Population projections

Abstract

The Central Statistics Office has developed a fairly general computer programme for making population projections. This paper is intended to give details of how the programme works and of the type of assumptions which form the computer input. The factors which enter into the calculations are rates of mortality, net emigration or immigration, fertility and marriage and assumptions are made concerning the levels of these factors as they affect each age group over various periods in the future. The paper also contains some of the results obtained on assumptions which appear reasonable on the basis of present trends.