# Greater Dublin Area

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Metropolitan area in Ireland

Greater Dublin Area Metropolitan area Map of Dublin and its hinterland, showing: Dublin city (red), city and suburbs (orange), Dublin Metropolitan Area (Yellow), Greater Dublin Area (NTA) (Green) Maximal definition: 1. Dublin city, 2. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, 3. South Dublin, 4. Fingal, 5. Meath, 6. Kildare 7. Wicklow Country Ireland Area • Total 6,986 km2 (2,697 sq mi) Population (2024 estimate) • Total 2,159,000 • Density 309.0/km2 (800.4/sq mi) GDP [1] • Metro €230.366 billion (2021) Time zone UTC • Summer (DST) UTC+1:00 Eircode (post code zones) D01–D17, D02–D24, A41, A45, A63, A67, A82–A86, A91, A92, A96, A98, C15, K32, K36, K45, K56, K67, K78, R56, W91, Y14, Y21 Area codes 01, 041, 042, 045, 046, 0402, 0404

The **Greater Dublin Area** (**GDA**; [Irish](/source/Irish_language): *Mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath*), or **Greater Dublin**, is an informal term that is taken to include the city of [Dublin](/source/Dublin) and its hinterland, with varying definitions as to its extent. At the expansive end, it has been defined as including all of [County Dublin](/source/County_Dublin) and three neighbouring counties, while more commonly it is taken as the contiguous metropolitan area of Dublin plus suburban and commuter towns. The area is defined for strategic planning, and, for example, transport, and it is not a formal administrative or political unit.

The area has a broadly similar outline to the medieval [Pale](/source/The_Pale_(Ireland)) area which was under English control.[2]

## Definitions

### Planning usage

The 2003 Regional Planning Guidelines referred to the Greater Dublin Area as a planning district separated into a "metropolitan area" and a "hinterland area".[3]

The "metropolitan area" included both [suburbs](/source/Suburb) and [commuter towns](/source/Commuter_town), covering the area from [Swords](/source/Swords%2C_County_Dublin) and [Malahide](/source/Malahide) in [Fingal](/source/Fingal), to [Greystones](/source/Greystones) in County Wicklow in the south, and as far west as [Kilcock](/source/Kilcock) in County Kildare. This area differs from the Garda "metropolitan region" scope, in that it stretches approximately 20 km further west.

The Dublin Metropolitan Area is now defined as:[4]

Local government area Area within DMA Dublin city Whole territory Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County, except for parts of the electoral divisions of Tibradden and Glencullen comprising the townlands of Stackstown, Ticknock, Kilmashogue, Tibradden, Ballybrack, Glendoo, Boranaraltry, Glencullen Mountain and Brockery. South Dublin County, except for parts of Rathcoole, Saggart, Ballinacorny and Bohernabreen comprising the townlands of Aghfarrell, Allagour, Ballinascorney (Lower and Upper), Ballymaice, Ballymorefi nn, Belgard Deer Park, Brittas (Big and Little), Calliaghstown Upper, Castlekelly, Corrageen, Cunard, Friarstown Lower, Glassamucky, Glassamucky Brakes, Glassamucky Mountain, Glassavullaun, Glenaraneen, Glendoo, Gortlum, Killakee, Lugg, Mountpelier, Mountseskin, Piperstown, Raheen, Slademore, Slievethoul and parts of the townlands of Crockaunadreenagh*, Crooksling*, Cruagh*, Ballymana, Calliaghstown Lower, Coolmine, Corbally, Jamestown (ED Whitechurch), Killinardan, Kiltalown, Lugmore*, Kiltipper, Newtown Upper, Orlagh, Redgap, Saggart, Slade, Tibradden and Woodtown. * These townlands are more than 50% in the hinterland area. Fingal Electoral divisions including Airport, Baldoyle, Balgriffin, Blanchardstown (Abbotstown, Blakestown, Coolmine, Corduff, Delwood, Mulhuddart, Roselawn, Tyrrelstown), Castleknock (Knockmaroon, Park), Donabate, Dubber, Howth, Kilsallaghan, Kinsaley, Lucan North, Malahide (East and West), Portmarnock (North and South), Sutton, Swords (Forrest, Glasmore, Lissenhall, Seatown, Village), The Ward, Turnapin. County Kildare Electoral divisions of Celbridge, Donaghcumper, Kilcock, Leixlip, Maynooth, Straffan. County Meath Electoral divisions of Dunboyne and Rodanstown. County Wicklow Electoral divisions of Bray No.1, Bray No. 2, Bray No. 3, Rathmichael, Delgany, Greystones and the following townlands in the Kilmacanogue electoral division: Corrigoona Commons West, Corrigoona Commons East, Glencormick North, Glencormick South, Kilcroney, Wingfield, Hollybrook, Kilmacanogue North, Kilmacanogue South, and Barchuillia Commons.

