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The 2026 IHREC Annual Public Attitudes Poll reveals significant gender and generational divides in perceptions of equality, with women and younger people expressing greater concern about discrimination, economic insecurity and the effectiveness of government responses in Ireland.
Women in Ireland consistently express higher levels of concern than men about discrimination, economic insecurity, fairness and the adequacy of government responses, according to the 2026 Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission ( IHREC) Annual Public Attitudes Poll.
Women are also significantly less likely than men to believe that efforts to combat discrimination are effective. Men, meanwhile, are considerably more likely to believe that everyone enjoys their basic human rights equally, that the government is doing enough to address racism, and that Ireland welcomes diversity. The findings highlight a clear gender divide in perceptions of equality and the effectiveness of public policy responses across the country.
Younger people in Ireland are markedly less confident about their ability to experience equality in practice. Only 40% of those aged 18 to 24 believe they have equal opportunities to get ahead in life, a sharp decline from 60% in the previous year's poll. By contrast, adults aged 65 and over remain the age group most likely to believe they have equal opportunities.
Younger adults are also significantly more likely to report having witnessed racism and disability discrimination, with 26% of 18 to 24-year-olds having witnessed disability discrimination in the past year, compared with just 4% of those aged 65 and over. The poll also reveals widespread economic anxiety, with 87% of respondents worried about the cost of living.
However, just 12% believe the government is doing enough to address cost-of-living pressures, while 72% disagree. Only 11% believe wealth is distributed fairly in Ireland. The poll finds that recognition of discrimination does not always translate into confidence in fair treatment. Three quarters of respondents (74%) agree that refugees and asylum seekers experience racism and discrimination, yet only 49% believe they have access to adequate accommodation and 47% believe they are treated fairly.
Among non-Irish respondents, 25% report personally experiencing racism in the previous year, while 42% say they witnessed racism. Women and younger adults are less likely to believe refugees and asylum seekers are treated fairly, while younger people are significantly more likely to report witnessing racism.
Commenting on the findings, an IHREC spokesperson noted that the vast majority of people in Ireland continue to strongly support human rights, equality and fairness, but increasingly question whether those principles are being realised in practice. The spokesperson emphasised that the gap between rights in principle and rights in practice should concern everyone, particularly given that women and younger people are more likely to identify discrimination, inequality and economic insecurity, and less likely to believe that current responses are working effectively.
The message from the public, according to IHREC, is not that human rights and equality matter less, but that they matter deeply, and that people expect to see them reflected in their everyday lives. The poll is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,205 adults in Ireland, with data collected between 12 and 24 May 2026 through an online survey administered by Ipsos B&A. The maximum margin of error is plus or minus 2.8%
IHREC Annual Public Attitudes Poll Ireland Discrimination Equality Women Younger People Cost Of Living Human Rights Racism
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