Housing, the cost of living and access to essential services were the leading concerns for people in Ireland last year, according to new Central Statistics Office figures. The findings show that immigration and climate change ranked lower, although concern about immigration increased compared with 2023.
Key findings from the CSO survey
The results come from Ireland’s participation in the 2025 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Trust Survey. The Irish results are based on 2,194 responses collected between September and November, as part of a wider survey involving more than 77,000 people in 38 countries.
- 64% identified housing as one of the three most important issues facing Ireland.
- 64% placed inflation and the cost of living among the top three concerns.
- 45% selected essential services, including healthcare and education.
- 25% identified climate change and environmental threats.
- 24% considered immigration one of the country’s leading issues.
- 22% cited misinformation or fake news, up from 15% in 2023.
The figures underline how strongly immediate household pressures are shaping public opinion. For many respondents, finding affordable accommodation, managing everyday expenses and accessing reliable public services appeared more urgent than wider global or environmental challenges.
Housing remains Ireland’s biggest public concern
Housing was the most prominent issue in the Irish results, with 64% of respondents naming its availability, quality or affordability as a top-three concern. Ireland recorded the highest proportion among the 38 countries surveyed, despite the figure falling from 71% in 2023.
The concern was particularly pronounced among younger adults. Eighty-four per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 29 identified housing as a major national issue. That compared with 63% of people aged 30 to 49 and 59% of those aged 50 and over.
The result reflects the broad reach of Ireland’s housing pressures. The issue affects renters, prospective first-time buyers, families seeking larger homes and people facing high accommodation costs. It also connects with wider debates about housing supply, affordability, planning and access to mortgages.
Cost of living and public services remain central to Ireland Today
Inflation and the cost of living were also selected by 64% of respondents, compared with an average of 52% across all participating countries. Although inflationary pressures can change over time, household budgets remain closely linked to food, energy, transport, rent and other essential costs.
Access to services such as healthcare and education ranked third. Women were more likely than men to select this issue, at 52% compared with 38%. Only Iceland and Finland recorded higher proportions for essential services in the international comparison.
These findings are relevant to discussions about Ireland’s public services, waiting lists, staffing, school capacity and the affordability of accessing care. They also help explain why economic and social concerns continue to dominate Ireland headlines.
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Climate concern falls sharply from 2023
Climate change and other environmental threats were selected by 25% of respondents as one of the three main issues facing Ireland. That was 15 percentage points lower than the 40% recorded in the 2023 survey.
The decline does not mean environmental issues have disappeared from public debate. Ireland continues to face questions involving emissions, energy, farming, transport and climate adaptation. However, the survey suggests that environmental concerns were competing with more immediate pressures, particularly housing costs and access to services.
There were modest differences between demographic groups. Men were slightly more likely than women to identify climate change as a major issue, at 27% compared with 24%. Younger respondents were also somewhat more likely than older groups to select it.
Immigration concern has increased since 2023
Immigration was identified by 24% of respondents as a top-three issue, up from 16% in 2023. The Irish figure was close to the 25% average across the countries surveyed, while the corresponding figure in the United Kingdom was 50%.
The survey records public priorities; it does not explain why individuals selected particular issues or establish a single cause for changes in opinion. Immigration has remained a prominent subject in Irish politics, public-service planning and community discussions, but it ranked below housing, living costs and essential services in the latest results.
Crime and misinformation feature in the survey
Age differences were especially visible in attitudes towards crime. Twenty-eight per cent of respondents aged 50 and over considered crime a top-three national concern, compared with 13% of those aged 18 to 29.
Misinformation and fake news also gained importance. Twenty-two per cent of respondents selected it, compared with 15% in 2023. Among people aged 18 to 29, the proportion increased from 9% to 21%.
The rise highlights growing public attention to the reliability of information, particularly as people receive news through social media, video platforms and online networks. It also provides important context for interpreting fast-moving breaking news and live updates.
What the findings mean for Ireland
The survey presents a clear picture of public priorities: practical pressures are at the centre of national concern. Housing and living costs were each selected by almost two-thirds of respondents, while healthcare and education also ranked highly.
The results may inform debates around housing policy, social protection, public-service investment, climate action and immigration. They also show that priorities can shift. Climate concern has fallen since 2023, while immigration and misinformation have become more prominent.
Frequently asked questions
How many people in Ireland took part?
The Irish results were based on 2,194 responses collected between September and November. More than 77,000 people participated internationally across 38 countries.
What was Ireland’s top concern?
Housing was among the top three issues for 64% of respondents, matching the proportion that selected inflation and the cost of living.
Did concern about climate change increase or decrease?
It decreased compared with 2023. The proportion selecting climate change and environmental threats fell from 40% to 25%.
Has concern about immigration changed?
Yes. Immigration was selected by 24% of respondents in 2025, compared with 16% in 2023.
Conclusion
The latest CSO survey shows that housing and the cost of living remain the defining concerns in Ireland, with essential services close behind. Immigration and climate change still feature in national debate, but the findings suggest that immediate financial and social pressures are shaping public priorities most strongly. For anyone following Breaking News Ireland, the message is clear: affordability, housing supply and access to healthcare and education remain central to Ireland’s public conversation.
