The number of divorced people in the State rose by almost 70 per cent in the four years from 2002 to 2006, census figures have revealed.
The second volume of Census 2006, published today, also showed that the group of people aged between 25 and 44 is the fastest-growing sector of the Irish population due to increased inward migration.
Galway city featured as the "singles capital" of Ireland, with unattached people making up 59.1 per cent of the population.
The Central Statistice Office (CSO) figures showed that the number of divorced people in Ireland increased from 35,100 in 2002 to 59,500 in 2006, which is an increase of 69.8 per cent.
Divorce became legal in Ireland in 1997 with the proviso that couples intending to get divorced undertake a legal separation for four years prior to the event.
The CSO has said the statistic reflects the introduction in the State of divorce as a marital status option in 1997 and demonstrates the continued upward movement in the number of divorcees from a relatively low base figure.
The number of separated people also increased over the same period by 8.6 per cent, from 98,800 in 2002 to 107,300 separations in 2006.
The CSO study showed that Limerick city had the highest proportion of separated people during the four-year period at 12.9 per cent, which included those widowed at the time of the census.
Dublin city had the second highest separation figure at 11.6 per cent, while Co Galway displayed the lowest separation rate at 6.3 per cent.