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Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and Nigeria

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has an annual birth rate of 10.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 33 for Nigeria. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Ireland and 4.48 in Nigeria — 198.8% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by -60.3% in Ireland and by -29.6% in Nigeria — in 1960, it was 3.78 and 6.36, respectively.

Birth rates facts compared:

  • Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate compared to 20/196 for Nigeria.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 31.6 years in Ireland, compared to 20.4 years in Nigeria.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7 in Ireland — it's 29.2 in Nigeria.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 4.07 in Ireland vs 86.4 in Nigeria.
  • In Ireland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 24% in Nigeria.
  • Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.37% in Ireland and +2.12% in Nigeria.

Birth rate data compared

Ireland Nigeria
Fertility rate 1.5 4.48
Birth rate 10.3 33
Birth rate rank 142/196 20/196
Age at first childbirth 31.6 years 20.4 years
Average age at childbearing 32.7 years 29.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 4.02 81.8
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 42 199.7
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 22.3 68.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 24%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70.9% 18.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.7% 50.7%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.99%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.25% 3.37%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 6.01%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age, per 1,000 live births 0.38% 10.5%
Population change due to births and deaths +19,638 +4,834,309
Natural population change rank 109/196 3/196
Natural population change rate +0.37% +2.12%
Population growth +1.37% +2.1%
Population growth rank 78/197 50/197
Life expectancy 82.7 years 54.8 years

Fertility rate in Ireland vs Nigeria chart

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 children per woman in 2023, compared to 4.48 in Nigeria in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Ireland vs Nigeria population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart below showcases historical changes in the birth rates.

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast

Births per woman

Year Fertility rate
Ireland Nigeria
1960 3.78 6.36
1961 3.78 6.35
1962 3.92 6.36
1963 4.01 6.35
1964 4.07 6.36
1965 4.04 6.37
1966 3.94 6.39
1967 3.84 6.4
1968 3.77 6.42
1969 3.83 6.44
1970 3.85 6.47
1971 3.93 6.53
1972 3.84 6.58
1973 3.71 6.63
1974 3.59 6.7
1975 3.37 6.77
1976 3.29 6.81
1977 3.24 6.86
1978 3.21 6.92
1979 3.21 6.89
1980 3.21 6.85
1981 3.05 6.82
1982 2.94 6.8
1983 2.74 6.78
1984 2.58 6.7
1985 2.48 6.62
1986 2.44 6.56
1987 2.32 6.5
1988 2.17 6.5
1989 2.08 6.49
1990 2.11 6.46
1991 2.08 6.43
1992 1.99 6.39
1993 1.9 6.35
1994 1.85 6.32
1995 1.84 6.27
1996 1.88 6.22
1997 1.93 6.14
1998 1.94 6.07
1999 1.9 6.08
2000 1.89 6.12
2001 1.94 6.13
2002 1.97 6.12
2003 1.96 6.1
2004 1.93 6.09
2005 1.86 6.06
2006 1.91 6.05
2007 2.01 6.03
2008 2.06 6.02
2009 2.06 5.99
2010 2.05 5.95
2011 2.03 5.89
2012 1.98 5.8
2013 1.93 5.69
2014 1.89 5.62
2015 1.85 5.5
2016 1.81 5.34
2017 1.77 5.18
2018 1.75 5.02
2019 1.71 4.86
2020 1.63 4.7
2021 1.78 4.64
2022 1.54 4.55
2023 1.5 4.48
2024 1.5 4.38
2025 1.5 4.3
2026 1.5 4.2
2027 1.5 4.1
2028 1.5 4.01
2029 1.5 3.92
2030 1.5 3.82
2031 1.5 3.73
2032 1.5 3.65
2033 1.5 3.56
2034 1.5 3.48
2035 1.5 3.41
2036 1.5 3.34
2037 1.5 3.27
2038 1.5 3.21
2039 1.51 3.16
2040 1.51 3.1
2041 1.5 3.04
2042 1.5 2.99
2043 1.5 2.94
2044 1.51 2.89
2045 1.51 2.85
2046 1.5 2.8
2047 1.5 2.76
2048 1.5 2.73
2049 1.5 2.69
2050 1.5 2.66

