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Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and Saudi Arabia

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has an annual birth rate of 10.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 16.4 for Saudi Arabia. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Ireland and 2.28 in Saudi Arabia — 52% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 60.3% in Ireland and by 70.1% in Saudi Arabia — in 1960, it was 3.78 and 7.63, respectively.

  • Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate compared to 92/196 for Saudi Arabia.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7 in Ireland — it's 30.3 in Saudi Arabia.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 4.07 in Ireland vs 11.1 in Saudi Arabia.
  • In Ireland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 23% in Saudi Arabia.

Fertility rate in Ireland vs Saudi Arabia by year

Ireland
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2023 1.5 2.28
2022 1.54 2.14
2021 1.78 2.17
2020 1.63 2.27
2019 1.71 2.49
2018 1.75 2.67
2017 1.77 2.67
2016 1.81 2.65
2015 1.85 2.63
2014 1.89 2.68
2013 1.93 2.67
2012 1.98 2.78
2011 2.03 2.8
2010 2.05 2.81
2009 2.06 2.95
2008 2.06 3.07
2007 2.01 3.19
2006 1.91 3.18
2005 1.86 3.16
2004 1.93 3.26
2003 1.96 3.47
2002 1.97 3.71
2001 1.94 3.96
2000 1.89 4.21
1999 1.9 4.35
1998 1.94 4.52
1997 1.93 4.66
1996 1.88 4.81
1995 1.84 4.99
1994 1.85 5.16
1993 1.9 5.33
1992 1.99 5.49
1991 2.08 5.64
1990 2.11 5.8
1989 2.08 5.98
1988 2.17 6.15
1987 2.32 6.34
1986 2.44 6.52
1985 2.48 6.65
1984 2.58 6.78
1983 2.74 6.88
1982 2.94 6.98
1981 3.05 7.07
1980 3.21 7.15
1979 3.21 7.23
1978 3.21 7.26
1977 3.24 7.3
1976 3.29 7.33
1975 3.37 7.37
1974 3.59 7.43
1973 3.71 7.48
1972 3.84 7.54
1971 3.93 7.56
1970 3.85 7.58
1969 3.83 7.6
1968 3.77 7.63
1967 3.84 7.66
1966 3.94 7.66
1965 4.04 7.66
1964 4.07 7.67
1963 4.01 7.65
1962 3.92 7.64
1961 3.78 7.63
1960 3.78 7.63

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/saudi-arabia | 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 2.28 in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Ireland
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Natural population change
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2023 19,652 474,366
2022 19,287 406,920
2021 26,064 409,032
2020 23,687 447,036
2019 28,365 474,407
2018 29,878 528,767
2017 31,379 546,751
2016 33,339 537,829
2015 35,265 511,023
2014 37,728 493,431
2013 39,302 475,299
2012 42,775 465,649
2011 45,801 443,675
2010 47,426 418,641
2009 47,168 438,557
2008 46,691 433,457
2007 43,109 425,199
2006 36,752 399,333
2005 33,279 375,938
2004 33,376 362,843
2003 32,372 364,520
2002 31,062 372,099
2001 27,837 382,153
2000 23,592 392,407
1999 21,402 390,112
1998 22,277 389,499
1997 21,311 385,033
1996 18,915 382,248
1995 16,601 380,231
1994 17,234 377,351
1993 17,166 372,621
1992 20,283 366,763
1991 21,206 361,329
1990 21,787 355,495
1989 20,012 349,399
1988 22,912 342,865
1987 26,904 333,088
1986 27,963 322,340
1985 29,013 310,558
1984 31,791 296,615
1983 34,053 280,616
1982 38,344 264,831
1981 39,364 249,156
1980 40,612 234,372
1979 38,798 220,186
1978 36,288 205,331
1977 35,448 191,103
1976 33,676 178,024
1975 34,128 166,223
1974 34,199 155,478
1973 34,562 145,450
1972 34,316 136,360
1971 35,606 127,600
1970 30,756 120,440
1969 29,326 113,859
1968 27,697 108,281
1967 29,895 103,343
1966 26,866 98,361
1965 30,500 93,820
1964 31,532 89,776
1963 29,667 85,480
1962 28,077 81,393
1961 25,137 77,743
1960 28,286 74,143

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/saudi-arabia | 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 +1.41% in Saudi Arabia.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +1.57% in Saudi Arabia.

