Senior Support: Older population set to quadruple
Ireland’s older population is growing faster than ever, with new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing a sharp rise in the number of people aged 65 and over in the coming years.
The latest figures reveal that older adults are living longer, staying in employment for longer, and reporting higher life satisfaction than younger age groups, even as the country faces growing challenges around healthcare and social supports for an ageing population.
The CSO’s projections point to dramatic demographic change in the decades ahead. The population aged 85 years and over is expected to nearly quadruple over the next three decades, rising from an estimated 104,300 in 2027 to 389,400 by 2057.
Similarly, the old-age dependency ratio, which compares those aged 65 and over to the working-age population (15–64 years), is projected to soar from 25% in 2027 to nearly half (49.8%) by 2057. This means that for every two people of working age, there could be one person aged 65 or older within the next generation, placing increasing pressure on the economy and pension systems.
Despite the ageing population, older adults are remaining active in the workforce. The CSO reports that 131,400 people aged 65 and over were in employment in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 26% increase from 103,900 in 2021. The trend reflects both improved health among older citizens and the rising cost of living that may be encouraging many to stay employed longer.
According to the CSO, almost one in three people aged 65 and over (32.3%) rated their overall life satisfaction as high. This contrasts with just under a quarter (24.7%) of those aged 25 to 49, suggesting that older adults may be experiencing greater contentment later in life.
The report also highlights differences in social experiences across age groups. Just over one in ten people aged 75 and over (11%) said they had faced discrimination in the past two years, far lower than the 29% reported among those aged 25 to 34.