The Dublin "Hinterland" area is aligned with the Draft National Planning Framework, which defines city regions or urban hinterlands as those EDs where at least 15% of the workforce (Full POWCAR) are employed in the Dublin Metropolitan Area (NTA boundary).

### Dublin Transport Authority

At the broader end of definitions, the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 defines the Greater Dublin Area as including the counties of [Dublin](/source/County_Dublin) ([Dublin City](/source/Dublin), [South Dublin](/source/South_Dublin), [Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown](/source/D%C3%BAn_Laoghaire%E2%80%93Rathdown) and [Fingal](/source/Fingal)), [Meath](/source/County_Meath), [Kildare](/source/County_Kildare), and [Wicklow](/source/County_Wicklow); as of 2022, its estimated population is 2,073,459.[5]

#### Former boundaries

The urban part of Dublin and surrounding areas has been defined by various statutory instruments, mainly those referring to the [Garda Síochána](/source/Garda_S%C3%ADoch%C3%A1na) and [Courts of the Republic of Ireland](/source/Courts_of_the_Republic_of_Ireland). The city, three other counties within the traditional County Dublin, and three neighbouring counties, were grouped together in the order creating the [Dublin Transportation Office](/source/National_Transport_Authority_(Ireland)), giving functions and representations to the office in this area, although not using the term.[6] The office was purely advisory and had no executive powers. The term was later defined in section 3 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.[5] On 1 December 2009 the DTO became the National Transport Authority, with a remit expanding beyond the Greater Dublin Area.[7]

### Garda usage

The Garda used the term the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) which was formerly the jurisdiction, within the eastern part of [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland), of the [Dublin Metropolitan Police](/source/Dublin_Metropolitan_Police), which was subsequently merged into the [Garda Síochána](/source/Garda_S%C3%ADoch%C3%A1na), the national police force of Ireland. The term originated from the Police Forces Amalgamation Act 1925, which amalgamated the Dublin Metropolitan Police and Garda Síochána as one national police force.[8]

This jurisdiction covered parts of the old [County Dublin](/source/County_Dublin) (except the northern part around [Swords](/source/Swords%2C_County_Dublin)) as well as the [County Kildare](/source/County_Kildare) town of [Leixlip](/source/Leixlip) and the [County Wicklow](/source/County_Wicklow) towns of [Bray](/source/Bray%2C_County_Wicklow), [Greystones](/source/Greystones) and [Enniskerry](/source/Enniskerry). Swords was covered by the Meath Garda Division. In this way, it differed from the usual definition of County Dublin and did not even conform to the looser definition of the Greater Dublin Area.

The definition no longer applies, as during 2008 the Garda divisions were realigned along Regional and county boundaries. As of 2009, the Dublin Metropolitan Region is co-extensive with the combined area of the city of Dublin, and the counties of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin. [Leixlip](/source/Leixlip) was moved to the [County Kildare](/source/County_Kildare) Division and became the district headquarters for the new Leixlip District.[9] [Bray](/source/Bray%2C_County_Wicklow) moved into the new [County Wicklow](/source/County_Wicklow) Division and became district headquarters for the Bray District.[10]

## Population

Satellite view of part of the Greater Dublin area

The population of the Dublin City and County (Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown) and Outer Greater Dublin (Meath, Kildare and Wicklow) as of the [2022 census](/source/2022_census_of_Ireland) was 2,082,605 persons. This equates to 40.5% of Ireland's population. Estimates published by the Central Statistics Office suggest that the population will reach 2.4 million by 2026.[11] The figures are based on a regional breakdown of previously published national population projections and assume that current demographic trends will continue.

