Published July 2026
Global Diaspora Report 2026
Founded in 2009, Ireland Reaching Out is one of Ireland's leading Diaspora organisations. A registered Irish charity with 100,000 members worldwide, this survey was largely conducted in 2025 and completed in early 2026. We intend to conduct this survey on a bi-annual basis going forward.
For further information about the survey, to comment, or to contact Ireland Reaching Out about any matter relating to the survey, please email info@irelandxo.com.
Initial Findings
Strong Global Demand to Deepen Diaspora Engagement with Ireland
The Irish Diaspora has a clear desire to deepen its relationship with Ireland. Findings from this large-scale survey (n = 2,709) reveal strong, consistent demand for enhanced community infrastructure, expanded cultural exchange opportunities, meaningful place-based heritage connections, and practical pathways for sustained engagement. The scale and diversity of the sample lend significant weight to the results, positioning them as both compelling and broadly representative of a highly motivated international Diaspora audience.
The data highlights a strong appetite for digital connection. A notable 81% of respondents expressed a desire to connect online with like-minded people of Irish ancestry, both in Ireland and within their local communities. This underscores the importance of creating accessible, well-designed platforms that facilitate meaningful interaction across borders.
Place-based connection is a key priority. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents stated that it is important to connect with Irish people linked to the specific locality of their ancestors, pointing to a desire for more personalised, geographically rooted engagement with Ireland.
In addition, 68% of respondents indicated an interest in sharing cultural content online with fellow members of the Irish Diaspora. This strong inclination toward cultural exchange reinforces the role of digital spaces as not just networking hubs, but as platforms for storytelling, identity expression, and community building.
Beyond connection, there is significant interest in contributing to Ireland's cultural and economic life. Respondents expressed strong intent to support Irish culture, purchase Irish products and services, and invest in Irish businesses, highlighting The Diaspora's potential as an active partner in Ireland's ongoing development.
Together, these findings point to a vibrant and actionable demand for deeper digital community-building, richer cultural exchange, and structured pathways for sustained, mutually beneficial engagement with Ireland.
Connection
Irish Connection
| Response | Total |
|---|---|
| Direct Personal | 155 |
| Parent/s | 268 |
| Grand Parent/s | 624 |
| Great Grand Parents | 21 |
| Earlier Ancestors | 1,624 |
| None / Not Stated | 17 |
| Total | 2,709 |
Summary
The survey attracted 2,709 respondents, the majority of whom (1,624; 60%) identified their Irish connection through earlier ancestors beyond their great-grandparents. A further 624 respondents (23%) reported having Irish grandparents, while 268 (10%) had an Irish parent and 155 (6%) identified a direct personal connection to Ireland. Only a small number traced their Irish heritage through great-grandparents (21 respondents; less than 1%), and very few reported no Irish connection or did not state one (17 respondents; less than 1%). Overall, the findings indicate that the survey reached a broad Diaspora audience, with most participants identifying with Ireland through more distant ancestral links rather than immediate family connections.
Key Learning
A remarkable sense of Irish identity endures across generations. The survey indicates that the largest and potentially most scalable segment of the global Irish Diaspora consists of people whose Irish connection is rooted in earlier ancestors rather than immediate family ties. Despite the passage of time and distance from a living connection to Ireland, many continue to identify strongly with their Irish heritage and express a desire to connect with Irish culture, communities, and fellow Diaspora members. This demonstrates the long-lasting power of Irish identity and the significant potential for future Diaspora engagement.
Importance of Connection
How important is it for you to connect with other members of the Irish Diaspora?
| Response | Total |
|---|---|
| 1 | 156 |
| 2 | 290 |
| 3 | 956 |
| 4 | 475 |
| 5 | 182 |
| Total | 2,059 |
Summary
Respondents expressed a generally positive view of connecting with other members of the Irish Diaspora. On a five-point scale, the most common response was a rating of 3 (956 respondents; 46%), followed by 4 (475 respondents; 23%) and 2 (290 respondents; 14%). Higher levels of importance (ratings of 4 and 5) were reported by 657 respondents (32%), compared with 446 respondents (22%) who selected the lower ratings of 1 or 2. Overall, the findings suggest a broad interest in Diaspora connections, with the majority of respondents viewing engagement with fellow members of the Irish Diaspora as at least moderately important.
