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Ireland birth & fertility rate charts by year

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a birth rate of 10.3 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.5 (the average amount of children a woman would have during her lifetime).

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.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.37% — 19,638 more people were born than died.

Birth rates in Ireland compared to world average

Ireland World
Fertility rate 1.5 2.2
Birth rate 10.3 16.3
Birth rate rank 142/196 N/A
Age at first childbirth 31.6 years 23.1 years
Average age at childbearing 32.7 years 28.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 4.02 37.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 42 120.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 22.3 22
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 24.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70.9% 54.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.7% 83.3%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.2%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.25% 1.73%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 2.71%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.38% 2.49%
Population change due to births and deaths +19,638 +70,600,901
Natural population change rank 109/196 N/A
Natural population change rate +0.37% +0.88%
Population growth +1.37% +0.96%
Population growth rank 78/197 N/A
Life expectancy 82.7 years 73.5 years

Fertility rate in Ireland chart

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 below showcases the historical changes in birth rates.

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Ireland World
1960 3.78 4.69
1961 3.78 4.56
1962 3.92 5.02
1963 4.01 5.31
1964 4.07 5.13
1965 4.04 5.08
1966 3.94 4.97
1967 3.84 4.87
1968 3.77 4.98
1969 3.83 4.88
1970 3.85 4.84
1971 3.93 4.69
1972 3.84 4.55
1973 3.71 4.42
1974 3.59 4.26
1975 3.37 4.07
1976 3.29 3.97
1977 3.24 3.84
1978 3.21 3.77
1979 3.21 3.76
1980 3.21 3.73
1981 3.05 3.71
1982 2.94 3.72
1983 2.74 3.59
1984 2.58 3.57
1985 2.48 3.53
1986 2.44 3.51
1987 2.32 3.48
1988 2.17 3.39
1989 2.08 3.35
1990 2.11 3.31
1991 2.08 3.13
1992 1.99 3.04
1993 1.9 2.97
1994 1.85 2.92
1995 1.84 2.87
1996 1.88 2.82
1997 1.93 2.78
1998 1.94 2.75
1999 1.9 2.72
2000 1.89 2.73
2001 1.94 2.69
2002 1.97 2.66
2003 1.96 2.64
2004 1.93 2.63
2005 1.86 2.61
2006 1.91 2.61
2007 2.01 2.6
2008 2.06 2.6
2009 2.06 2.59
2010 2.05 2.57
2011 2.03 2.55
2012 1.98 2.56
2013 1.93 2.53
2014 1.89 2.52
2015 1.85 2.49
2016 1.81 2.49
2017 1.77 2.46
2018 1.75 2.39
2019 1.71 2.35
2020 1.63 2.28
2021 1.78 2.25
2022 1.54 2.22
2023 1.5 2.2
2024 1.5 2.19
2025 1.5 2.18
2026 1.5 2.18
2027 1.5 2.17
2028 1.5 2.16
2029 1.5 2.15
2030 1.5 2.14
2031 1.5 2.13
2032 1.5 2.12
2033 1.5 2.12
2034 1.5 2.11
2035 1.5 2.1
2036 1.5 2.09
2037 1.5 2.09
2038 1.5 2.08
2039 1.51 2.08
2040 1.51 2.08
2041 1.5 2.07
2042 1.5 2.07
2043 1.5 2.07
2044 1.51 2.07
2045 1.51 2.06
2046 1.5 2.06
2047 1.5 2.06
2048 1.5 2.05
2049 1.5 2.05
2050 1.5 2.05

Birth rates by women ages chart

In 2025, of all live births 1.38% were to women under 20 years old, 26.6% to women ages 20-29, and 72% to women ages 30 and above. In comparison, the percentages in 1990 were 4.91%, 48.1%, and 47% for the same age groups respectively. A chart displaying the historical birth rates in Ireland by maternal age is provided below.