The CSO also uses the narrower definition which comprises Dublin City and its suburbs within the 3 local Dublin authorities. [12] The boundaries for suburbs are not legally defined, but drawn and revised by the CSO in accordance with United Nations recommendations.[13] The population distribution of the Greater Dublin Area as of the 2011, 2016 and 2022 censuses was as follows:[14][15]

Population of the Greater Dublin Area per the 2011,2016 and 2022 national censuses Administrative division Population Population increase 2016 to 2022 2011 2016 2022 Greater Dublin Area Dublin Region Dublin City 527,612 553,165 592,713 35,068 Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 206,261 217,274 233,860 16,183 Fingal 273,991 296,214 330,506 33,004 South Dublin 265,205 278,749 301,705 21,044 County Dublin 1,273,069 1,345,402 1,458,154 105,299 County Meath 184,135 194,942 220,826 25,252 County Kildare 210,312 222,130 247,774 24,473 County Wicklow 136,640 142,332 155,851 13,060 Meath, Kildare, Wicklow 531,087 559,404 624,451 63,354 Greater Dublin Area (max. def.) 1,804,156 1,904,806 2,082,605 168,653

### Historical

Population of the Greater Dublin Area, 1841–2022[16] Census year Population Population change since previous census Percentage of population of Ireland 1841 683,232 ? 10.5% 1851 740,597 57,365 in 10 years 14.5% 1861 698,050 -42,547 in 10 years 15.9% 1871 663,131 -34,919 in 10 years 16.4% 1881 652,569 -10,562 in 10 years 16.9% 1891 628,539 -24,030 in 10 years 18.1% 1901 640,093 11,554 in 10 years 19.9% 1911 669,625 29,532 in 10 years 21.3% 1926 685,242 15,617 in 15 years 23.1% 1936 774,791 89,549 in 10 years 26.1% 1946 827,725 52,934 in 10 years 28.0% 1961 906,347 78,622 in 15 years 32.2% 1971 1,062,220 155,873 in 10 years 35.7% 1981 1,290,154 227,934 in 10 years 37.5% 1986 1,336,119 45,965 in 5 years 37.8% 1991 1,350,595 14,476 in 5 years 38.3% 1996 1,405,671 55,076 in 5 years 38.8% 2002 1,535,446 129,775 in 6 years 39.2% 2006 1,662,536 127,090 in 4 years 39.2% 2011 1,801,040 138,504 in 5 years 39.3% 2016 1,904,806 103,766 in 5 years 40.0% 2022 2,082,605 177,799 in 6 years 40.4%

## Gallery

		- Upper [O'Connell Street](/source/O'Connell_Street) in central Dublin city

		- [Dún Laoghaire](/source/D%C3%BAn_Laoghaire) harbour in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

		- Central [Tallaght](/source/Tallaght) in South Dublin

		- Main Street in [Swords, County Dublin](/source/Swords%2C_County_Dublin)

		- Killegland Street in [Ashbourne](/source/Ashbourne%2C_County_Meath), County Meath

		- National University of Ireland at [Maynooth](/source/Maynooth), County Kildare

		- [Bray Daly railway station](/source/Bray_Daly_railway_station) in [Bray](/source/Bray%2C_County_Wicklow), County Wicklow

## See also

- [Belfast metropolitan area](/source/Belfast_metropolitan_area)

- [Derry Urban Area](/source/Derry_Urban_Area)

- [List of metropolitan areas in Europe](/source/List_of_metropolitan_areas_in_Europe)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices by metropolitan regions"](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/met_10r_3gdp/default/table?lang=en). [Eurostat](/source/Eurostat).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Edward Rutherfurd || || Official Site"](https://edwardrutherfurd.com/reference/pale). *edwardrutherfurd.com*. Retrieved 2 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rpg2003_3-0)** ["Draft Regional Report – Greater Dublin Area"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040105222158/http://www.rpg.ie/December2003/Reg%20Rep.Final%20December.pdf) (PDF). *Regional Planning Guidelines*. Dublin and Mid-East Regional Authorities. December 2003. p. 5. Archived from [the original](http://www.rpg.ie/December2003/Reg%20Rep.Final%20December.pdf) (PDF) on 5 January 2004. Retrieved 19 January 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["DUBLIN Strategic Planning Area (SPA) Socio-Economic Evidence Baseline Report"](https://emra.ie/dubh/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DublinSPA_SocioEconomicBaseline_AIRO_151217.pdf) (PDF). *[Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly](/source/Eastern_and_Midland_Regional_Assembly)*. November 2017. pp. 121–124. Retrieved 14 March 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DTAA08_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DTAA08_5-1) Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, s. 3: Greater Dublin Area ([No. 15 of 2008, s. 3](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2008/act/15/section/3/enacted/en/html)). Enacted on 16 July 2008. Act of the [Oireachtas](/source/Oireachtas). Retrieved from [Irish Statute Book](/source/Irish_Statute_Book).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** The Dublin Transportation Office (Establishment) Order 1995 ([S.I. No. 289 of 1995](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1995/si/289/made/en/html)). Signed on 7 November 1995. Statutory Instrument of the [Government of Ireland](/source/Government_of_Ireland). Retrieved from [Irish Statute Book](/source/Irish_Statute_Book) on 14 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 ([No. 27 of 2009](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/27/enacted/en/html)). Enacted on 27 November 2009. Act of the [Oireachtas](/source/Oireachtas). Retrieved from [Irish Statute Book](/source/Irish_Statute_Book).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Police Forces Amalgamation Act 1925, s. 3: Dublin Metropolitan Area ([No. 7 of 1925, s. 3](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1925/act/7/section/3/enacted/en/html)). Enacted on 2 April 1925. Act of the [Oireachtas](/source/Oireachtas). Retrieved from [Irish Statute Book](/source/Irish_Statute_Book).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Bauress, Henry (14 October 2008). ["New 24-hour Leixlip garda station opens"](http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/local/new-24-hour-leixlip-garda-station-opens-1-1932868). *Leinster Leader*.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Bray to become Garda HQ for County Wicklow"](http://www.braypeople.ie/news/bray-to-become-garda-hq-for-county-wicklow-1370489.html). *Bray People*. 9 May 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111002092609/http://www.braypeople.ie/news/bray-to-become-garda-hq-for-county-wicklow-1370489.html) from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["CSO Ireland – *Regional Population Projections 2011–2026*"](https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/rpp/regionalpopulationprojections2016-2031/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180730202533/https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/rpp/regionalpopulationprojections2016-2031/) from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Appendix 2: Dublin Area"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045729/http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census_2006_Appendices.pdf) (PDF). *Census 2006 Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area: Appendices*. [Central Statistics Office](/source/Central_Statistics_Office_(Ireland)). 26 April 2007. p. 164. Archived from [the original](http://www.cso.ie/census/documents/census_2006_Appendices.pdf) ([PDF](/source/PDF)) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2007. The description Greater Dublin Area in the 2006 Census denotes Dublin City and its suburbs

