Infant mortality rates in Ireland

Ireland: Infant mortality rates was 1.8 Rate in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
1.8 Rate
Change on year
down 18.2%
World rank
29th
of 59 countries
All-time high
16.1 Rate
in 1960
All-time low
1.8 Rate
in 2007
Years of data
55
1960–2016

Infant mortality rates in Ireland, 1960–2016

051015196019882016

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Rate.

Analysis

Ireland recorded 1.8 Rate for infant mortality rates in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.

That represents a change of down 18.2% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, infant mortality rates in Ireland peaked at 16.1 Rate in 1960 and was at its lowest, 1.8 Rate, in 2007.

Ireland ranks 29th of 59 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Infant mortality rates in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Infant mortality rates in Ireland, 1960 to 2016.
Year Rate Change
1960 16.1 Rate —
1961 15.7 Rate -2.5%
1962 15 Rate -4.5%
1963 14.1 Rate -6.0%
1964 14.8 Rate +5.0%
1965 13.6 Rate -8.1%
1966 13 Rate -4.4%
1967 12.1 Rate -6.9%
1968 11.7 Rate -3.3%
1969 12 Rate +2.6%
1970 10.6 Rate -11.7%
1971 10 Rate -5.7%
1972 10.3 Rate +3.0%
1973 11.1 Rate +7.8%
1974 9.7 Rate -12.6%
1975 10.3 Rate +6.2%
1976 8.7 Rate -15.5%
1977 8.4 Rate -3.4%
1978 8.4 Rate +0.0%
1979 7.7 Rate -8.3%
1980 5.8 Rate -24.7%
1981 5.2 Rate -10.3%
1982 5.6 Rate +7.7%
1983 5.1 Rate -8.9%
1984 5.3 Rate +3.9%
1985 4.2 Rate -20.8%
1986 4.1 Rate -2.4%
1987 3.3 Rate -19.5%
1988 4.4 Rate +33.3%
1989 4.1 Rate -6.8%
1990 4.1 Rate +0.0%
1991 3.8 Rate -7.3%
1992 3.7 Rate -2.6%
1993 3.2 Rate -13.5%
1994 3.2 Rate +0.0%
1995 3.8 Rate +18.7%
1996 3.5 Rate -7.9%
1997 2.7 Rate -22.9%
1998 3.4 Rate +25.9%
1999 3.2 Rate -5.9%
2000 3.1 Rate -3.1%
2001 3.1 Rate +0.0%
2002 3 Rate -3.2%
2003 3 Rate +0.0%
2004 2.7 Rate -10.0%
2005 2.1 Rate -22.2%
2006 2.1 Rate +0.0%
2007 1.8 Rate -14.3%
2009 1.8 Rate +0.0%
2010 2.1 Rate +16.7%
2011 2 Rate -4.8%
2013 2.2 Rate +10.0%
2014 1.8 Rate -18.2%
2015 2.2 Rate +22.2%
2016 1.8 Rate -18.2%

Ireland compared with similar countries

  • Ireland's 1.8 Rate is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.8 Rate, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • Ireland's 1.8 Rate is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.7 Rate, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 13.81 Rate 11.7 Rate 16.1 Rate 10
1970s 9.52 Rate 7.7 Rate 11.1 Rate 10
1980s 4.71 Rate 3.3 Rate 5.8 Rate 10
1990s 3.46 Rate 2.7 Rate 4.1 Rate 10
2000s 2.52 Rate 1.8 Rate 3.1 Rate 9
2010s 2.02 Rate 1.8 Rate 2.2 Rate 6

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 27 Slovakia 1.9 Rate compare
  2. 27 Slovakia 1.9 Rate compare
  3. 29 Andorra 1.8 Rate compare
  4. 29 Bulgaria 1.8 Rate compare
  5. 32 Belgium 1.7 Rate compare
  6. 32 Croatia 1.7 Rate compare
  7. 32 North Macedonia 1.7 Rate compare
  8. 32 Poland 1.7 Rate compare
  9. 32 Croatia 1.7 Rate compare
  10. 32 Poland 1.7 Rate compare

See the full ranking of 61 places →

More health data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is infant mortality rates in Ireland?
Infant mortality rates in Ireland was 1.8 Rate in 2016, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest infant mortality rates recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 16.1 Rate in 1960.
What is the lowest infant mortality rates recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.8 Rate in 2007.
How does Ireland rank for infant mortality rates?
Ireland ranks 29th out of 59 countries with data for 2016.
Is infant mortality rates rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Infant mortality rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Infant mortality rates in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/infant-mortality-rates-2/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Infant mortality rates
Unit
Rate
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
61 places, 2,650 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed