Ireland's population has increased since 2011, the first results of Census 2016 have revealed.

According to preliminary results from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the population of the country on April 24 of this year was 4,757,976 compared to 4,588,252 in April 2011 when the last Census was taken.

That is an increase of 169, 724 people, or 3.7%.

Population changes varied nationwide, with Fingal in north Dublin recording an increase of 8% and Donegal recording a drop in its population of 1.5%.

The counties with the fastest growing populations were Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Laois, while the fastest growing cities were Cork and Galway.

Three counties recorded a fall in population since Census 2011 - Donegal (-1.5%), Mayo (-0.2%) and Sligo (-0.1%).

"These preliminary results, published just 12 weeks after Census day, are based on a clerical summary of each enumeration area compiled by the 4,663 enumerators.

"Scanning and processing of the two million actual census forms is well underway and the first definitive results are due to be published next March, within a year of Census day," explained CSO statistician, Brendan Murphy.

Census 2016 marked the 27th Census to be carried out in Ireland, with the first taking place in 1821.