For detailed mapping data on the entire Western Region visit the
WDC-AIRO Mapping Tool page here »
| Land Mass |
2,601,501 ha |
| % of Ireland |
37.1% |
| Population Density (2016) |
31.85 persons per sq km |
Human Resource
| Population (2016) |
828,697 |
| Population Change (2011-2016) |
1.0% |
Top 12 Centres of Population in the Western Region (2016)
| Galway City and Suburbs |
79,934 |
| Ennis, Co. Clare |
25,276 |
| Letterkenny, Co. Donegal |
19,274 |
| Sligo, Co. Sligo |
19,199 |
| Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
12,068 |
| Ballina, Co. Mayo |
10,171 |
| Shannon, Co. Clare |
9,729 |
| Tuam, Co. Galway |
8,767 |
| Buncrana, Co. Donegal |
6,785 |
| Ballinasloe, Co. Galway |
6,662 |
| Westport, Co. Mayo |
6,198 |
| Roscommon, Co. Roscommon |
5,876 |
Employment
| Employed (2011) |
310,519 |
| Employment Change (2006-2011) |
-5.9% |
| Labour Force Participation Rate (2006) |
60.3% |
Source: CSO Census of Population 2011
Natural Resources
| Average Farm Size (2010) |
26.33 ha |
| Farming, Fishing & Forestry workers (2011) |
24,448 |
Numbers Employed by Sector (2011)
| Total |
310,519 |
| Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing |
24,448 (7.9%) |
| Industry & Construction |
57,087 (18.4%) |
| Services |
211,668 (68.2%) |
Source: CSO Census of Population 2011
Agency Assisted Employment (2015)
| Employment in Agency Assisted Irish Owned Companies |
21,896 |
| Employment in Agency Assisted Foreign Owned Companies |
31,183 |
Download a report on ‘Trends in Agency Assisted Employment in the Western Region’ here
Income & Output
| Net Output per Person Engaged (2012)* |
€240,630 |
| Avg. Wage in Industry (2012) |
€37,379 |
* There are some limitations associated with Net Output figures which relate to the ownership of companies and transfer pricing arrangements which may be applied.
Tourism (2015)
| Revenue Generated by Overseas tourists |
€851m |
Enterprise (2014)
| Number of Active Enterprises |
40,797 |
| Percentage of Micro-Enterprises (10 or fewer employees) |
93.1% |
| Percentage Change in Number of Enterprises (20013-2014) |
-3.02% |
Labour Catchments in the Western Region (2006)
| Galway city labour catchment |
64,455 |
| Ennis labour catchment |
21,333 |
| Sligo borough labour catchment |
20,321 |
| Letterkenny labour catchment |
17,886 |
| Castlebar labour catchment |
13,757 |
| Roscommon labour catchment |
7,306 |
| Carrick-on-Shannon labour catchment |
6,632 |
* The labour catchment of a town is that area from which it draws most of its workforce. These figures are the number of workers living in the catchment areas of these towns.
To view a larger map of the Western Region in a new window, click here.
Further detail is contained in the report Travel to Work and Labour Catchments in the Western Region: A Profile of Seven Town Labour Catchments available at: http://www.wdc.ie/publications/reports-and-papers/
