EU Commission: Ireland Still A Nation Of Rural Dwellers

Ireland has one of the highest shares of people (42%) living in rural areas of almost any other EU country. On average only 27% of EU citizens now live in rural areas with a low of 7% in Malta followed by 12% in the United Kingdom.

35% of Ireland’s population live in cities compared to an EU average of 41% and 23% live in towns and suburbs compared to an EU average of 32%.

The figures also show that the employment rate of people living in towns and suburbs in Ireland (66.3%) is lower than that of city dwellers (69.3%) and rural dwellers (69.7%).

People living in towns and suburbs in Ireland are also at a greater risk of poverty or social exclusion (29.3%) than those living in cities (26.3%) and rural areas (27.6%) contrary to many other EU countries.