | 8.5% |
| 5 | South-West | 8.0% |
| 6 | South-East | 7.2% |
| 7 | Mid-East | 5.6% |
Households with no car (%) (2022)
West ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Households with no car (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South-West | 12.5% |
| 3 | Mid-West | 12.3% |
| 4 | South-East | 11.9% |
| 5 | Border | 11.6% |
| 6 | West | 11.2% |
| 7 | Midland | 11.1% |
| 8 | Mid-East | 9.9% |
Social benefits and transfers as % of household income (2024)
West ranks 5 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Social benefits and transfers as % of household income |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South-East | 21.2% |
| 3 | Midland | 21.2% |
| 4 | Mid-West | 19.8% |
| 5 | West | 18.7% |
| 6 | South-West | 17.5% |
| 7 | Mid-East | 16.5% |
| 8 | Dublin | 12.3% |
People on the Live Register per 1,000 aged 15-64 (Census 2022 population) (2026-09)
West ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | Area | People on the Live Register per 1,000 aged 15-64 (Census 2022 population) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Midland | 56 |
| 3 | Border | 55 |
| 4 | Dublin | 49 |
| 5 | Mid-West | 47 |
| 6 | West | 46 |
| 7 | Mid-East | 45 |
| 8 | South-West | 39 |
More on West: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Northern and Western · Ireland
Sources
- 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…)
- 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…)
- 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…)
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