Ireland birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Ireland has a birth rate of 10.3 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.5 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Ireland was 3.78 children per woman — 2.52 times higher than in 2023.

Ireland birth rate statistics:

Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 165/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Ireland is 31.6 — it was 26.3 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7, a change from 29.9 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 8.09 in 1960 to 4.07 in 2023.
23.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 21.3% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Ireland by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.5	145
2022	1.54	145
2021	1.78	119
2020	1.63	134
2019	1.71	131
2018	1.75	126
2017	1.77	130
2016	1.81	129
2015	1.85	128
2014	1.89	128
2013	1.93	127
2012	1.98	124
2011	2.03	117
2010	2.05	118
2009	2.06	120
2008	2.06	122
2007	2.01	125
2006	1.91	134
2005	1.86	138
2004	1.93	135
2003	1.96	132
2002	1.97	131
2001	1.94	137
2000	1.89	144
1999	1.9	142
1998	1.94	140
1997	1.93	141
1996	1.88	148
1995	1.84	148
1994	1.85	151
1993	1.9	151
1992	1.99	151
1991	2.08	146
1990	2.11	149
1989	2.08	151
1988	2.17	147
1987	2.32	141
1986	2.44	140
1985	2.48	137
1984	2.58	138
1983	2.74	133
1982	2.94	133
1981	3.05	131
1980	3.21	130
1979	3.21	130
1978	3.21	130
1977	3.24	130
1976	3.29	132
1975	3.37	134
1974	3.59	132
1973	3.71	132
1972	3.84	133
1971	3.93	132
1970	3.85	134
1969	3.83	137
1968	3.77	141
1967	3.84	141
1966	3.94	141
1965	4.04	141
1964	4.07	143
1963	4.01	144
1962	3.92	145
1961	3.78	147
1960	3.78	149

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1991. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.9 — a 21.1% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	19,652	54,708	35,056
2022	19,287	54,213	34,926
2021	26,064	60,304	34,240
2020	23,687	55,941	32,254
2019	28,365	59,219	30,854
2018	29,878	61,225	31,347
2017	31,379	61,791	30,412
2016	33,339	63,820	30,481
2015	35,265	65,357	30,092
2014	37,728	67,071	29,343
2013	39,302	68,894	29,592
2012	42,775	71,752	28,977
2011	45,801	74,197	28,396
2010	47,426	75,242	27,816
2009	47,168	75,740	28,572
2008	46,691	74,975	28,284
2007	43,109	71,262	28,153
2006	36,752	65,385	28,633
2005	33,279	61,566	28,287
2004	33,376	61,867	28,491
2003	32,372	61,546	29,174
2002	31,062	60,551	29,489
2001	27,837	57,993	30,156
2000	23,592	54,794	31,202
1999	21,402	54,068	32,666
1998	22,277	53,834	31,557
1997	21,311	52,908	31,597
1996	18,915	50,561	31,646
1995	16,601	48,719	32,118
1994	17,234	48,111	30,877
1993	17,166	49,352	32,186
1992	20,283	51,241	30,958
1991	21,206	52,660	31,454
1990	21,787	53,061	31,274
1989	20,012	51,962	31,950
1988	22,912	54,636	31,724
1987	26,904	58,410	31,506
1986	27,963	61,590	33,627
1985	29,013	62,270	33,257
