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25 Dec 2025
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25 Dec 2025
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A festival gathering on Main Street, Portlaoise.
Portlaoise in Laois is growing rapidly in population, and a big proportion of its residents have come to the county town from another country.
The town nearly doubled in size from 2002 to 2022, growing from 12,100 to 23,500 people.
This is expected to rise by another 20% by 2027, to 26,400 people.
Latest Central Statistics Office figures from 2022 show that 27% of the Portlaoise population, over a quarter, were born outside Ireland.
The town is getting an updated four year development plan, and Laois County Council planners promise to reflect the multicultural flavour in the services they will provide up to 2027.
“Portlaoise is becoming an increasingly diverse County. According to Census 2022, non-Irish nationals account for 27% of the population of the town, an increase of 5% from Census 2016.
“As well as increasing in size, the population of Portlaoise is becoming more diverse with many new arrivals from Eastern Europe [in particular from Poland and Lithuania], UK, Africa, India and Ukraine. According to Census 2022, 6,575 residents [27%] were born out side of Ireland. This is one of the highest non-national population percentages in the country.
“In this regard, service provision and community facilities in these areas should reflect the varying needs of the community.”
Portlaoise also has a young population, with 54.3% of the population below 35 years of age,compared to 47.1% elsewhere in the State.
Census 2022 reveals that Portlaoise has a population of 7,088 children aged under 19 years which represents 30% of the overall population of the town.
Portlaoise has a lower proportion of middle-aged and older residents, with just 16.1% of the population aged 55 or older, compared to 24% elsewhere in the State.
The draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2024 - 2027 is on public display, with submissions welcomed, until May 17.
Public information days will be held in Laois County Council office on Thursday, April 18, and in Portlaoise Library on April 25.
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