CSO-Census 2006 Figures

The Principal Demographic Results of Census 2006 are now available; Volume 3, detailing Household Composition, Family Units and Fertility, was published on 31st May.
Census 2006 shows that:

• There were 189,213 one parent families – 18% of all families in Ireland
• 86% of one parent families are lone mothers, 14% are lone fathers
• 58% of one parent families have one child, 26% have 2 children, and 10% have three children
• There were 169,761 lone parent households – 12% of all households in Ireland
• 19,452 one parent families, over 10% of all lone parents, live in multi-family households, for example, they live with their own parents

Note: Census 2006 captured more detailed data on relationships between persons living in the same household than previously, giving a more accurate assessment of multi-family households.

• A household is defined as a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address with common housekeeping arrangements
• A family is defined as either a husband and wife or cohabiting couple; a husband and wife or cohabiting couple with one or more children (usually resident, never married, of any age); or one parent with one or more children