New figures show emigration is falling, but that one Irish person is still leaving Ireland every 13 minutes.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show 81,900 people left Ireland in the 12 months up to April 2014.

That is down from 89,000 in the year to April 2013, while the number of immigrants is estimated to have increased from 55,900 to 60,600 over the same period. 

Irish nationals continue to see net outward migration, but at a lower level than in the previous year - falling from 35,200 to 29,200, while net inward migration among non-Irish nationals grew for the second year in a row, from 2,100 to 7,900.

For the first time, Irish women are now more likely to emigrate than men.

Almost half of the 81,900 people who emigrated in the year to April 2014 were Irish nationals - at 40,700.

Population growth

The number of births in the period was 67,700 - while the number of deaths was 29,800, resulting in a natural increase of the Irish population of 37,900.

This resulted in an overall increase in the population of 16,500, bringing the population estimate to 4.61 million in April this year.

Meanwhile immigration has risen by 8%, with 11,600 Irish people returning to the country last year.

Net migration among non-Irish nationals from outside the European Union is estimated to be more than 11,200 (of which almost 20% were Brazilian).

The UK and Australia the most likely destination for Irish emigrants.