Birth rate in Ireland vs Saudi Arabia by year

Ireland
Saudi Arabia

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2023 10.3 16.4
2022 10.4 15.2
2021 11.8 15.9
2020 11.1 16.6
2019 11.9 18.1
2018 12.5 19.7
2017 12.8 19.8
2016 13.4 19.6
2015 13.9 19.4
2014 14.4 19.8
2013 14.9 19.7
2012 15.6 20.4
2011 16.2 20.3
2010 16.5 20.1
2009 16.7 20.8
2008 16.7 21.3
2007 16.2 21.7
2006 15.3 21.4
2005 14.8 21.1
2004 15.2 21.3
2003 15.4 22.3
2002 15.4 23.8
2001 15 25.5
2000 14.4 27.5
1999 14.4 28.5
1998 14.5 29.5
1997 14.4 30.3
1996 13.9 31.2
1995 13.5 32.3
1994 13.4 33.4
1993 13.8 34.5
1992 14.4 35.5
1991 14.9 36.7
1990 15.1 38
1989 14.8 39.3
1988 15.5 40.7
1987 16.5 41.9
1986 17.4 43.1
1985 17.6 44.2
1984 18.1 45
1983 19.1 45.6
1982 20.3 46.1
1981 20.9 46.6
1980 21.7 47.1
1979 21.5 47.5
1978 21.1 47.5
1977 21 47.5
1976 20.9 47.6
1975 21.1 47.7
1974 22 47.8
1973 22.3 48
1972 22.6 48.3
1971 22.6 48.4
1970 21.8 48.7
1969 21.5 48.9
1968 20.9 49.3
1967 21.1 49.8
1966 21.5 50.1
1965 22.1 50.4
1964 22.4 50.8
1963 22.2 51
1962 21.8 51.1
1961 21.2 51.4
1960 21.5 51.5

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 16.4 in Saudi Arabia, compared with 21.5 and 51.5, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Ireland Saudi Arabia
Fertility rate 1.5 2.28
Fertility rate rank 145/196 83/196
Birth rate 10.3 16.4
Birth rate rank 142/196 92/196
Population change due to births and deaths +19,652 +474,366
Natural population change rank 109/196 38/196
Natural population change rate +0.37% +1.41%
Population growth +1.59% +4.74%
Population growth rank 68/197 4/197
Age at first childbirth 31.6 years n/a
Average age at childbearing 32.7 years 30.3 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 4.15 10.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 42.8 113.4
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.9 45.5
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 23%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70.9% 32.9%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.7% 94.8%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.007%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.25% 0.3%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 0.49%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.38% 0.62%
Life expectancy 82.9 years 79.4 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
Saudi Arabia
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2100 12.7% 17.3%
2099 12.7% 17.3%
2098 12.8% 17.3%
2097 12.8% 17.3%
2096 12.9% 17.3%
2095 13% 17.3%
2094 13.1% 17.4%
2093 13.2% 17.4%
2092 13.3% 17.4%
2091 13.4% 17.4%
2090 13.4% 17.4%
2089 13.5% 17.5%
2088 13.6% 17.5%
2087 13.7% 17.5%
2086 13.7% 17.6%
2085 13.8% 17.6%
2084 13.8% 17.7%
2083 13.8% 17.7%
2082 13.8% 17.7%
2081 13.8% 17.8%
2080 13.7% 17.8%
2079 13.7% 17.9%
2078 13.6% 17.9%
2077 13.6% 18%
2076 13.5% 18%
2075 13.5% 18.1%
2074 13.4% 18.2%
2073 13.4% 18.2%
2072 13.4% 18.3%
2071 13.3% 18.3%
2070 13.3% 18.4%
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% 18.7%
2063 13.9% 18.8%
2062 14% 18.9%
2061 14.2% 19%
2060 14.4% 19%
2059 14.6% 19.1%
2058 14.7% 19.2%
2057 14.9% 19.3%
2056 15.1% 19.4%
2055 15.2% 19.5%
2054 15.3% 19.6%
2053 15.5% 19.8%
2052 15.6% 19.9%
2051 15.6% 20%
2050 15.7% 20.1%
2049 15.7% 20.3%
2048 15.7% 20.4%
2047 15.7% 20.6%
2046 15.6% 20.7%
2045 15.6% 20.9%
2044 15.5% 21.1%
2043 15.4% 21.2%
2042 15.3% 21.4%
2041 15.3% 21.6%
2040 15.2% 21.8%
2039 15.2% 22%
2038 15.1% 22.1%
2037 15.1% 22.1%
2036 15.3% 22.2%
2035 15.3% 22.2%
2034 15.5% 22.3%
2033 15.7% 22.4%
2032 15.9% 22.5%
2031 16.1% 22.7%
2030 16.4% 22.8%
2029 16.7% 23%
2028 17% 23.2%
2027 17.4% 23.3%
2026 17.9% 23.5%
2025 18.3% 23.7%
2024 18.6% 23.8%
2023 19% 24.1%
2022 19.5% 24.6%
2021 19.8% 25.2%
2020 20.1% 25.5%
2019 20.4% 25.8%
2018 20.7% 25.7%
2017 20.9% 25.2%
2016 21.2% 24.9%
2015 21.3% 25.1%
2014 21.4% 25.4%
2013 21.5% 25.8%
2012 21.5% 26.3%
2011 21.4% 26.9%
2010 21.1% 27.6%
2009 20.7% 28.5%
2008 20.5% 29.5%
2007 20.3% 30.6%
2006 20.4% 31.9%
2005 20.6% 33.2%
2004 20.8% 34.5%
2003 21% 35.7%
2002 21.1% 36.8%
2001 21.4% 37.7%
2000 21.8% 38.3%
1999 22.1% 38.9%
1998 22.5% 39.5%
1997 23% 40.1%
1996 23.6% 40.7%
1995 24.2% 41.2%
1994 24.9% 41.7%
1993 25.5% 42.1%
1992 26% 42.4%
1991 26.6% 42.7%
1990 27.1% 43%
1989 27.6% 43.2%
1988 28.1% 43.3%
1987 28.5% 43.4%
1986 28.9% 43.5%
1985 29.3% 43.6%
1984 29.6% 43.6%
1983 29.9% 43.7%
1982 30.1% 43.8%
1981 30.3% 43.9%
1980 30.4% 44.1%
1979 30.5% 44.2%
1978 30.7% 44.3%
1977 30.9% 44.5%
1976 31% 44.6%
1975 31.1% 44.8%
1974 31.2% 45%
1973 31.2% 45.2%
1972 31.2% 45.3%
1971 31.2% 45.5%
1970 31.1% 45.5%
1969 31.1% 45.5%
1968 31.1% 45.4%
1967 31.1% 45.3%
1966 31.1% 45.1%
1965 31.1% 44.8%
1964 30.9% 44.6%
1963 30.9% 44.3%
1962 30.9% 43.9%
1961 31% 43.6%
1960 30.9% 43.4%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 23.8% in Saudi Arabia in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 43% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and Saudi Arabia compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Saudi Arabia