Annual births per 1,000 women ages

15-19
20-29
30+
Year Annual births per 1,000 women
Total per 1,000 women 15-19 20-29 30+
1960 43.3 8.18 158.8 50.4
1961 42.6 8.65 159.6 48.8
1962 43.8 10.2 165.5 49.2
1963 44.6 11.4 170 49.3
1964 45 12.4 173.9 48.6
1965 44.4 13.1 174.3 47
1966 43.2 13.1 171.3 44.8
1967 42.4 14 167 43
1968 42 14 169.3 40.8
1969 43.2 14.9 175.4 40.7
1970 43.8 15.8 180.9 40.2
1971 45.4 18.1 187.5 40
1972 45.4 20.4 186.3 38.4
1973 44.8 21.8 181.6 37.1
1974 44.2 22.3 176.9 36.3
1975 42.4 22.2 168.1 34.6
1976 42 21.5 165 34.7
1977 42.2 20.8 162 35.7
1978 42.4 21 159.8 36.7
1979 43.2 21.8 161.1 37.5
1980 43.6 22 160.3 38.2
1981 42 21.5 151.4 37.5
1982 40.7 20.7 144.9 37
1983 38.3 19.1 135 35
1984 36.2 18.1 127.2 33.1
1985 35.2 16.5 121.4 32.5
1986 34.8 16.1 118 32.3
1987 32.9 15.7 112.1 30.8
1988 30.9 15.1 105.8 28.8
1989 29.4 14.8 99.6 27.8
1990 30 16.1 99.7 28.2
1991 29.6 17 96.1 27.9
1992 28.7 16.8 89.9 27.2
1993 27.5 15.9 83.4 26.6
1994 26.6 14.8 79 26.2
1995 26.8 14.8 76.4 26.6
1996 27.6 16.1 76.5 27.4
1997 28.6 17.4 76.7 28.4
1998 28.8 19.3 76 28.5
1999 28.6 20.3 73.2 28.1
2000 28.6 20.1 71.3 28.4
2001 29.8 20.3 71.5 29.6
2002 30.6 19.9 71.7 30.9
2003 30.6 19.3 70.1 31.4
2004 30.3 17.8 66.8 31.7
2005 29.5 16.9 61.2 31.5
2006 30.6 16.5 62.3 32.7
2007 32.4 16.9 65.7 34.7
2008 33.3 16.7 70 35.8
2009 33.2 16 72.6 35.7
2010 32.8 14.8 73.7 35.6
2011 32.1 12.6 72.3 35.7
2012 30.9 11.4 70.8 34.8
2013 29.5 9.69 67.3 33.8
2014 28.5 8.52 64.8 33
2015 27.5 8.01 62 32
2016 26.5 7.28 58.2 31.2
2017 25.3 6.64 55.4 30
2018 24.8 6.07 53.7 29.2
2019 23.6 5.42 50.1 28.2
2020 22 5.03 46.4 26.7
2021 23.4 4.77 47.4 28.3
2022 20.6 4.11 42 24.4
2023 20.4 4.05 42.2 23.7
2024 19.4 3.99 41.9 22.9
2025 19.2 4.02 42 22.3

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
World
Factual

UN forecast
Year Children 0-14 as share of population
Ireland World
1960 30.9% 37.4%
1961 31% 37.5%
1962 30.9% 37.6%
1963 30.9% 37.8%
1964 30.9% 38%
1965 31.1% 38%
1966 31.1% 38%
1967 31.1% 38%
1968 31.1% 37.9%
1969 31.1% 37.8%
1970 31.1% 37.7%
1971 31.2% 37.6%
1972 31.2% 37.5%
1973 31.2% 37.3%
1974 31.2% 37.2%
1975 31.1% 37.1%
1976 31% 36.9%
1977 30.9% 36.7%
1978 30.7% 36.3%
1979 30.5% 35.9%
1980 30.4% 35.5%
1981 30.3% 35.2%
1982 30.1% 34.9%
1983 29.9% 34.6%
1984 29.6% 34.3%
1985 29.3% 34%
1986 28.9% 33.8%
1987 28.5% 33.6%
1988 28.1% 33.4%
1989 27.6% 33.2%
1990 27.1% 33%
1991 26.6% 32.9%
1992 26% 32.7%
1993 25.5% 32.5%
1994 24.9% 32.3%
1995 24.2% 32.1%
1996 23.6% 31.8%
1997 23% 31.5%
1998 22.5% 31.1%
1999 22.1% 30.8%
2000 21.8% 30.4%
2001 21.4% 30%
2002 21.1% 29.6%
2003 21% 29.2%
2004 20.8% 28.8%
2005 20.6% 28.5%
2006 20.4% 28.1%
2007 20.3% 27.9%
2008 20.5% 27.6%
2009 20.7% 27.5%
2010 21.1% 27.3%
2011 21.4% 27.1%
2012 21.5% 27%
2013 21.5% 26.9%
2014 21.4% 26.8%
2015 21.3% 26.6%
2016 21.2% 26.5%
2017 20.9% 26.4%
2018 20.7% 26.2%
2019 20.4% 26%
2020 20.1% 25.8%
2021 19.8% 25.6%
2022 19.5% 25.3%
2023 19% 25%
2024 18.6% 24.7%
2025 18.1% 24.4%
2026 17.6% 24.1%
2027 17.2% 23.8%
2028 16.9% 23.4%
2029 16.6% 23.1%
2030 16.3% 22.8%
2031 16% 22.6%
2032 15.8% 22.3%
2033 15.6% 22.1%
2034 15.4% 21.9%
2035 15.3% 21.7%
2036 15.2% 21.6%
2037 15.1% 21.5%
2038 15.1% 21.4%
2039 15.2% 21.3%
2040 15.2% 21.2%
2041 15.3% 21.1%
2042 15.4% 21%
2043 15.4% 21%
2044 15.5% 20.9%
2045 15.6% 20.8%
2046 15.6% 20.7%
2047 15.7% 20.7%
2048 15.7% 20.6%
2049 15.7% 20.5%
2050 15.6% 20.4%