1984	31,791	63,936	32,145
1983	34,053	67,052	32,999
1982	38,344	70,761	32,417
1981	39,364	72,167	32,803
1980	40,612	74,057	33,445
1979	38,798	72,535	33,737
1978	36,288	70,244	33,956
1977	35,448	68,926	33,478
1976	33,676	67,675	33,999
1975	34,128	67,299	33,171
1974	34,199	69,025	34,826
1973	34,562	68,816	34,254
1972	34,316	68,632	34,316
1971	35,606	67,620	32,014
1970	30,756	64,468	33,712
1969	29,326	63,051	33,725
1968	27,697	60,934	33,237
1967	29,895	61,241	31,346
1966	26,866	62,109	35,243
1965	30,500	63,588	33,088
1964	31,532	64,210	32,678
1963	29,667	63,328	33,661
1962	28,077	61,825	33,748
1961	25,137	59,877	34,740
1960	28,286	60,814	32,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Ireland (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.58% annually. On average, 28,464 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.37% — 19,652 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Ireland ranks 109/196 for absolute natural population change and 127/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Ireland compared to other countries

	Ireland	Rank
Fertility rate	1.5	145/196
Birth rate	10.3	142/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+19,652	109/196
Natural population change rate	+0.37%	127/196
Population growth	+1.59%	68/197
Age at first childbirth	31.6 years	5/137
Average age at childbearing	32.7 years	3/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	4.15	171/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	42.8	185/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	21.9	104/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23.7%	122/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	70.9%	15/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	99.7%	47/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.004%	175/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.25%	159/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.34%	165/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.38%	162/192
Life expectancy	82.9 years	20/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	18.9	4.15	42.8	21.9
2025	19.1	4.09	42.6	22.4
2024	19.4	4.06	42.5	23.1
2023	19.9	4.1	42.6	23.9
2022	20.2	4.18	42.6	24.8
2021	23.3	4.81	47.9	28.5
2020	22.2	5.04	46.6	26.9
2019	23.5	5.45	50.5	28.4
2018	24.7	6.13	54	29.5
2017	25.3	6.73	55.6	30.2
2016	26.5	7.37	57.9	31.5
2015	27.6	8.08	61.5	32.3
2014	28.6	8.61	64.1	33.2
2013	29.7	9.78	66	34.1
2012	31.1	11.5	69.1	35.1
2011	32.2	12.6	70.4	36
2010	33	14.6	71.4	36
2009	33.4	15.9	71	36.1
2008	33.3	16.6	69.8	36.3
2007	32	17	66.9	35.2
2006	30.1	16.5	64.2	33.1
2005	29.1	16.8	62.6	31.9
2004	30	17.6	67.6	32
2003	30.4	19.1	70.6	31.7
2002	30.3	19.7	72.6	31.3
2001	29.4	20	72.9	29.9
2000	28.4	19.8	72.3	28.7
1999	28.4	20.1	74.2	28.3
1998	28.7	19.2	76.8	28.8
1997	28.4	17.4	77.3	28.6
1996	27.5	16.2	77.2	27.7
1995	26.8	14.9	77	26.9
