Fertility & birth rates in Ireland and United Kingdom

Fertility rate in Ireland vs United Kingdom by year

Chart Table

Ireland

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2023	1.5	1.56
2022	1.54	1.56
2021	1.78	1.58
2020	1.63	1.57
2019	1.71	1.63
2018	1.75	1.68
2017	1.77	1.74
2016	1.81	1.79
2015	1.85	1.8
2014	1.89	1.81
2013	1.93	1.83
2012	1.98	1.92
2011	2.03	1.91
2010	2.05	1.92
2009	2.06	1.89
2008	2.06	1.91
2007	2.01	1.86
2006	1.91	1.82
2005	1.86	1.76
2004	1.93	1.75
2003	1.96	1.7
2002	1.97	1.63
2001	1.94	1.63
2000	1.89	1.64
1999	1.9	1.68
1998	1.94	1.71
1997	1.93	1.72
1996	1.88	1.73
1995	1.84	1.71
1994	1.85	1.74
1993	1.9	1.76
1992	1.99	1.79
1991	2.08	1.82
1990	2.11	1.83
1989	2.08	1.79
1988	2.17	1.82
1987	2.32	1.81
1986	2.44	1.78
1985	2.48	1.79
1984	2.58	1.77
1983	2.74	1.77
1982	2.94	1.78
1981	3.05	1.82
1980	3.21	1.9
1979	3.21	1.86
1978	3.21	1.75
1977	3.24	1.69
1976	3.29	1.74
1975	3.37	1.81
1974	3.59	1.92
1973	3.71	2.04
1972	3.84	2.2
1971	3.93	2.41
1970	3.85	2.44
1969	3.83	2.51
1968	3.77	2.6
1967	3.84	2.68
1966	3.94	2.78
1965	4.04	2.86
1964	4.07	2.93
1963	4.01	2.88
1962	3.92	2.86
1961	3.78	2.78
1960	3.78	2.69

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Ireland was 1.5 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.56 in the United Kingdom in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Ireland

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2023	19,652	34,589
2022	19,287	39,751
2021	26,064	30,612
2020	23,687	-4,272
2019	28,365	108,342
2018	29,878	119,321
2017	31,379	145,125
2016	33,339	177,139
2015	35,265	175,738
2014	37,728	206,784
2013	39,302	198,830
2012	42,775	248,473
2011	45,801	259,361
2010	47,426	251,066
2009	47,168	230,422
2008	46,691	216,325
2007	43,109	196,232
2006	36,752	176,455
2005	33,279	144,963
2004	33,376	131,974
2003	32,372	89,471
2002	31,062	65,308
2001	27,837	65,032
2000	23,592	70,671
1999	21,402	64,551
1998	22,277	87,730
1997	21,311	99,138
1996	18,915	98,884
1995	16,601	87,028
1994	17,234	127,304
1993	17,166	103,893
1992	20,283	149,709
1991	21,206	143,562
1990	21,787	154,569
1989	20,012	119,861
1988	22,912	136,628
1987	26,904	136,325
1986	27,963	90,690
1985	29,013	79,170
1984	31,791	84,633
1983	34,053	61,966
1982	38,344	56,314
1981	39,364	73,234
1980	40,612	95,734
1979	38,798	61,872
1978	36,288	16,859
1977	35,448	0
1976	33,676	-5,621
1975	34,128	33,735
1974	34,199	67,476
1973	34,562	112,389
1972	34,316	162,650
1971	35,606	257,123
1970	30,756	244,918
1969	29,326	260,577
1968	27,697	292,622
1967	29,895	346,145
1966	26,866	333,356
1965	30,500	364,132
1964	31,532	405,000
1963	29,667	337,995
1962	28,077	340,800
1961	25,137	311,519
1960	28,286	314,400

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 the United Kingdom.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.58% in Ireland and +0.16% in the United Kingdom.

