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Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and Sweden

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has an annual birth rate of 10.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 9.5 for Sweden. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 1.5 in Ireland and 1.45 in Sweden — 3.33% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 60.3% in Ireland and by 33.2% in Sweden — in 1960, it was 3.78 and 2.17, respectively.

  • Ireland is ranked 142/196 by birth rate compared to 153/196 for Sweden.
  • The mean age for first-time mothers is 31.6 years in Ireland, compared to 30 years in Sweden.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 32.7 in Ireland — it's 31.7 in Sweden.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 4.07 in Ireland vs 1.79 in Sweden.
  • In Ireland, 23.7% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.3% in Sweden.

Fertility rate in Ireland vs Sweden by year

Ireland
Sweden
1x
Year Fertility rate
Ireland Sweden
2023 1.5 1.45
2022 1.54 1.53
2021 1.78 1.67
2020 1.63 1.67
2019 1.71 1.71
2018 1.75 1.76
2017 1.77 1.78
2016 1.81 1.85
2015 1.85 1.85
2014 1.89 1.88
2013 1.93 1.89
2012 1.98 1.91
2011 2.03 1.9
2010 2.05 1.98
2009 2.06 1.94
2008 2.06 1.91
2007 2.01 1.88
2006 1.91 1.85
2005 1.86 1.77
2004 1.93 1.75
2003 1.96 1.71
2002 1.97 1.65
2001 1.94 1.57
2000 1.89 1.54
1999 1.9 1.5
1998 1.94 1.5
1997 1.93 1.52
1996 1.88 1.6
1995 1.84 1.73
1994 1.85 1.88
1993 1.9 1.99
1992 1.99 2.09
1991 2.08 2.11
1990 2.11 2.13
1989 2.08 2.01
1988 2.17 1.96
1987 2.32 1.84
1986 2.44 1.8
1985 2.48 1.74
1984 2.58 1.66
1983 2.74 1.61
1982 2.94 1.62
1981 3.05 1.63
1980 3.21 1.68
1979 3.21 1.66
1978 3.21 1.6
1977 3.24 1.64
1976 3.29 1.68
1975 3.37 1.77
1974 3.59 1.87
1973 3.71 1.87
1972 3.84 1.91
1971 3.93 1.96
1970 3.85 1.92
1969 3.83 1.93
1968 3.77 2.07
1967 3.84 2.28
1966 3.94 2.37
1965 4.04 2.39
1964 4.07 2.47
1963 4.01 2.33
1962 3.92 2.25
1961 3.78 2.21
1960 3.78 2.17

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/sweden | 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 1.45 in Sweden in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Ireland
Sweden
1x
Year Natural population change
Ireland Sweden
2023 19,652 5,269
2022 19,287 10,487
2021 26,064 22,914
2020 23,687 14,495
2019 28,365 25,697
2018 29,878 23,403
2017 31,379 24,138
2016 33,339 25,800
2015 35,265 23,518
2014 37,728 26,179
2013 39,302 23,041
2012 42,775 20,943
2011 45,801 21,733
2010 47,426 25,320
2009 47,168 21,387
2008 46,691 18,439
2007 43,109 15,552
2006 36,752 15,436
2005 33,279 9,030
2004 33,376 9,893
2003 32,372 6,271
2002 31,062 893
2001 27,837 -1,779
2000 23,592 -2,662
1999 21,402 -6,201
1998 22,277 -3,541
1997 21,311 -3,539
1996 18,915 1,768
1995 16,601 9,710
1994 17,234 20,196
1993 17,166 20,924
1992 20,283 28,605
1991 21,206 29,299
1990 21,787 29,100
1989 20,012 24,629
1988 22,912 15,186
1987 26,904 11,757
1986 27,963 9,206
1985 29,013 4,175
1984 31,791 3,335
1983 34,053 833
1982 38,344 1,665
1981 39,364 1,664
1980 40,612 5,818
1979 38,798 4,976
1978 36,288 4,138
1977 35,448 7,426
1976 33,676 8,222
1975 34,128 14,746
1974 34,199 23,664
1973 34,562 24,409
1972 34,316 28,428
1971 35,606 31,583
1970 30,756 30,563
1969 29,326 23,904
1968 27,697 30,858
1967 29,895 41,700
1966 26,866 45,286
1965 30,500 44,857
1964 31,532 45,968
1963 29,667 35,741
1962 28,077 30,246
1961 25,137 30,832
1960 28,286 27,693

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/sweden | 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 +0.05% in Sweden.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +0.2% in Sweden.

