The population of the county in 2006 was 231, 670. Outside of the city, only 15% of people live in towns of more than 1500 people.
Galway City is said to be one of Europe's fastest growing cities. In the 1996 Census, its population was 57,241. In 2006, it was 72,414. In just ten years the population grew by more than 25%.
There are two third level colleges in Galway - University College Galway and Galway Institute of Technology. During term time the student population is about 25, 000.
Language
ICON: Galway Gaeltacht
Galway has Ireland's largest Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region.
There are approximately 43,000 Irish speakers in Galway's Gaeltacht areas.
Irish is the first language in many parts of Connemara and on the Aran Islands.
Raidió na Gaeltachta, the Irish language radio station, and TG4, the Irish language television station, are both located in Galway.
Click on the image to see the Gaeltacht areas of Galway.