Birth rate in Ireland vs United Kingdom by year

Chart Table

Ireland

United Kingdom

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2023	10.3	10
2022	10.4	10.1
2021	11.8	10.2
2020	11.1	10.2
2019	11.9	10.6
2018	12.5	11
2017	12.8	11.4
2016	13.4	11.8
2015	13.9	11.9
2014	14.4	12
2013	14.9	12.1
2012	15.6	12.8
2011	16.2	12.8
2010	16.5	12.9
2009	16.7	12.7
2008	16.7	12.9
2007	16.2	12.6
2006	15.3	12.3
2005	14.8	12
2004	15.2	11.9
2003	15.4	11.7
2002	15.4	11.3
2001	15	11.3
2000	14.4	11.5
1999	14.4	11.9
1998	14.5	12.3
1997	14.4	12.5
1996	13.9	12.6
1995	13.5	12.6
1994	13.4	13
1993	13.8	13.2
1992	14.4	13.6
1991	14.9	13.8
1990	15.1	13.9
1989	14.8	13.6
1988	15.5	13.8
1987	16.5	13.7
1986	17.4	13.3
1985	17.6	13.3
1984	18.1	12.9
1983	19.1	12.8
1982	20.3	12.8
1981	20.9	13
1980	21.7	13.4
1979	21.5	13.1
1978	21.1	12.2
1977	21	11.7
1976	20.9	12
1975	21.1	12.4
1974	22	13.1
1973	22.3	13.9
1972	22.6	14.9
1971	22.6	16.1
1970	21.8	16.2
1969	21.5	16.6
1968	20.9	17.2
1967	21.1	17.5
1966	21.5	17.9
1965	22.1	18.3
1964	22.4	18.8
1963	22.2	18.5
1962	21.8	18.3
1961	21.2	17.9
1960	21.5	17.5

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 10.3 in Ireland and 10 in the United Kingdom, compared with 21.5 and 17.5, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Ireland

Factual

UN forecast

United Kingdom

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2100	12.7%	13.4%
2099	12.7%	13.4%
2098	12.8%	13.4%
2097	12.8%	13.5%
2096	12.9%	13.5%
2095	13%	13.6%
2094	13.1%	13.6%
2093	13.2%	13.7%
2092	13.3%	13.7%
2091	13.4%	13.8%
2090	13.4%	13.8%
2089	13.5%	13.8%
2088	13.6%	13.9%
2087	13.7%	13.9%
2086	13.7%	13.9%
2085	13.8%	13.9%
2084	13.8%	13.9%
2083	13.8%	13.9%
2082	13.8%	13.9%
2081	13.8%	13.9%
2080	13.7%	13.9%
2079	13.7%	13.8%
2078	13.6%	13.8%
2077	13.6%	13.8%
2076	13.5%	13.8%
2075	13.5%	13.8%
2074	13.4%	13.8%
2073	13.4%	13.8%
2072	13.4%	13.8%
2071	13.3%	13.8%
2070	13.3%	13.8%
2069	13.4%	13.8%
2068	13.4%	13.9%
2067	13.5%	13.9%
2066	13.5%	14%
2065	13.6%	14.1%
2064	13.8%	14.2%
2063	13.9%	14.3%
2062	14%	14.4%
2061	14.2%	14.5%
2060	14.4%	14.5%
2059	14.6%	14.6%
2058	14.7%	14.7%
2057	14.9%	14.8%
2056	15.1%	14.9%
2055	15.2%	15%
2054	15.3%	15%
2053	15.5%	15%
2052	15.6%	15.1%
2051	15.6%	15.1%
2050	15.7%	15.1%
2049	15.7%	15%
2048	15.7%	15%
2047	15.7%	15%
2046	15.6%	14.9%
2045	15.6%	14.9%
2044	15.5%	14.9%
2043	15.4%	14.8%
2042	15.3%	14.8%
2041	15.3%	14.8%
2040	15.2%	14.8%
2039	15.2%	14.8%
2038	15.1%	14.9%
2037	15.1%	14.9%
2036	15.3%	14.9%
2035	15.3%	15%
2034	15.5%	15.1%
2033	15.7%	15.3%
2032	15.9%	15.4%
2031	16.1%	15.6%
2030	16.4%	15.9%
2029	16.7%	16.1%
2028	17%	16.3%
2027	17.4%	16.6%
2026	17.9%	16.8%
2025	18.3%	17.1%
2024	18.6%	17.2%
2023	19%	17.4%
2022	19.5%	17.6%
2021	19.8%	17.8%
2020	20.1%	18%
2019	20.4%	18%
2018	20.7%	18.1%
2017	20.9%	18%
2016	21.2%	18%
2015	21.3%	17.9%
2014	21.4%	17.8%
2013	21.5%	17.8%
2012	21.5%	17.8%
2011	21.4%	17.7%
2010	21.1%	17.8%
2009	20.7%	17.8%
2008	20.5%	17.8%
2007	20.3%	17.9%
2006	20.4%	18%
2005	20.6%	18.2%
2004	20.8%	18.3%
2003	21%	18.4%
2002	21.1%	18.5%
2001	21.4%	18.7%
2000	21.8%	18.9%
1999	22.1%	19.2%
1998	22.5%	19.3%
1997	23%	19.3%
1996	23.6%	19.4%
1995	24.2%	19.5%
1994	24.9%	19.6%
1993	25.5%	19.5%
1992	26%	19.4%
1991	26.6%	19.3%
1990	27.1%	19.1%
1989	27.6%	19.1%
1988	28.1%	18.9%
1987	28.5%	18.9%
1986	28.9%	19.1%
1985	29.3%	19.3%
1984	29.6%	19.5%
1983	29.9%	19.8%
1982	30.1%	20.2%
1981	30.3%	20.6%
1980	30.4%	21%
1979	30.5%	21.4%
1978	30.7%	21.9%
1977	30.9%	22.4%
1976	31%	22.9%
1975	31.1%	23.3%
1974	31.2%	23.6%
1973	31.2%	23.9%
1972	31.2%	24%
1971	31.2%	24.1%
1970	31.1%	24.1%
1969	31.1%	24%
1968	31.1%	23.9%
1967	31.1%	23.7%
1966	31.1%	23.5%
1965	31.1%	23.4%
1964	30.9%	23.3%
1963	30.9%	23.2%
1962	30.9%	23.2%
1961	31%	23.3%
1960	30.9%	23.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 18.6% of the population in Ireland and 17.2% in the United Kingdom in 2024, compared to 27.1% and 19.1% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Ireland and the United Kingdom compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Ireland vs United Kingdom