Birth rate in Ireland vs Sweden by year

Ireland
Sweden

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Ireland Sweden
2023 10.3 9.5
2022 10.4 10
2021 11.8 11
2020 11.1 10.9
2019 11.9 11.1
2018 12.5 11.4
2017 12.8 11.5
2016 13.4 11.8
2015 13.9 11.7
2014 14.4 11.9
2013 14.9 11.8
2012 15.6 11.9
2011 16.2 11.8
2010 16.5 12.3
2009 16.7 12
2008 16.7 11.9
2007 16.2 11.7
2006 15.3 11.7
2005 14.8 11.2
2004 15.2 11.2
2003 15.4 11.1
2002 15.4 10.7
2001 15 10.3
2000 14.4 10.2
1999 14.4 10
1998 14.5 10.1
1997 14.4 10.2
1996 13.9 10.8
1995 13.5 11.7
1994 13.4 12.8
1993 13.8 13.5
1992 14.4 14.2
1991 14.9 14.4
1990 15.1 14.5
1989 14.8 13.7
1988 15.5 13.3
1987 16.5 12.5
1986 17.4 12.2
1985 17.6 11.8
1984 18.1 11.3
1983 19.1 11
1982 20.3 11.1
1981 20.9 11.3
1980 21.7 11.7
1979 21.5 11.6
1978 21.1 11.3
1977 21 11.6
1976 20.9 12
1975 21.1 12.6
1974 22 13.5
1973 22.3 13.5
1972 22.6 13.8
1971 22.6 14.1
1970 21.8 13.7
1969 21.5 13.5
1968 20.9 14.3
1967 21.1 15.4
1966 21.5 15.8
1965 22.1 15.9
1964 22.4 16
1963 22.2 14.8
1962 21.8 14.2
1961 21.2 13.9
1960 21.5 13.7

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

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

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 9.5 in Sweden, compared with 21.5 and 13.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Ireland Sweden
Fertility rate 1.5 1.45
Fertility rate rank 145/196 156/196
Birth rate 10.3 9.5
Birth rate rank 142/196 153/196
Population change due to births and deaths +19,652 +5,269
Natural population change rank 109/196 125/196
Natural population change rate +0.37% +0.05%
Population growth +1.59% +0.31%
Population growth rank 68/197 149/197
Age at first childbirth 31.6 years 30 years
Average age at childbearing 32.7 years 31.7 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 4.15 1.6
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 42.8 53.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.9 18.2
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 23.7% 21.3%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 70.9% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 99.7% 100%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.004% 0.004%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 0.25% 0.14%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 0.34% 0.2%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 0.38% 0.25%
Life expectancy 82.9 years 83.7 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Ireland
Factual

