Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) in Ireland
Ireland: Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) was 52.62 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
52.62
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
47th
of 75 countries
All-time high
76.01
in 2009
All-time low
48.19
in 1994
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of births in thousands in Ireland, 1950–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 52.62 for number of births in thousands in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of births in thousands in Ireland peaked at 76.01 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 48.19, in 1994.
That places Ireland 47th out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 76 years of available data.
Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66.94 | — |
| 1951 | 67.98 | +1.6% |
| 1952 | 68.33 | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 67.11 | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 65.03 | -3.1% |
| 1955 | 62.29 | -4.2% |
| 1956 | 61.54 | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 62.11 | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 60.44 | -2.7% |
| 1959 | 61.18 | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 61.76 | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 59.99 | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 61.49 | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 62.85 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 63.67 | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 63.19 | -0.8% |
| 1966 | 61.8 | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 60.86 | -1.5% |
| 1968 | 60.81 | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 62.85 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 64.47 | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 67.06 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 67.92 | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 68.27 | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 68.61 | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 67.05 | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 67.71 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 68.92 | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 70.32 | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 72.53 | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 74.07 | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 72.28 | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 70.92 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 67.26 | -5.2% |
| 1984 | 64.23 | -4.5% |
| 1985 | 62.55 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 61.82 | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 58.91 | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 55.16 | -6.4% |
| 1989 | 52.46 | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 53.1 | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 52.6 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 51.02 | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 49.28 | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 48.19 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 48.6 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 50.43 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 52.46 | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 53.63 | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 53.58 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 54.38 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 57.09 | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 59.93 | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 61.07 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 61.3 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 60.65 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 64.29 | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 70.39 | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 74.97 | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 76.01 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 75.67 | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 74.43 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 72.22 | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 69.32 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 67.41 | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 65.61 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 63.82 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 61.78 | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 60.96 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 59.15 | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 56.49 | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 60.07 | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 53.24 | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 53.27 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 52.77 | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 52.62 | -0.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 52.62 is below the median for high income countries, which is 59.8, 88% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 52.62 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 61.36, 86% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 64.29 | 60.44 | 68.33 | 10 |
| 1960s | 61.93 | 59.99 | 63.67 | 10 |
| 1970s | 68.29 | 64.47 | 72.53 | 10 |
| 1980s | 63.97 | 52.46 | 74.07 | 10 |
| 1990s | 51.29 | 48.19 | 53.63 | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.01 | 54.38 | 76.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.04 | 59.15 | 75.67 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.74 | 52.62 | 60.07 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 20 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7228 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.026 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.6489 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0274 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of births in thousands in Ireland?
- Number of births in thousands in Ireland was 52.62 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of births in thousands recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 76.01 in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of births in thousands recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.19 in 1994.
- How does Ireland rank for number of births in thousands?
- Ireland ranks 47th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of births in thousands rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of births in thousands (UN DESA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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