The Irish Diaspora

Large populations of people of Irish ethnicity live in many western countries, particularly in English-speaking nations. Historically, emigration has been caused by politics, famine, persecution, and economic issues. An estimated 80 million people make up the residents of Irish descent living in Great Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Jamaica, Trinidad, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Germany and Brazil. The largest number of people of Irish descent live in the United States—about ten times more than in Ireland itself.