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Central Statistics Office (Ireland) (26 April 2007). *Census 2006 Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area: Appendices*. Appendix 2, p.163: Towns (i) Towns with Legally Defined Boundaries. where urban areas have extended beyond the legally defined town boundary, the Central Statistics Office draws up new boundaries defining the suburban areas of Cities/Boroughs ... for census purposes ... in conformity with United Nations recommendations, as the continuation of a distinct population cluster outside its legally defined boundary in which no occupied dwelling is more than 200 metres distant from the nearest occupied dwelling ... The suburban boundaries were reviewed for each subsequent census. A comprehensive review was carried out as part of the processing phase of the 2006 Census.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CSO-EP001_14-0)** ["Population of each Province, County and City, 2016"](http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=EP001&PLanguage=0). *CSO.ie*. [Central Statistics Office](/source/Central_Statistics_Office_(Ireland)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170831234615/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=EP001&PLanguage=0) from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Population of each County and City, 2011"](http://www.cso.ie/multiquicktables/quickTables.aspx?id=cna23). *CSO.ie*. [Central Statistics Office](/source/Central_Statistics_Office_(Ireland)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180310134354/http://www.cso.ie/multiquicktables/quickTables.aspx?id=cna23) from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Central Statistics Office – Census of Population Database"](http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/database/eirestat/Census%20of%20Population/Census%20of%20Population.asp). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090803155709/http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/database/eirestat/Census%20of%20Population/Census%20of%20Population.asp) from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2010.

## External links

- [Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly](http://www.emra.ie/)

- [Dublin Regional Authority](https://web.archive.org/web/20040719074422/http://www.dra.ie/)

- [Greater Dublin population to reach two million, from RTÉ News](https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0525/63535-cso/)

- [Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area](https://web.archive.org/web/20050402034806/http://www.spggda.ie/)

- [Cities/Towns Boundaries](https://web.archive.org/web/20091109043921/http://beyond2020.cso.ie/censusasp/saps/boundaries/city-towns_bound.htm) CSO page with links to [Shapefile](/source/Shapefile) data for the boundary of the CSO-defined Greater Dublin Area; readable by [Geographic information systems](/source/Geographic_information_system)

v t e Regions of County Dublin County seats: Dublin Dún Laoghaire Tallaght Swords Cities Dublin County Dublin in Ireland Towns and villages List of towns and villages in County Dublin Counties Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Fingal South Dublin Other regions Northside Southside Greater Dublin Area County Dublin Civil sub-divisions List of subdivisions of County Dublin List of townlands of County Dublin List of Dublin postal districts Baronies of Dublin Balrothery East Balrothery West Castleknock Coolock Dublin Dublin City Nethercross Newcastle Rathdown Uppercross

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Greater Dublin Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Dublin_Area) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Dublin_Area?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.