UN forecast
Sweden
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Ireland Sweden
2100 12.7% 13%
2099 12.7% 13%
2098 12.8% 13.1%
2097 12.8% 13.1%
2096 12.9% 13.2%
2095 13% 13.2%
2094 13.1% 13.3%
2093 13.2% 13.3%
2092 13.3% 13.4%
2091 13.4% 13.4%
2090 13.4% 13.5%
2089 13.5% 13.5%
2088 13.6% 13.5%
2087 13.7% 13.5%
2086 13.7% 13.6%
2085 13.8% 13.6%
2084 13.8% 13.5%
2083 13.8% 13.5%
2082 13.8% 13.5%
2081 13.8% 13.4%
2080 13.7% 13.4%
2079 13.7% 13.3%
2078 13.6% 13.3%
2077 13.6% 13.2%
2076 13.5% 13.2%
2075 13.5% 13.2%
2074 13.4% 13.1%
2073 13.4% 13.1%
2072 13.4% 13.1%
2071 13.3% 13.1%
2070 13.3% 13.1%
2069 13.4% 13.1%
2068 13.4% 13.2%
2067 13.5% 13.2%
2066 13.5% 13.3%
2065 13.6% 13.4%
2064 13.8% 13.5%
2063 13.9% 13.6%
2062 14% 13.7%
2061 14.2% 13.8%
2060 14.4% 13.9%
2059 14.6% 14.1%
2058 14.7% 14.2%
2057 14.9% 14.2%
2056 15.1% 14.3%
2055 15.2% 14.4%
2054 15.3% 14.4%
2053 15.5% 14.4%
2052 15.6% 14.4%
2051 15.6% 14.4%
2050 15.7% 14.4%
2049 15.7% 14.3%
2048 15.7% 14.3%
2047 15.7% 14.2%
2046 15.6% 14.1%
2045 15.6% 14%
2044 15.5% 14%
2043 15.4% 13.9%
2042 15.3% 13.8%
2041 15.3% 13.8%
2040 15.2% 13.8%
2039 15.2% 13.8%
2038 15.1% 13.8%
2037 15.1% 13.8%
2036 15.3% 14%
2035 15.3% 14.2%
2034 15.5% 14.4%
2033 15.7% 14.7%
2032 15.9% 14.9%
2031 16.1% 15.2%
2030 16.4% 15.5%
2029 16.7% 15.8%
2028 17% 16%
2027 17.4% 16.3%
2026 17.9% 16.6%
2025 18.3% 16.9%
2024 18.6% 17%
2023 19% 17.2%
2022 19.5% 17.5%
2021 19.8% 17.7%
2020 20.1% 17.7%
2019 20.4% 17.8%
2018 20.7% 17.8%
2017 20.9% 17.7%
2016 21.2% 17.5%
2015 21.3% 17.3%
2014 21.4% 17.2%
2013 21.5% 17%
2012 21.5% 16.8%
2011 21.4% 16.7%
2010 21.1% 16.6%
2009 20.7% 16.6%
2008 20.5% 16.7%
2007 20.3% 16.9%
2006 20.4% 17.1%
2005 20.6% 17.4%
2004 20.8% 17.7%
2003 21% 17.9%
2002 21.1% 18.1%
2001 21.4% 18.3%
2000 21.8% 18.4%
1999 22.1% 18.6%
1998 22.5% 18.7%
1997 23% 18.7%
1996 23.6% 18.8%
1995 24.2% 18.9%
1994 24.9% 18.8%
1993 25.5% 18.6%
1992 26% 18.4%
1991 26.6% 18.1%
1990 27.1% 17.9%
1989 27.6% 17.8%
1988 28.1% 17.8%
1987 28.5% 17.9%
1986 28.9% 18%
1985 29.3% 18.2%
1984 29.6% 18.3%
1983 29.9% 18.6%
1982 30.1% 18.9%
1981 30.3% 19.2%
1980 30.4% 19.6%
1979 30.5% 19.9%
1978 30.7% 20.3%
1977 30.9% 20.5%
1976 31% 20.6%
1975 31.1% 20.7%
1974 31.2% 20.7%
1973 31.2% 20.7%
1972 31.2% 20.8%
1971 31.2% 20.8%
1970 31.1% 20.8%
1969 31.1% 20.9%
1968 31.1% 20.9%
1967 31.1% 21%
1966 31.1% 20.9%
1965 31.1% 20.9%
1964 30.9% 21%
1963 30.9% 21.2%
1962 30.9% 21.5%
1961 31% 22%
1960 30.9% 22.4%

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/sweden | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 17% in Sweden in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 17.9% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and Sweden compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

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

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs Sweden

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

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ireland/sweden | 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 4 deaths in Sweden.

Under-five mortality rates

Ireland
Sweden

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Ireland Sweden
2023 0.38% 0.25%
2022 0.37% 0.25%
2021 0.36% 0.25%
2020 0.35% 0.26%
2019 0.34% 0.26%
2018 0.34% 0.27%
2017 0.35% 0.28%
2016 0.36% 0.28%
2015 0.37% 0.29%
2014 0.38% 0.29%
2013 0.39% 0.29%
2012 0.4% 0.3%
2011 0.41% 0.3%
2010 0.42% 0.31%
2009 0.43% 0.31%
2008 0.44% 0.32%
2007 0.46% 0.33%
2006 0.49% 0.35%
2005 0.52% 0.36%
2004 0.56% 0.37%
2003 0.6% 0.39%
2002 0.65% 0.4%
2001 0.69% 0.4%
2000 0.72% 0.41%
1999 0.73% 0.41%
1998 0.73% 0.42%
1997 0.73% 0.44%
1996 0.73% 0.46%
1995 0.73% 0.48%
1994 0.74% 0.52%
1993 0.77% 0.57%
1992 0.81% 0.62%
1991 0.87% 0.66%
1990 0.92% 0.7%
1989 0.96% 0.72%
1988 0.99% 0.73%
1987 1.02% 0.74%
1986 1.04% 0.75%
1985 1.07% 0.76%
1984 1.11% 0.77%
1983 1.17% 0.78%
1982 1.23% 0.8%
1981 1.32% 0.82%
1980 1.43% 0.84%
1979 1.56% 0.87%
1978 1.69% 0.9%
1977 1.81% 0.94%
1976 1.91% 0.98%
1975 2% 1.03%
1974 2.06% 1.09%
1973 2.11% 1.16%
1972 2.14% 1.23%
1971 2.17% 1.29%
1970 2.22% 1.34%
1969 2.3% 1.39%
1968 2.41% 1.44%
1967 2.55% 1.49%
1966 2.71% 1.56%
1965 2.87% 1.63%
1964 3.01% 1.71%
1963 3.13% 1.79%
1962 3.25% 1.86%
1961 3.38% 1.92%
1960 3.53% 1.96%

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

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

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 0.25% in Sweden. 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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