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Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and Norway

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has an annual birth rate of 10.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.4 for Norway. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Ireland and 1.4 in Norway — 6.67% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 60.3% in Ireland and by 50.9% in Norway — in 1960, it was 3.78 and 2.85, respectively.

  • Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate compared to 156/196 for Norway.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 31.6 years in Ireland, compared to 30.1 years in Norway.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7 in Ireland — it's 31.8 in Norway.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 4.07 in Ireland vs 1.41 in Norway.
  • In Ireland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.4% in Norway.

Fertility rate in Ireland vs Norway by year

Ireland
Norway
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland Norway
2023 1.5 1.4
2022 1.54 1.41
2021 1.78 1.55
2020 1.63 1.48
2019 1.71 1.53
2018 1.75 1.56
2017 1.77 1.62
2016 1.81 1.71
2015 1.85 1.72
2014 1.89 1.75
2013 1.93 1.78
2012 1.98 1.85
2011 2.03 1.88
2010 2.05 1.95
2009 2.06 1.98
2008 2.06 1.96
2007 2.01 1.9
2006 1.91 1.9
2005 1.86 1.84
2004 1.93 1.83
2003 1.96 1.8
2002 1.97 1.75
2001 1.94 1.78
2000 1.89 1.85
1999 1.9 1.85
1998 1.94 1.81
1997 1.93 1.86
1996 1.88 1.89
1995 1.84 1.87
1994 1.85 1.87
1993 1.9 1.86
1992 1.99 1.88
1991 2.08 1.92
1990 2.11 1.93
1989 2.08 1.89
1988 2.17 1.84
1987 2.32 1.74
1986 2.44 1.71
1985 2.48 1.68
1984 2.58 1.66
1983 2.74 1.66
1982 2.94 1.71
1981 3.05 1.7
1980 3.21 1.72
1979 3.21 1.75
1978 3.21 1.77
1977 3.24 1.75
1976 3.29 1.86
1975 3.37 1.98
1974 3.59 2.13
1973 3.71 2.23
1972 3.84 2.38
1971 3.93 2.49
1970 3.85 2.5
1969 3.83 2.7
1968 3.77 2.75
1967 3.84 2.81
1966 3.94 2.9
1965 4.04 2.94
1964 4.07 2.98
1963 4.01 2.93
1962 3.92 2.91
1961 3.78 2.94
1960 3.78 2.85

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

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

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.4 in Norway in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Ireland
Norway
1x
Year Natural population change
Ireland Norway
2023 19,652 8,280
2022 19,287 5,457
2021 26,064 14,062
2020 23,687 12,372
2019 28,365 13,904
2018 29,878 14,342
2017 31,379 15,831
2016 33,339 17,797
2015 35,265 18,160
2014 37,728 18,494
2013 39,302 17,779
2012 42,775 18,066
2011 45,801 18,822
2010 47,426 20,046
2009 47,168 20,280
2008 46,691 19,073
2007 43,109 16,482
2006 36,752 17,244
2005 33,279 15,719
2004 33,376 15,612
2003 32,372 14,151
2002 31,062 10,892
2001 27,837 13,090
2000 23,592 15,269
1999 21,402 14,278
1998 22,277 14,181
1997 21,311 15,418
1996 18,915 17,087
1995 16,601 14,821
1994 17,234 16,045
1993 17,166 12,936
1992 20,283 15,431
1991 21,206 16,194
1990 21,787 14,845
1989 20,012 13,949
1988 22,912 12,207
1987 26,904 9,212
1986 27,963 8,751
1985 29,013 6,644
1984 31,791 7,452
1983 34,053 7,844
1982 38,344 9,875
1981 39,364 9,020
1980 40,612 9,806
1979 38,798 10,181
1978 36,288 11,364
1977 35,448 11,321
1976 33,676 13,286
1975 34,128 16,430
1974 34,199 20,324
1973 34,562 21,387
1972 34,316 24,777
1971 35,606 26,541
1970 30,756 25,968
1969 29,326 28,858
1968 27,697 29,387
1967 29,895 30,276
1966 26,866 31,150
1965 30,500 31,275
1964 31,532 30,293
1963 29,667 26,766
1962 28,077 28,020
1961 25,137 29,239
1960 28,286 29,366

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

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

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.37% in Ireland and +0.15% in Norway.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +0.26% in Norway.