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
Nigeria
Factual

UN forecast
Year Share of people 0-14 years old
Ireland Nigeria
1960 30.9% 41.1%
1961 31% 41.1%
1962 30.9% 41.1%
1963 30.9% 41.2%
1964 30.9% 41.4%
1965 31.1% 41.5%
1966 31.1% 41.7%
1967 31.1% 41.8%
1968 31.1% 42%
1969 31.1% 42.2%
1970 31.1% 42.4%
1971 31.2% 42.5%
1972 31.2% 42.8%
1973 31.2% 43%
1974 31.2% 43.2%
1975 31.1% 43.4%
1976 31% 43.7%
1977 30.9% 43.9%
1978 30.7% 44.2%
1979 30.5% 44.4%
1980 30.4% 44.6%
1981 30.3% 44.8%
1982 30.1% 45%
1983 29.9% 45.2%
1984 29.6% 45.4%
1985 29.3% 45.5%
1986 28.9% 45.6%
1987 28.5% 45.6%
1988 28.1% 45.5%
1989 27.6% 45.5%
1990 27.1% 45.3%
1991 26.6% 45.2%
1992 26% 45%
1993 25.5% 44.8%
1994 24.9% 44.6%
1995 24.2% 44.4%
1996 23.6% 44.2%
1997 23% 44.1%
1998 22.5% 43.9%
1999 22.1% 43.8%
2000 21.8% 43.7%
2001 21.4% 43.7%
2002 21.1% 43.8%
2003 21% 43.8%
2004 20.8% 43.9%
2005 20.6% 44%
2006 20.4% 44.1%
2007 20.3% 44.2%
2008 20.5% 44.3%
2009 20.7% 44.4%
2010 21.1% 44.4%
2011 21.4% 44.5%
2012 21.5% 44.5%
2013 21.5% 44.5%
2014 21.4% 44.4%
2015 21.3% 44.3%
2016 21.2% 44.1%
2017 20.9% 43.9%
2018 20.7% 43.6%
2019 20.4% 43.2%
2020 20.1% 42.8%
2021 19.8% 42.4%
2022 19.5% 42%
2023 19% 41.5%
2024 18.6% 41%
2025 18.1% 40.5%
2026 17.6% 40%
2027 17.2% 39.5%
2028 16.9% 39%
2029 16.6% 38.5%
2030 16.3% 38%
2031 16% 37.6%
2032 15.8% 37.2%
2033 15.6% 36.8%
2034 15.4% 36.5%
2035 15.3% 36.2%
2036 15.2% 35.9%
2037 15.1% 35.5%
2038 15.1% 35.2%
2039 15.2% 34.9%
2040 15.2% 34.5%
2041 15.3% 34.2%
2042 15.4% 33.8%
2043 15.4% 33.5%
2044 15.5% 33.1%
2045 15.6% 32.8%
2046 15.6% 32.4%
2047 15.7% 32%
2048 15.7% 31.6%
2049 15.7% 31.3%
2050 15.6% 30.9%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 41% in Nigeria in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 45.3% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and Nigeria compared.

Natural population change in Ireland vs Nigeria by year

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change (excluding migration) has been +0.58% in Ireland and +2.29% in Nigeria. The chart below illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes resulting from births and deaths.

Ireland
Nigeria

Natural population change

Year Population change due to births and deaths
Ireland Nigeria
1960 28,286 901,301
1961 25,137 932,111
1962 28,077 966,452
1963 29,667 995,116
1964 31,532 1,028,272
1965 30,500 1,061,840
1966 26,866 1,095,582
1967 29,895 1,082,884
1968 27,697 1,168,254
1969 29,326 1,213,484
1970 30,756 1,295,507
1971 35,606 1,373,896
1972 34,316 1,448,928
1973 34,562 1,525,485
1974 34,199 1,624,813
1975 34,128 1,718,623
1976 33,676 1,827,289
1977 35,448 1,923,917
1978 36,288 2,019,621
1979 38,798 2,074,807
1980 40,612 2,121,618
1981 39,364 2,179,884
1982 38,344 2,233,401
1983 34,053 2,292,089
1984 31,791 2,278,060
1985 29,013 2,289,784
1986 27,963 2,295,003
1987 26,904 2,322,397
1988 22,912 2,376,419
1989 20,012 2,452,324
1990 21,787 2,491,928
1991 21,206 2,527,807
1992 20,283 2,596,173
1993 17,166 2,673,675
1994 17,234 2,735,198
1995 16,601 2,830,771
1996 18,915 2,882,205
1997 21,311 2,936,500
1998 22,277 3,003,946
1999 21,402 3,155,425
2000 23,592 3,343,196
2001 27,837 3,478,370
2002 31,062 3,606,814
2003 32,372 3,751,120
2004 33,376 3,877,376
2005 33,279 4,013,788
2006 36,752 4,135,703
2007 43,109 4,265,428
2008 46,691 4,412,976
2009 47,168 4,528,149
2010 47,426 4,629,173
2011 45,801 4,728,363
2012 42,775 4,774,508
2013 39,302 4,811,751
2014 37,728 4,862,319
2015 35,265 4,823,045
2016 33,339 4,761,594
2017 31,379 4,706,183
2018 29,878 4,659,898
2019 28,365 4,609,941
2020 23,687 4,525,164
2021 26,064 4,641,562
2022 19,287 4,739,502
2023 19,638 4,834,309