1994	26.7	14.9	79.5	26.4
1993	27.4	15.9	83.8	26.8
1992	28.5	16.7	90.5	27.4
1991	29.6	16.9	96.8	28.1
1990	30	16.2	99.6	28.4
1989	29.7	14.8	98.9	28
1988	31.2	15.1	104.6	29
1987	33.2	15.7	111.1	31
1986	34.9	16.1	117.8	32.6
1985	35.4	16.6	121.7	32.7
1984	36.4	18.1	127.8	33.3
1983	38.4	19.1	135.8	35.2
1982	40.8	20.6	145.8	37.2
1981	42	21.6	152.7	37.8
1980	43.6	22.2	161.8	38.5
1979	43.2	22.1	162.4	37.8
1978	42.5	21.3	161	37
1977	42.2	21.1	163.5	36
1976	42	21.7	167	34.9
1975	42.3	22.5	170.6	34.8
1974	43.9	22.4	180.5	36.4
1973	44.4	21.9	185.9	37.3
1972	44.9	20.6	191.1	38.5
1971	45	18.4	191.5	40.1
1970	43.8	15.9	182.7	40.3
1969	43.1	15	177.6	40.7
1968	41.9	14	172.3	40.8
1967	42.1	14	170.3	43.1
1966	43	13.2	173.6	44.8
1965	44.1	13.2	175.8	47
1964	44.6	12.5	175.8	48.6
1963	44.3	11.4	172	49.2
1962	43.6	10.3	166.9	49.2
1961	42.7	8.89	159.2	48.7
1960	43.9	8.46	155.2	50.3

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Ireland by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 1.44% will be to women under age 20, 27.6% to women ages 20-29, and 71% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 4.91%, 48.1%, and 47%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Ireland	World
2100	12.7%	16.5%
2099	12.7%	16.6%
2098	12.8%	16.6%
2097	12.8%	16.7%
2096	12.9%	16.8%
2095	13%	16.8%
2094	13.1%	16.9%
2093	13.2%	17%
2092	13.3%	17%
2091	13.4%	17.1%
2090	13.4%	17.2%
2089	13.5%	17.2%
2088	13.6%	17.3%
2087	13.7%	17.4%
2086	13.7%	17.4%
2085	13.8%	17.5%
2084	13.8%	17.5%
2083	13.8%	17.6%
2082	13.8%	17.7%
2081	13.8%	17.7%
2080	13.7%	17.8%
2079	13.7%	17.8%
2078	13.6%	17.9%
2077	13.6%	17.9%
2076	13.5%	18%
2075	13.5%	18%
2074	13.4%	18.1%
2073	13.4%	18.2%
2072	13.4%	18.2%
2071	13.3%	18.3%
2070	13.3%	18.3%
2069	13.4%	18.4%
2068	13.4%	18.5%
2067	13.5%	18.6%
2066	13.5%	18.6%
2065	13.6%	18.7%
2064	13.8%	18.8%
2063	13.9%	18.9%
2062	14%	19.1%
2061	14.2%	19.2%
2060	14.4%	19.3%
2059	14.6%	19.4%
2058	14.7%	19.5%
2057	14.9%	19.6%
2056	15.1%	19.8%
2055	15.2%	19.9%
2054	15.3%	20%
2053	15.5%	20.1%
2052	15.6%	20.2%
2051	15.6%	20.3%
2050	15.7%	20.4%
2049	15.7%	20.5%
2048	15.7%	20.6%
2047	15.7%	20.7%
2046	15.6%	20.8%
2045	15.6%	20.9%
2044	15.5%	20.9%
2043	15.4%	21%
2042	15.3%	21.1%
2041	15.3%	21.2%
2040	15.2%	21.2%
2039	15.2%	21.3%
2038	15.1%	21.4%
2037	15.1%	21.5%
2036	15.3%	21.6%
2035	15.3%	21.8%
2034	15.5%	22%
2033	15.7%	22.2%
2032	15.9%	22.4%
2031	16.1%	22.7%
2030	16.4%	23%
2029	16.7%	23.3%
2028	17%	23.6%
2027	17.4%	23.9%
2026	17.9%	24.2%
2025	18.3%	24.6%
2024	18.6%	24.7%
2023	19%	25%
2022	19.5%	25.3%
2021	19.8%	25.6%
2020	20.1%	25.8%
2019	20.4%	26%
2018	20.7%	26.2%
2017	20.9%	26.4%
2016	21.2%	26.5%
2015	21.3%	26.6%
2014	21.4%	26.8%
2013	21.5%	26.9%
2012	21.5%	27%
2011	21.4%	27.1%
2010	21.1%	27.3%
2009	20.7%	27.5%
2008	20.5%	27.6%
2007	20.3%	27.9%
2006	20.4%	28.1%
2005	20.6%	28.5%
2004	20.8%	28.8%
2003	21%	29.2%
2002	21.1%	29.6%
2001	21.4%	30%
