Which country has the most Irish ancestry? One country reports 32.4 million residents with Irish roots. In another, roughly one person in six claims Irish descent. So does “most” mean the largest number, or the largest share?

In this documentary, we count down the top 10 countries with Irish descendants living outside the island of Ireland. Follow the Irish diaspora through South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States.

Along the way, we uncover the Irish family connection of Chile’s Bernardo O’Higgins, meet the generations who kept their roots alive in Argentina, and trace the very different journeys that brought Irish people to Australia. In Canada, we remember those who reached Grosse Île during the Great Famine, and those who did not survive the crossing.

Some ancestry figures come from national censuses. Others are broad estimates, especially lower in the countdown. We explain that difference before revealing which country leads by reported total, and why population share tells another story.

Are you tracing your Irish ancestry? Tell us which country you’re watching from and, if you know it, the Irish county or town your family came from. Subscribe for more clear stories about Irish history, migration and genealogy.

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