Chart Table

Ireland

United Kingdom

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2023	4	8
2022	7	15
2021	6	13
2020	6	14
2019	4	9
2018	5	9
2017	4	9
2016	4	9
2015	5	9
2014	5	9
2013	5	9
2012	6	9
2011	6	10
2010	6	10
2009	6	11
2008	6	11
2007	6	11
2006	6	12
2005	6	12
2004	6	13
2003	6	14
2002	7	13
2001	7	13
2000	8	12
1999	7	11
1998	8	10
1997	8	9
1996	8	8
1995	9	9
1994	9	9
1993	9	8
1992	10	7
1991	10	7
1990	11	6
1989	10	5
1988	11	4
1987	10	3
1986	11	2
1985	11	2

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 8 deaths in the United Kingdom.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Ireland

United Kingdom

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Ireland	United Kingdom
2023	0.38%	0.45%
2022	0.37%	0.45%
2021	0.36%	0.44%
2020	0.35%	0.44%
2019	0.34%	0.44%
2018	0.34%	0.44%
2017	0.35%	0.44%
2016	0.36%	0.44%
2015	0.37%	0.45%
2014	0.38%	0.45%
2013	0.39%	0.46%
2012	0.4%	0.48%
2011	0.41%	0.5%
2010	0.42%	0.52%
2009	0.43%	0.54%
2008	0.44%	0.56%
2007	0.46%	0.58%
2006	0.49%	0.59%
2005	0.52%	0.6%
2004	0.56%	0.61%
2003	0.6%	0.63%
2002	0.65%	0.63%
2001	0.69%	0.64%
2000	0.72%	0.65%
1999	0.73%	0.67%
1998	0.73%	0.68%
1997	0.73%	0.69%
1996	0.73%	0.7%
1995	0.73%	0.72%
1994	0.74%	0.74%
1993	0.77%	0.77%
1992	0.81%	0.82%
1991	0.87%	0.87%
1990	0.92%	0.93%
1989	0.96%	0.99%
1988	0.99%	1.04%
1987	1.02%	1.08%
1986	1.04%	1.11%
1985	1.07%	1.14%
1984	1.11%	1.17%
1983	1.17%	1.22%
1982	1.23%	1.27%
1981	1.32%	1.34%
1980	1.43%	1.41%
1979	1.56%	1.49%
1978	1.69%	1.57%
1977	1.81%	1.64%
1976	1.91%	1.72%
1975	2%	1.8%
1974	2.06%	1.87%
1973	2.11%	1.94%
1972	2.14%	2%
1971	2.17%	2.06%
1970	2.22%	2.1%
1969	2.3%	2.14%
1968	2.41%	2.18%
1967	2.55%	2.22%
1966	2.71%	2.28%
1965	2.87%	2.34%
1964	3.01%	2.42%
1963	3.13%	2.49%
1962	3.25%	2.56%
1961	3.38%	2.61%
1960	3.53%	2.66%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.38% in Ireland and 0.45% in the United Kingdom. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.