Number of Indians Moving to Ireland Surges…

Dublin: Despite false claims circulating on social media and in some Indian-based media outlets alleging that “Indians cannot live in Ireland” or that the country is “oppressing Indians”, official data shows a strong rise in the number of Indians arriving in Ireland this year.

According to the Department of Social Protection, Indians now rank first among foreign nationals obtaining Personal Public Service (PPS) numbers in Ireland — a key indicator of new arrivals for work, study, or residence.

As of August 2025, a total of 13,281 Indians had received new PPS numbers, accounting for 9% of the 1,48,805 PPS numbers issued this year. Irish citizens made up 28% of the total, with 42,678 new registrations.

Officials estimate that by the end of 2025, at least 25,000 Indians will have obtained new PPS numbers — marking a continued rise in Indian migration despite social media misinformation. Irish employers have also expressed growing demand for Indian workers, particularly in technology, healthcare, and education sectors.

Decline in Irish Nationals and Rise in Non-Irish Births

While the number of new PPS numbers issued overall has risen, the share going to Irish nationals has steadily declined over the past two decades.
Authorities believe part of the increase in PPS issuance is linked to a rise in births to non-Irish parents, who now account for 30% of all births in the country.

Refugee Arrivals Declining

Data also shows that refugees and asylum seekers represent a smaller portion of overall migration. By the end of August, 13,714 refugees had arrived, accounting for 9.25% of PPS numbers issued in 2025 — down 41% from the same period in 2024.

A total of 28,799 refugees and Ukrainians entered Ireland this year, representing 12.5% of all new PPS numbers. The majority of new arrivals, however, came to work or study, not through asylum routes.

Strong Growth in International Students

Ireland continues to attract large numbers of international students, particularly for English language and higher education programmes.

• In 2024, a total of 1,28,761 students attended English language courses — more than double the 2019 figure.
• Of these, 45,759 were Italian students, though only 6,968 received PPS numbers.
• Among third-level students, Indians form the largest non-EU group, making up 16% (7,000–8,000 students) of the 40,000 new enrollees nationwide. Other major student nationalities include China (4,000), Nigeria (2,500) and Brazil (1,500).

Brazilian migration is also increasing, with 9,655 PPS numbers issued and 2,123 work permits granted as of August.

Immigration Driven by Work and Study

The latest data clearly shows that immigration trends are driven primarily by employment, education, and family reunification, not refugee inflows.
Experts say the growing number of Indian nationals in Ireland underscores the country’s strong bilateral ties, expanding education partnerships, and labour market demand — contradicting online narratives portraying Ireland as unwelcoming to Indians.

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