Birth rate in Ireland vs Norway by year

Ireland
Norway

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Ireland Norway
2023 10.3 9.4
2022 10.4 9.4
2021 11.8 10.4
2020 11.1 9.8
2019 11.9 10.2
2018 12.5 10.4
2017 12.8 10.7
2016 13.4 11.2
2015 13.9 11.3
2014 14.4 11.5
2013 14.9 11.6
2012 15.6 12
2011 16.2 12.2
2010 16.5 12.6
2009 16.7 12.8
2008 16.7 12.7
2007 16.2 12.4
2006 15.3 12.6
2005 14.8 12.3
2004 15.2 12.4
2003 15.4 12.4
2002 15.4 12.2
2001 15 12.6
2000 14.4 13.2
1999 14.4 13.3
1998 14.5 13.2
1997 14.4 13.6
1996 13.9 13.9
1995 13.5 13.8
1994 13.4 13.9
1993 13.8 13.8
1992 14.4 14
1991 14.9 14.3
1990 15.1 14.4
1989 14.8 14
1988 15.5 13.7
1987 16.5 12.9
1986 17.4 12.6
1985 17.6 12.3
1984 18.1 12.1
1983 19.1 12.1
1982 20.3 12.5
1981 20.9 12.4
1980 21.7 12.5
1979 21.5 12.7
1978 21.1 12.8
1977 21 12.6
1976 20.9 13.3
1975 21.1 14.1
1974 22 15
1973 22.3 15.5
1972 22.6 16.3
1971 22.6 16.8
1970 21.8 16.7
1969 21.5 17.6
1968 20.9 17.6
1967 21.1 17.6
1966 21.5 17.9
1965 22.1 17.8
1964 22.4 17.7
1963 22.2 17.3
1962 21.8 17.1
1961 21.2 17.3
1960 21.5 17.3

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 9.4 in Norway, compared with 21.5 and 17.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Ireland Norway
Fertility rate 1.5 1.4
Fertility rate rank 145/196 162/196
Birth rate 10.3 9.4
Birth rate rank 142/196 156/196
Population change due to births and deaths +19,652 +8,280
Natural population change rank 109/196 118/196
Natural population change rate +0.37% +0.15%
Population growth +1.59% +0.95%
Population growth rank 68/197 105/197
Age at first childbirth 31.6 years 30.1 years
Average age at childbearing 32.7 years 31.8 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 4.15 1.11
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 42.8 52.1
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.9 18.7
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 22.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70.9% 69.2%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.7% 99.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.001%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.25% 0.13%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 0.19%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.38% 0.24%
Life expectancy 82.9 years 83.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
Norway
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Ireland Norway
2100 12.7% 12.8%
2099 12.7% 12.8%
2098 12.8% 12.8%
2097 12.8% 12.8%
2096 12.9% 12.8%
2095 13% 12.9%
2094 13.1% 12.9%
2093 13.2% 12.9%
2092 13.3% 12.9%
2091 13.4% 13%
2090 13.4% 13%
2089 13.5% 13%
2088 13.6% 13%
2087 13.7% 13%
2086 13.7% 13.1%
2085 13.8% 13.1%
2084 13.8% 13.1%
2083 13.8% 13.1%
2082 13.8% 13.1%
2081 13.8% 13.1%
2080 13.7% 13%
2079 13.7% 13%
2078 13.6% 13%
2077 13.6% 13%
2076 13.5% 13%
2075 13.5% 13%
2074 13.4% 12.9%
2073 13.4% 12.9%
2072 13.4% 12.9%
2071 13.3% 12.9%
2070 13.3% 12.9%
2069 13.4% 12.9%
2068 13.4% 12.9%
2067 13.5% 13%
2066 13.5% 13%
2065 13.6% 13%
2064 13.8% 13.1%
2063 13.9% 13.1%
2062 14% 13.2%
2061 14.2% 13.2%
2060 14.4% 13.3%
2059 14.6% 13.4%
2058 14.7% 13.4%
2057 14.9% 13.5%
2056 15.1% 13.6%
2055 15.2% 13.6%
2054 15.3% 13.7%
2053 15.5% 13.8%
2052 15.6% 13.8%
2051 15.6% 13.8%
2050 15.7% 13.9%
2049 15.7% 13.9%
2048 15.7% 13.9%
2047 15.7% 13.9%
2046 15.6% 13.9%
2045 15.6% 13.9%
2044 15.5% 13.9%
2043 15.4% 13.9%
2042 15.3% 13.9%
2041 15.3% 13.9%
2040 15.2% 14%
2039 15.2% 14%
2038 15.1% 14%
2037 15.1% 14%
2036 15.3% 14.1%
2035 15.3% 14.2%
2034 15.5% 14.3%
2033 15.7% 14.4%
2032 15.9% 14.6%
2031 16.1% 14.7%
2030 16.4% 14.9%
2029 16.7% 15.1%
2028 17% 15.3%
2027 17.4% 15.6%
2026 17.9% 15.8%
2025 18.3% 16.1%
2024 18.6% 16.2%
2023 19% 16.5%
2022 19.5% 16.8%
2021 19.8% 17%
2020 20.1% 17.2%
2019 20.4% 17.4%
2018 20.7% 17.6%
2017 20.9% 17.8%
2016 21.2% 17.9%
2015 21.3% 18%
2014 21.4% 18.1%
2013 21.5% 18.3%
2012 21.5% 18.4%
2011 21.4% 18.6%
2010 21.1% 18.8%
2009 20.7% 18.9%
2008 20.5% 19.1%
2007 20.3% 19.3%
2006 20.4% 19.4%
2005 20.6% 19.6%
2004 20.8% 19.8%
2003 21% 19.9%
2002 21.1% 20%
2001 21.4% 20%
2000 21.8% 20%
1999 22.1% 19.9%
1998 22.5% 19.8%
1997 23% 19.7%
1996 23.6% 19.6%
1995 24.2% 19.5%
1994 24.9% 19.4%
1993 25.5% 19.3%
1992 26% 19.1%
1991 26.6% 19%
1990 27.1% 18.9%
1989 27.6% 19%
1988 28.1% 19.1%
1987 28.5% 19.3%
1986 28.9% 19.6%
1985 29.3% 20%
1984 29.6% 20.4%
1983 29.9% 20.9%
1982 30.1% 21.3%
1981 30.3% 21.8%
1980 30.4% 22.2%
1979 30.5% 22.6%
1978 30.7% 22.9%
1977 30.9% 23.3%
1976 31% 23.5%
1975 31.1% 23.8%
1974 31.2% 24%
1973 31.2% 24.2%
1972 31.2% 24.3%
1971 31.2% 24.4%
1970 31.1% 24.5%
1969 31.1% 24.5%
1968 31.1% 24.6%
1967 31.1% 24.7%
1966 31.1% 24.7%
1965 31.1% 24.8%
1964 30.9% 24.8%
1963 30.9% 25%
1962 30.9% 25.2%
1961 31% 25.6%
1960 30.9% 25.9%

