The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has been sharing a series of festive statistics on its social media channels in the run-up to Christmas.
As part of the campaign, the CSO has prepared a short YouTube video showcasing the seasonal data. For those who may have missed the posts, the full list of Christmas-related statistics is outlined below.
Ireland imported €2.1 million worth of Prosecco, accounting for over 966,000 bottles, in December 2024 — almost double the value of Champagne imports, which stood at €1.4 million, or approximately 88,000 bottles.
Between October, November and December 2024, a total of 9.2 million people passed through Irish airports.
Foreign visitors recorded 3.9 million overnight stays in December 2024, with an average stay of 9.9 nights.
A shout-out was also given to the 17,000 postal and courier workers recorded in Census 2022, many of whom are expected to be particularly busy during the festive period.
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Homes and businesses across Ireland were lit up with 36 tonnes of Christmas lighting imported in December 2024, valued at approximately €882,000.
Ireland exported 245 tonnes of fresh Christmas trees during December 2024.
In the same month, Ireland imported €2.1 million worth of Christmas items, including baubles and decorations.
A total of 1,670 couples got married in December 2024, with Friday emerging as the most popular day to tie the knot.
Over €264,000 worth of electric toy cars and trains were imported in December 2024.
Imports also included more than €1.1 million worth of dolls’ prams, pedal cars and trikes during the festive month.
In December 2024, Ireland imported nearly €15 million worth of video game consoles.
Finally, there were 82 babies born on Christmas Day 2024, including 39 girls and 43 boys.
Additionally, ALDI Ireland has issued a timely warning to shoppers ahead of Christmas, advising households not to leave their festive food shop until December 23, traditionally the busiest day of the year in its stores.
New data from the retailer shows that December 23, 2024, was ALDI’s single busiest shopping day, with Irish shoppers making a last-minute dash for the items that make or break Christmas Day. Based on last year’s figures, ALDI expects a similar surge again this year — and says leaving it that late increases the risk of missing key essentials.
The data reveals just how concentrated last-minute shopping has become. Around a quarter of the entire month’s stock of Brussels sprouts was sold on December 23 alone, making them the most in-demand Christmas item of the day. They were closely followed by fresh cream, champagne and AA batteries — highlighting how both food and practical essentials dominate the final pre-Christmas rush.
In response, ALDI has outlined the most commonly purchased items from last year’s December 23 rush, effectively creating a checklist of what shoppers tend to forget until the final moment. Alongside Brussels sprouts and fresh cream, the list includes staples such as potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and sliced pan, as well as cooking essentials like tin foil, cling film and olive oil. Cleaning products also feature heavily, with kitchen roll, washing-up liquid and black bin bags all among the top sellers.