Key Learning
The findings highlight that Diaspora engagement is fundamentally about people rather than platforms. At a time when much of modern life is becoming increasingly virtual, respondents expressed a clear desire to connect with others who share a common bond of Irish heritage. This suggests that Irish ancestry provides a unique and enduring foundation for community-building, offering individuals a sense of belonging rooted in both blood and place. The opportunity for Ireland is not simply to create digital networks, but to foster meaningful human connections that strengthen cultural identity and community across the global Diaspora.
Contact with Ireland
Do you have family members or distant relatives that you are in contact with in Ireland?
| Response | Total |
|---|---|
| Yes | 1,095 |
| No | 1,611 |
| Total | 2,706 |
Summary
When surveyed about whether they have family members or distant relatives in Ireland with whom they are in contact, the majority of respondents (1,611, or 59.5%) indicated that they do not. A significant minority of 1,095 respondents (40.5%) reported maintaining contact with family or relatives in Ireland.
Key Learning
A significant finding from this data is that the majority of respondents - nearly six in ten (59.5%) - have no current family or relative contact with Ireland, representing a largely untapped pool of potential Diaspora engagement. This is particularly noteworthy given the enormous scale of the global Irish Diaspora, which includes a reputed 40 million Irish Americans alone. These individuals, while currently disconnected from direct family ties to Ireland, nonetheless likely share cultural heritage and ancestral roots that could form the basis of meaningful Diaspora connection. As such, they represent the single largest opportunity for growing and deepening Diaspora engagement - a latent community whose Irish identity, though perhaps dormant, has significant potential to be awakened and cultivated through targeted outreach and inclusive Diaspora programmes.
Interest in Meeting online with Irish people
Interest in Meeting online with Irish people living near ancestral home in Ireland
| Response | Total |
|---|---|
| No Response | 182 |
| 1 | 87 |
| 2 | 134 |
| 3 | 428 |
| 4 | 742 |
| 5 | 1,136 |
| Total | 2,709 |
Summary
When asked about their interest in meeting online with Irish people living near their ancestral home in Ireland, respondents indicated a strong level of enthusiasm. Using a scale of 1 to 5, the data shows a clear skew towards the higher end, with the largest single group - 1,136 respondents - selecting the maximum score of 5, followed by 742 selecting 4. Combined, those rating their interest at 4 or 5 account for 1,878 respondents, representing approximately 72% of the 2,527 who provided a response. By contrast, only 221 respondents rated their interest at 1 or 2, indicating low enthusiasm.
Key Learning
The Irish Diaspora want to connect with people. Three quarters of respondents expressed a high level of interest in meeting online with Irish people living near their ancestral home speaks to a deep and personal desire to forge real relationships with those who share their roots. For those developing Diaspora engagement strategies, this is a critical insight - technology and digital platforms are most valuable not as ends in themselves, but as bridges between people. The Irish Diaspora does not simply want to learn about Ireland; they want to meet Ireland, person to person.
Interest in Meeting with Irish people (F2F)
Interest in Meeting with Irish people living near ancestral home in Ireland (in person)
| Response | Total |
|---|---|
| No Response | 182 |
| 1 | 205 |
| 2 | 236 |
| 3 | 574 |
| 4 | 672 |
| 5 | 840 |
| Total | 2,709 |
Summary
When asked Respondents demonstrated strong interest in meeting face-to-face (Off-line) with Irish people living near their ancestral home in Ireland, with the data skewing clearly towards the higher end of the 1 to 5 scale. Some 1,512 respondents - approximately 60% of those who responded - rated their interest at 4 or 5. While slightly lower than enthusiasm levels recorded for online meetings, this likely reflects the practical barriers of travel rather than any lack of desire, and confirms that in-person connection with Irish people remains a compelling proposition for The Diaspora.
Key Learning
The desire to meet Irish people is strong whether online or in person - but the higher scores recorded for online engagement suggest that removing the barrier of travel significantly amplifies that appetite, pointing to digital connection as the critical first step in building Diaspora relationships.