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/norway | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 16.2% in Norway in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 18.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and Norway compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Norway

Ireland
Norway
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Ireland Norway
2023 4 1
2022 7 3
2021 6 2
2020 6 2
2019 4 2
2018 5 2
2017 4 2
2016 4 2
2015 5 2
2014 5 2
2013 5 3
2012 6 3
2011 6 4
2010 6 4
2009 6 4
2008 6 5
2007 6 5
2006 6 5
2005 6 6
2004 6 6
2003 6 5
2002 7 5
2001 7 5
2000 8 5
1999 7 5
1998 8 5
1997 8 5
1996 8 6
1995 9 6
1994 9 7
1993 9 7
1992 10 8
1991 10 8
1990 11 9
1989 10 9
1988 11 9
1987 10 9
1986 11 9
1985 11 9

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

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

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 1 deaths in Norway.

Under-five mortality rates

Ireland
Norway

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Ireland Norway
2023 0.38% 0.24%
2022 0.37% 0.23%
2021 0.36% 0.23%
2020 0.35% 0.24%
2019 0.34% 0.24%
2018 0.34% 0.25%
2017 0.35% 0.25%
2016 0.36% 0.26%
2015 0.37% 0.27%
2014 0.38% 0.28%
2013 0.39% 0.29%
2012 0.4% 0.3%
2011 0.41% 0.31%
2010 0.42% 0.33%
2009 0.43% 0.34%
2008 0.44% 0.36%
2007 0.46% 0.37%
2006 0.49% 0.39%
2005 0.52% 0.41%
2004 0.56% 0.42%
2003 0.6% 0.44%
2002 0.65% 0.46%
2001 0.69% 0.47%
2000 0.72% 0.49%
1999 0.73% 0.5%
1998 0.73% 0.51%
1997 0.73% 0.52%
1996 0.73% 0.54%
1995 0.73% 0.57%
1994 0.74% 0.61%
1993 0.77% 0.66%
1992 0.81% 0.72%
1991 0.87% 0.79%
1990 0.92% 0.87%
1989 0.96% 0.93%
1988 0.99% 0.98%
1987 1.02% 1.01%
1986 1.04% 1.02%
1985 1.07% 1.02%
1984 1.11% 1.01%
1983 1.17% 1%
1982 1.23% 0.99%
1981 1.32% 0.99%
1980 1.43% 1.01%
1979 1.56% 1.04%
1978 1.69% 1.09%
1977 1.81% 1.15%
1976 1.91% 1.22%
1975 2% 1.29%
1974 2.06% 1.36%
1973 2.11% 1.43%
1972 2.14% 1.5%
1971 2.17% 1.56%
1970 2.22% 1.62%
1969 2.3% 1.69%
1968 2.41% 1.75%
1967 2.55% 1.82%
1966 2.71% 1.9%
1965 2.87% 1.97%
1964 3.01% 2.04%
1963 3.13% 2.1%
1962 3.25% 2.15%
1961 3.38% 2.21%
1960 3.53% 2.26%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 0.24% in Norway. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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