The latest population figures for the State reveal a net outward migration for the first time in 14 years and record levels of births.
The number of emigrants in 2009 up to April is estimated to have increased by more than 40 per cent from 45,300 to 65,100, according to the latest Central Statistics
Office (CSO) figures published today, while the number of immigrants continued to fall over the same period, from 83,800 to 57,300. Taken together, these trends have led to a net outward migration, of -7,800, for the first time since 1995.
Over the same time frame, the number of births reached a new high of 74,500 (not seen since 1896) while the number of deaths was 29,400, leading to what the CSO said was "strong natural growth" for the year to April 2009 of 45,100.
The combined effect of the natural increase and migration resulted in a population increase of 37,300 (+0.8 per cent) bringing the estimated population of the State to 4.46 million in April 2009.
When the figure of 65,100 emigrants is broken down, EU12 nationals (belonging to the 10 countries that joined the EU in May 2004) were the largest components, with 30,100, while Irish nationals were the second largest grouping with 18,400.
Immigration among all non-Irish national groups fell, with those from the EU12 states posting the largest drop, from 33,700 in April 2008 to 13,500 in the same month this year.
The State's overall population growth for the year to April is unevenly spread across the regions, with the Mid-East registering the strongest growth at 2.1 per cent and Dublin the weakest at -0.5 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, NCB said that emigration by Irish nationals is likely to rise as other economies worldwide recover.
However, it forecast the State, despite its economic difficulties, should be able to avoid the "brain-drain" of the 1980s as long as competitiveness can be restored, national finances are tackled and the country can assure investors it intends to remain a "fully functioning part" of the European Union.