Ireland
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2023 4 7
2022 7 9
2021 6 12
2020 6 11
2019 4 8
2018 5 8
2017 4 8
2016 4 8
2015 5 8
2014 5 8
2013 5 9
2012 6 9
2011 6 10
2010 6 11
2009 6 11
2008 6 12
2007 6 13
2006 6 14
2005 6 15
2004 6 16
2003 6 16
2002 7 18
2001 7 19
2000 8 20
1999 7 21
1998 8 22
1997 8 23
1996 8 23
1995 9 24
1994 9 25
1993 9 26
1992 10 27
1991 10 29
1990 11 30
1989 10 32
1988 11 34
1987 10 36
1986 11 38
1985 11 40

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/saudi-arabia | 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 7 deaths in Saudi Arabia.

Under-five mortality rates

Ireland
Saudi Arabia

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Ireland Saudi Arabia
2023 0.38% 0.62%
2022 0.37% 0.64%
2021 0.36% 0.66%
2020 0.35% 0.69%
2019 0.34% 0.72%
2018 0.34% 0.76%
2017 0.35% 0.8%
2016 0.36% 0.85%
2015 0.37% 0.9%
2014 0.38% 0.96%
2013 0.39% 1.02%
2012 0.4% 1.08%
2011 0.41% 1.15%
2010 0.42% 1.22%
2009 0.43% 1.3%
2008 0.44% 1.38%
2007 0.46% 1.47%
2006 0.49% 1.56%
2005 0.52% 1.65%
2004 0.56% 1.75%
2003 0.6% 1.85%
2002 0.65% 1.96%
2001 0.69% 2.08%
2000 0.72% 2.21%
1999 0.73% 2.35%
1998 0.73% 2.5%
1997 0.73% 2.67%
1996 0.73% 2.86%
1995 0.73% 3.06%
1994 0.74% 3.29%
1993 0.77% 3.54%
1992 0.81% 3.81%
1991 0.87% 4.11%
1990 0.92% 4.44%
1989 0.96% 4.8%
1988 0.99% 5.19%
1987 1.02% 5.62%
1986 1.04% 6.07%
1985 1.07% 6.55%
1984 1.11% 7.04%
1983 1.17% 7.56%
1982 1.23% 8.12%
1981 1.32% 8.71%
1980 1.43% 9.34%
1979 1.56% 9.99%
1978 1.69% 10.7%
1977 1.81% 11.4%
1976 1.91% 12.2%
1975 2% 13.1%
1974 2.06% 14%
1973 2.11% 14.9%
1972 2.14% 16%
1971 2.17% -
1970 2.22% -
1969 2.3% -
1968 2.41% -
1967 2.55% -
1966 2.71% -
1965 2.87% -
1964 3.01% -
1963 3.13% -
1962 3.25% -
1961 3.38% -
1960 3.53% -

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 0.62% in Saudi Arabia. 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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