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How loud is Cork, Ireland?

In Cork, Ireland, most noise-exposed residents face average day-evening-night (Lden) transport noise of 55–70 dB, mostly from road traffic, dropping to 50–60 dB at night. That ranks Cork #201 of 314 European cities by measured EEA exposure, right at the European median.

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Noise map of Cork, Ireland: road-traffic noise contours from the EU strategic noise maps, shaded yellow (≈55 dB Lden) through orange and red to dark purple (≈75 dB+), over the city's street network.
Cork's road-traffic noise, mapped: each band is a measured Lden contour from the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) — yellow ≈55 dB rising to dark purple ≈75 dB+. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors, © CARTO.
Cork at a glance (measured EEA data)
European rank (of 314) #201
Daytime Lden range 55–70 dB
Night Lnight range 50–60 dB
vs. WHO guideline ≈ 10 dB above the 53 dB Lden road-noise guideline (night guideline: 45 dB)
Dominant source road traffic
Population 272,400
Data confidence high

With 272,400 residents, Cork reports day-evening-night transport noise of 55–70 dB for its exposed population (50–60 dB at night), mostly from road traffic. That is #201 of 314 European cities, right at the European median. Among Ireland's 3 ranked agglomerations, Cork is the 2nd-loudest. Across Europe it sits just below Zurich, Switzerland (#200) and just above Norrkoping, Sweden (#202).

The WHO road-traffic guideline is 53 dB Lden by day and 45 dB Lnight at night, so Cork's exposed residents run roughly 10 dB above the daytime guideline. The figures count road, rail, aircraft and industry only, so sirens, nightlife and construction sit outside the model — which is why measured exposure can differ from a city's reputation for noise.

These are measured values, not estimates: they come from Ireland's strategic noise maps reported under the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) and harmonised by the European Environment Agency. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only people above the 55 dB Lden reporting threshold are counted, so the range describes the noise-exposed population, not the city's quietest streets.

Cork noise: the numbers

  • Ranks #201 of 314 European cities by measured day-evening-night (Lden) transport-noise exposure.
  • Exposed residents face Lden 55–70 dB by day and Lnight 50–60 dB at night.
  • Dominant noise source: road traffic. Population 272,400.
  • The 2nd-loudest of Ireland's 3 ranked agglomerations.

These are measured values from the EU Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps (2022 round), harmonised by the European Environment Agency — see the methodology on the European city ranking. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only residents above the 55 dB Lden threshold are reported.

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