The population of the Republic has reached its highest level in 120 years following a dramatic decline in emigration.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office show the population rose to 3.84 million for the year ended April 2001, the highest level since the 1881 census.
And for the first time on record, the number of people emigrating annually from the State has fallen below 20,000.
Published yesterday, the figures show net migration (in this case a surplus of immigrants over emigrants) reached a historic high of 26,300 in the year to April 2001. The number of emigrants was estimated at 19,900 and immigrants 46,200, a record proportion of whom were from countries outside of the EU and US.
Mr Gerry O'Hanlon, a director of the CSO, said the figures showed "we are no longer an emigrant country".
He predicted the population would continue to rise by between 40,000 and 50,000 a year for the foreseeable future, breaking the 4 million barrier in 2005-06 and reaching 4.6 million in 2031.
Economists anticipate the growth will put renewed pressures on the housing market, particularly in Dublin. However, public services such as health, education and the welfare system are not expected to suffer additional strains, in the short term at least, as the majority of returning emigrants and new migrants are of working age.
Mr Danny McCoy of the ESRI noted that many migrants had equity as a result of selling their homes abroad. "That will support the housing market into the future."
"Despite the increase in the absolute population level, the increasing number of migrants is simply making up for the falling birth rate."
He said births were now below replacement ratio. As a result, there would be little if any additional pressure on schools or hospitals at the moment. He added that Ireland was still relatively under-populated, at about one-fifth the density of the UK.
The growth in population continues a trend which began in 1961, when the number of people in the State fell to a record low of 2.82 million.
As well as showing changes in migration, the figures record a natural increase in the population - stemming from a greater number of births than deaths - of 25,700 for the year ended April 2001. This was the largest such increase for over a decade.
The figures show that in the year up to March 2001, there were 55,000 births and 29,300 deaths, 1,100 more and 600 fewer respectively than in the same period last year.
On migration, the figures indicate that the flow of returning Irish nationals is slowing, although they continue to be the largest immigrant group, making up 39 per cent of the total. This is well below the 1999 level of 55 per cent.
The fastest growing area of immigration is from countries outside the EU and the US. In the year ended April 2001, there were 12,300 immigrants from such countries. This compares with 4,200 in 1996.
US nationals accounted for 2,800 of last year's immigrants, UK nationals 7,000 and other Europeans 5,800.
The figures are based on information provided by the CSO's Quarterly National House hold Survey, along with official statistics on asylum applications, visa issues and other indicators. The CSO stressed the figures may be revised following the next national census, which was postponed due to the foot-and-mouth crisis and is due to take place next year.
Employment growth had slowed before major job losses; Number leaving Ireland below 20,000: page 4