2000	21.8%	30.4%
1999	22.1%	30.8%
1998	22.5%	31.1%
1997	23%	31.5%
1996	23.6%	31.8%
1995	24.2%	32.1%
1994	24.9%	32.3%
1993	25.5%	32.5%
1992	26%	32.7%
1991	26.6%	32.9%
1990	27.1%	33%
1989	27.6%	33.2%
1988	28.1%	33.4%
1987	28.5%	33.6%
1986	28.9%	33.8%
1985	29.3%	34%
1984	29.6%	34.3%
1983	29.9%	34.6%
1982	30.1%	34.9%
1981	30.3%	35.2%
1980	30.4%	35.5%
1979	30.5%	35.9%
1978	30.7%	36.3%
1977	30.9%	36.7%
1976	31%	36.9%
1975	31.1%	37.1%
1974	31.2%	37.2%
1973	31.2%	37.3%
1972	31.2%	37.5%
1971	31.2%	37.6%
1970	31.1%	37.7%
1969	31.1%	37.8%
1968	31.1%	37.9%
1967	31.1%	38%
1966	31.1%	38%
1965	31.1%	38%
1964	30.9%	38%
1963	30.9%	37.8%
1962	30.9%	37.6%
1961	31%	37.5%
1960	30.9%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Ireland was 30.9% in 1960, 26% in 1992, and 18.6% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Ireland.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	4	197
2022	7	203
2021	6	242
2020	6	211
2019	4	207
2018	5	211
2017	4	215
2016	4	220
2015	5	228
2014	5	231
2013	5	235
2012	6	239
2011	6	247
2010	6	253
2009	6	258
2008	6	264
2007	6	269
2006	6	276
2005	6	283
2004	6	291
2003	6	301
2002	7	311
2001	7	321
2000	8	328
1999	7	340
1998	8	360
1997	8	358
1996	8	366
1995	9	371
1994	9	382
1993	9	389
1992	10	395
1991	10	395
1990	11	391
1989	10	401
1988	11	414
1987	10	429
1986	11	438
1985	11	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Ireland was 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.004% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 50% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Ireland	World
2023	0.38%	2.49%
2022	0.37%	2.59%
2021	0.36%	2.66%
2020	0.35%	2.75%
2019	0.34%	2.86%
2018	0.34%	2.97%
2017	0.35%	3.11%
2016	0.36%	3.22%
2015	0.37%	3.35%
2014	0.38%	3.48%
2013	0.39%	3.61%
2012	0.4%	3.77%
2011	0.41%	3.97%
2010	0.42%	4.11%
2009	0.43%	4.31%
2008	0.44%	4.5%
2007	0.46%	4.7%
2006	0.49%	4.92%
2005	0.52%	5.16%
2004	0.56%	5.43%
2003	0.6%	5.65%
2002	0.65%	5.94%
2001	0.69%	6.21%
2000	0.72%	6.48%
1999	0.73%	6.75%
1998	0.73%	7.05%
1997	0.73%	7.28%
1996	0.73%	7.52%
1995	0.73%	7.76%
1994	0.74%	7.98%
1993	0.77%	8.19%
1992	0.81%	8.46%
1991	0.87%	8.66%
1990	0.92%	8.81%
1989	0.96%	9.02%
1988	0.99%	9.31%
1987	1.02%	9.47%
1986	1.04%	9.81%
1985	1.07%	10.1%
1984	1.11%	10.4%
1983	1.17%	10.6%
1982	1.23%	10.8%
1981	1.32%	11%
1980	1.43%	11.4%
1979	1.56%	11.7%
1978	1.69%	12.2%
1977	1.81%	12.6%
1976	1.91%	13%
1975	2%	13.4%
1974	2.06%	13.8%
1973	2.11%	14.1%
1972	2.14%	14.5%
1971	2.17%	15.1%
1970	2.22%	15.2%
1969	2.3%	15.4%
1968	2.41%	15.6%
1967	2.55%	15.9%
1966	2.71%	16.1%
1965	2.87%	16.4%
1964	3.01%	16.6%
1963	3.13%	16.5%
1962	3.25%	16.7%
1961	3.38%	17%
1960	3.53%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Ireland was 3.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.38% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 7.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.