Despite the economic downturn and renewed large-scale emigration the population of the Republic of Ireland is estimated at 4.58 million, this according to the latest census figures.
This is the highest level that the population of the 26 counties has been in 150 years.
The 2011 census results also reveal that the number of Irish residents who were born outside the country has reached a new high of just over 750,000, a 25 percent increase since 2006.
And within that figure it has emerged that the Republic's Polish community is now bigger than its British-born one.
The number of non-Irish nationals increased by 124,604 between 2006 and 2011, with the Polish, Indian, Romanian and Brazilian populations doubling in size.
The results, according to an Irish Times report, also point to a continued shift in population growth towards commuter-belt areas and suburbs outside the major cities and towns since the last census in 2006.
The report added: Laois had the fastest-growing population of any county (up 20 percent), over twice the growth rate for the country as a whole. Other areas of rapid growth included Cavan, Fingal (both 14 percent), Longford and Meath (both 13 percent).
The only administrative areas to record a fall in population were Limerick city (down 5 percent) and Cork city (down 0.4 percent). The population of the surrounding counties rose by between 8 and 10 percent respectively.
The urban population in the Republic is now at an all-time high with 62 percent living in towns or cities, compared to 38 percent in rural areas.
The results show that Ireland is still a predominantly Catholic country. Some 84 percent of people described themselves as Roman Catholic, an increase of almost 5 percent. This increase was driven mainly by Eastern European arrivals.
The number who described themselves as non-religious increased sharply, up 45
percent to just under 270,000 people. This increases was greatest in the Dublin area.
The census also revealed that the housing boom and subsequent collapse have had a significant effect. The total number of vacant dwellings is 294,202, an increase of 27,880 since the 2006 census. The areas with the highest proportion of empty homes were mainly in the West. Leitrim had the highest proportion at 30 percent, followed by Donegal with 28 percent.
