2022 Census: 58.6% of Over 30s in Republic Married or Partnered
The 2022 census shows 58.6% of Irish adults over 30 are married or partnered, while 1.1 million are single, separated, or divorced. Single individuals face significant financial disadvantages, including higher housing costs, fewer tax benefits, and increased expenses for daily living and social events. Despite these challenges, many embrace the benefits of solo living.
The 2022 census reveals that 58.6% of the 3.2 million people over 30 in the Republic of Ireland are married, remarried, or in a same-sex civil partnership. This figure rises to 62.8% for those over 40. This means approximately 1.9 million people can share financial burdens like rent, home ownership, and bills.
Conversely, 1.1 million people over 30 are single, separated, or divorced, including cohabiting couples not recognized as partnered by the State. These individuals often shoulder living costs alone, a significant challenge, especially for younger people facing Ireland's housing crisis.
Conor Pope, Pricewatch editor, highlighted the financial hurdles for single first-time buyers on the Better with Money podcast. To buy a €400,000 house, a single person needs a €40,000 deposit and a €100,000 salary, compared to €50,000 each for a couple. Emer McLysaght, an Irish Times columnist, noted that being self-employed adds complexity to securing a mortgage. While not explicitly penalized, single people miss out on tax benefits available to jointly assessed couples and face more complex inheritance processes.
Beyond major costs, single individuals often pay more for groceries, hotel supplements, and wedding gifts. McLysaght expressed frustration over the expectation of large cash gifts for weddings, stating, «Getting married is a choice. It’s not an achievement.» Despite these financial disadvantages, solo living offers benefits, as highlighted by McLysaght in a column and Whoopi Goldberg in 2016, who stated, «I don’t want somebody in my house.»