A new study to mark International Women’s Day has revealed the counties in Ireland with the highest number of female entrepreneurs.
The research, carried out by business energy provider Procure.ie, analysed thousands of LinkedIn profiles across Ireland, to determine which counties are leading the way for high-ranking women in business.
Cork ranks first with 360 female entrepreneurs and offers great support, including the Exxcel programme, which helps women start and grow their businesses. With a population of 584,156, the city has 62 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people and is home to successful companies like The Good Dairy Company.
Dublin follows in second place with 303 female founders and a larger population of 1,458,154, making it the country’s business hub. While it has a lower concentration of female entrepreneurs per capita (21 per 100,000 people), it remains an attractive location due to its well-established ecosystem, featuring coworking spaces, networking events, and investor access, and is home to well-known brands like Sculpted by Aimee and Atlantic Bridge.
Galway ranks third with 161 female founders and a population of 277,737. It has a much higher concentration of female entrepreneurs, with 58 per 100,000 people. The city offers strong community programs like The Women in Business Network, creating a supportive environment where women can bring their dreams to life.
Wicklow and Kildare round out the top five counties with the most female entrepreneurs, with the top 10 counties mapped out below.
Counties with the fewest female entrepreneurs:
The counties with the fewest female entrepreneurs are Carlow, Cavan, Roscommon, Longford, and Leitrim.
Carlow has 23 female founders and a population of 61,968, giving it a rate of 37 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people. The highest among the lowest-ranked counties. Cavan and Roscommon both have 21 female entrepreneurs per 100,000 people, with 17 and 15 female founders, respectively. Longford, with 12 female founders, has a slightly higher rate at 26 per 100,000 people. Leitrim ranks the lowest, with just 6 female founders and 17 per 100,000 people.
More and more women are starting businesses across Ireland, with some counties leading the way. While there are still areas that need improvement, the data shows that Ireland has made great progress in helping more female entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.
For more information on the study, click here.
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