Fertility rates around the globe

Fertility rate

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Nigeria

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 4 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ireland, compared to 993 deaths in Nigeria.

Ireland
Nigeria
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Ireland Nigeria
1985 11 1,344
1986 11 1,363
1987 10 1,351
1988 11 1,332
1989 10 1,304
1990 11 1,285
1991 10 1,282
1992 10 1,246
1993 9 1,200
1994 9 1,193
1995 9 1,186
1996 8 1,185
1997 8 1,184
1998 8 1,189
1999 7 1,165
2000 8 1,136
2001 7 1,130
2002 7 1,117
2003 6 1,090
2004 6 1,075
2005 6 1,060
2006 6 1,067
2007 6 1,063
2008 6 1,081
2009 6 1,088
2010 6 1,094
2011 6 1,108
2012 6 1,124
2013 5 1,146
2014 5 1,155
2015 5 1,168
2016 4 1,155
2017 4 1,142
2018 5 1,118
2019 4 1,091
2020 6 1,065
2021 6 1,046
2022 7 1,016
2023 4 993

Under-five mortality rates

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 10.5% in Nigeria. Below is the historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Ireland
Nigeria

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 Nigeria
1960 3.53% -
1961 3.38% -
1962 3.25% -
1963 3.13% -
1964 3.01% 32.7%
1965 2.87% 32%
1966 2.71% 31.3%
1967 2.55% 30.7%
1968 2.41% 30%
1969 2.3% 29.3%
1970 2.22% 28.5%
1971 2.17% 27.7%
1972 2.14% 26.9%
1973 2.11% 26.1%
1974 2.06% 25.2%
1975 2% 24.4%
1976 1.91% 23.6%
1977 1.81% 22.9%
1978 1.69% 22.3%
1979 1.56% 21.8%
1980 1.43% 21.3%
1981 1.32% 21%
1982 1.23% 20.8%
1983 1.17% 20.7%
1984 1.11% 20.7%
1985 1.07% 20.8%
1986 1.04% 20.9%
1987 1.02% 20.9%
1988 0.99% 21%
1989 0.96% 21%
1990 0.92% 21%
1991 0.87% 20.9%
1992 0.81% 20.8%
1993 0.77% 20.7%
1994 0.74% 20.6%
1995 0.73% 20.4%
1996 0.73% 20.1%
1997 0.73% 19.7%
1998 0.73% 19.3%
1999 0.73% 18.8%
2000 0.72% 18.2%
2001 0.69% 17.7%
2002 0.65% 17.1%
2003 0.6% 16.5%
2004 0.56% 16%
2005 0.52% 15.5%
2006 0.49% 15%
2007 0.46% 14.5%
2008 0.44% 14.1%
2009 0.43% 13.8%
2010 0.42% 13.5%
2011 0.41% 13.3%
2012 0.4% 13.1%
2013 0.39% 12.9%
2014 0.38% 12.8%
2015 0.37% 12.6%
2016 0.36% 12.5%
2017 0.35% 12.3%
2018 0.34% 12%
2019 0.34% 11.8%
2020 0.35% 11.4%
2021 0.36% 11.1%
2022 0.37% 10.8%
2023 0.38% 10.5%

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Birth rate comparisons

Birth rate vs Ireland vs Nigeria
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