Limerick is a city in Ireland. It is located in the county of Limerick. The city’s population is 94,192, making it the third largest city in Ireland, falling only behind the cities of Dublin and Cork. The larger metro area has a population of over 162,000 people. In recent years, the population has declined in the central city. This has been attributed to migration following an economic collapse in 2008.
The city of Limerick covers a surface area of 59.2 km² (22.9 sq mi). This area, in combination with the growing population, brings the population density to 1,591 residents per square kilometer (4,120 residents per square mile).
The city has a very ethnically diverse population, and many immigrants have come to call Limerick home. The majority of people that reside in Limerick are originally from Ireland. However, there are also residents that have migrated from the UK, Lithuania, and other areas. There is a large Polish community of approximately 10,000 people, which is the second largest in the country, falling only behind Dublin. There are also a significant number of Africans throughout the city.
The primary religion of Limerick is Catholicism.
The population of Limerick has grown 2.1% from 2011 to 2016, considerably lagging behind the growth rate of other major Irish cities. The city is likely to see a continued pattern of slow yet steady growth based on previous trends.