The share of children aged 0-14 in Ireland was 30.9% in 1960, 25.5% in 1993, and 18.6% as of the latest data in 2025.

More about the demographics of Ireland.

Natural population change by year

For the past 10 years, the natural population change in Ireland, excluding migration, has been +0.58% annually. On average, 28,463 more people were born each year than died.

Population change due to births and deaths
Year Population change due to births and deaths
Ireland
1960 28,286
1961 25,137
1962 28,077
1963 29,667
1964 31,532
1965 30,500
1966 26,866
1967 29,895
1968 27,697
1969 29,326
1970 30,756
1971 35,606
1972 34,316
1973 34,562
1974 34,199
1975 34,128
1976 33,676
1977 35,448
1978 36,288
1979 38,798
1980 40,612
1981 39,364
1982 38,344
1983 34,053
1984 31,791
1985 29,013
1986 27,963
1987 26,904
1988 22,912
1989 20,012
1990 21,787
1991 21,206
1992 20,283
1993 17,166
1994 17,234
1995 16,601
1996 18,915
1997 21,311
1998 22,277
1999 21,402
2000 23,592
2001 27,837
2002 31,062
2003 32,372
2004 33,376
2005 33,279
2006 36,752
2007 43,109
2008 46,691
2009 47,168
2010 47,426
2011 45,801
2012 42,775
2013 39,302
2014 37,728
2015 35,265
2016 33,339
2017 31,379
2018 29,878
2019 28,365
2020 23,687
2021 26,064
2022 19,287
2023 19,638

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart

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.

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

Under-five mortality rate chart

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.

Ireland
World's average

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

Year Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births
Ireland World
1960 3.53% 18.5%
1961 3.38% 18.1%
1962 3.25% 17.8%
1963 3.13% 17.5%
1964 3.01% 17.7%
1965 2.87% 17.5%
1966 2.71% 17.3%
1967 2.55% 17%
1968 2.41% 16.5%
1969 2.3% 15.5%
1970 2.22% 15.2%
1971 2.17% 15.1%
1972 2.14% 14.4%
1973 2.11% 14.1%
1974 2.06% 13.7%
1975 2% 13.4%
1976 1.91% 13%
1977 1.81% 12.5%
1978 1.69% 12.1%
1979 1.56% 11.7%
1980 1.43% 11.4%
1981 1.32% 11%
1982 1.23% 10.8%
1983 1.17% 10.6%
1984 1.11% 10.4%
1985 1.07% 10.1%
1986 1.04% 9.81%
1987 1.02% 9.47%
1988 0.99% 9.31%
1989 0.96% 9.02%
1990 0.92% 8.81%
1991 0.87% 8.66%
1992 0.81% 8.46%
1993 0.77% 8.19%
1994 0.74% 7.98%
1995 0.73% 7.76%
1996 0.73% 7.52%
1997 0.73% 7.28%
1998 0.73% 7.05%
1999 0.73% 6.76%
2000 0.72% 6.48%
2001 0.69% 6.21%
2002 0.65% 5.94%
2003 0.6% 5.65%
2004 0.56% 5.43%
2005 0.52% 5.16%
2006 0.49% 4.92%
2007 0.46% 4.7%
2008 0.44% 4.5%
2009 0.43% 4.31%
2010 0.42% 4.11%
2011 0.41% 3.97%
2012 0.4% 3.77%
2013 0.39% 3.61%
2014 0.38% 3.48%
2015 0.37% 3.35%
2016 0.36% 3.23%
2017 0.35% 3.11%
2018 0.34% 2.97%
2019 0.34% 2.86%
2020 0.35% 2.75%
2021 0.36% 2.66%
2022 0.37% 2.59%
2023 0.38% 2.49%

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