Unmarried couples are the fastest growing family unit in Ireland, with fewer than one in five households in Dublin now made up of the traditional husband, wife and children, new statistics reveal.
Census 2006, Household Composition, Family Units and Fertility, released by the Central Statistics Office today, shows the changing make-up and distribution of Irish families, and in particular the increase in one-person households and cohabiting couples.
Traditional family units in Ireland now account for 32.5 per cent of the population, up 3.3 per cent from 2002, but the figures also reveal traditional families are moving out of the major cities.
Dr Evelyn Mahon, director of the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College, said although the statistics showed some change in the Irish household it reflected the movement of couples with young children away from the unaffordable cities to rear their families.
Traditional family units made up 19.4 per cent of the population in Dublin, 22.2 per cent in Limerick, 24.2 per cent in Cork and 25.3 per cent in Waterford, all considerable less than the State average.
In Dublin these figures equate to less than one in five households being a traditional family unit.
In comparison Meath and Kildare had the highest proportion of traditional family units with 39.5 per cent and 38.3 per cent respectively.
"Where are Dubliners who want to raise a family going to live?" Dr Mahon asked.
The report reveals a continuing increase in the number of one-person households and says cohabiting couples are the fastest growing type of family unit.
The number of people listing themselves as being in a cohabiting couple has increased from 77,600 in 2002 to 121,800 in 2006.
Dr Mahon said the figures did reflect changes in Irish society, in particular unmarried couples' desire to have their relationships recognised legally.
The highest proportion of the population is still families with children.
The census is now collecting data on separated persons, including those who are divorced, and they accounted for 14.4 per cent of one-person households, she said. Persons aged over 65 accounted for the largest number of one-person households, with 36.8 per cent.
Overall the number of one-person households has increased 18.7 per cent since 2002, while the number of cohabiting couples now represents 11.6 per cent of all family units, up from 8.4 per cent in 2002.