Demographics
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1653 | 8,527 | — |
| 1659 | 9,690 | +13.6% |
| 1821 | 119,129 | +1129.4% |
| 1831 | 124,846 | +4.8% |
| 1841 | 128,240 | +2.7% |
| 1851 | 107,662 | −16.0% |
| 1861 | 90,713 | −15.7% |
| 1871 | 84,021 | −7.4% |
| 1881 | 77,684 | −7.5% |
| 1891 | 71,038 | −8.6% |
| 1901 | 65,820 | −7.3% |
| 1911 | 63,665 | −3.3% |
| 1926 | 62,739 | −1.5% |
| 1936 | 64,339 | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 66,194 | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 68,771 | +3.9% |
| 1956 | 69,194 | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 67,378 | −2.6% |
| 1966 | 69,519 | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 74,951 | +7.8% |
| 1979 | 86,135 | +14.9% |
| 1981 | 88,514 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 91,810 | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 90,724 | −1.2% |
| 1996 | 92,166 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 101,821 | +10.5% |
| 2006 | 111,267 | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 122,897 | +10.5% |
The majority of the county's population live in either Dundalk (2011 pop. 31,073) in north Louth, or Drogheda (2011 pop. 30,435) in the south. The 2006 Census confirmed Dundalk and Drogheda as not only the largest towns in the county, but also the second and third largest towns in The Republic of Ireland.
Within legally defined boundaries Dundalk has the larger population, however the total population (including suburbs or environs) is greater in Drogheda, this includes areas and suburbs of Drogheda which lie in County Meath. The Local Government Commission has recommended an increase to the urban area of Dundalk to be implemented in 2012/2013 thus introducing Borough council status and replacing the existing Town Council. This will result in a further increase to the urban population of Dundalk by a projected 25,000 residents.
Read more about this topic: County Louth