by Louise Doyle
LETTERKENNY is the largest town in Donegal, according to latest key census findings released by Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The recently published data by CSO of some of its findings from Census 2022 reveals Letterkenny has a population of 22,549, making it the largest town in the county.
Manorcunningham was identified as the youngest town in Donegal, with an average age of 33.3 years.
By contrast, Derrybeg is the oldest, with an average age of 46.1 years.
The census shows Donegal experienced both a natural population rise and net migration since 2016.
At four people per 1,000 of the population between 2016 and 2022, Donegal recorded one of the lowest annual average natural increases, the difference between births and deaths.
Kerry and Mayo had the lowest annual average natural increase with three people per 1,000.
The top 10 largest towns in the State remained almost the same compared with the settlements in 2016.
Naas joined the list of the top 10 largest towns, while Newbridge dropped out. In 2022, Swords was the third largest town in the State, replaced by Dundalk as the second largest.
The top five largest towns in the State were all in Leinster: Drogheda, Dundalk, Swords, Navan and Bray.
They were also the only ones with populations over 30,000 people. The town with the largest population in the State was Drogheda in Louth, with 44,135 people counted there in 2022.
The figures also reveal the majority of Donegal’s usual residents (69 per cent) were born in the county, while eight per cent were born elsewhere in the State.
The remaining 22 per cent were born outside the State, up from 21 per cent seven years ago.
Of those resident in Donegal, 5,740 had moved in the year prior to Census 2022, 73 per cent to elsewhere in the county.
The census data also showed that households that moved in Donegal were more likely to relocate to a detached house.
Sixteen per cent of movers in the county moved to a flat or apartment.
Commenting on the snapshot of results, Dr Tracy Clegg, Statistician in the Census Division, said the findings will be very important for local authorities.
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