Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland
Ireland: Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate was 1.47 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.47 births per woman
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
157th
of 215 countries
All-time high
4.07 births per woman
in 1964
All-time low
1.47 births per woman
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland stood at 1.47 births per woman. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland peaked at 4.07 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.47 births per woman, in 2024.
Ireland ranks 157th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.78 births per woman | — |
| 1961 | 3.78 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 3.92 births per woman | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 4.01 births per woman | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 4.07 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 4.04 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 3.94 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 3.84 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 3.77 births per woman | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 3.83 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 3.85 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 3.93 births per woman | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 3.84 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 3.71 births per woman | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 3.59 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 3.37 births per woman | -6.1% |
| 1976 | 3.29 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 3.24 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 3.21 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 3.21 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3.21 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3.05 births per woman | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 2.94 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 2.74 births per woman | -6.8% |
| 1984 | 2.58 births per woman | -5.8% |
| 1985 | 2.48 births per woman | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 2.44 births per woman | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 2.32 births per woman | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 2.17 births per woman | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 2.08 births per woman | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 2.11 births per woman | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 2.08 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 1.99 births per woman | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 1.9 births per woman | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 1.85 births per woman | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 1.84 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 1.88 births per woman | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 1.93 births per woman | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 1.94 births per woman | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.9 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 1.89 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 1.94 births per woman | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.97 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 1.96 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 1.93 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 1.86 births per woman | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 1.91 births per woman | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 2.01 births per woman | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 2.06 births per woman | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 2.06 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.05 births per woman | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 2.03 births per woman | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.98 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.93 births per woman | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 1.89 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 1.85 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.81 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.76 births per woman | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 1.74 births per woman | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 1.69 births per woman | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 1.6 births per woman | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 1.72 births per woman | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 1.51 births per woman | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 1.5 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 1.47 births per woman | -2.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.47 births per woman is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 births per woman, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.47 births per woman is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44 births per woman, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.9 births per woman | 3.77 births per woman | 4.07 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.52 births per woman | 3.21 births per woman | 3.93 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.6 births per woman | 2.08 births per woman | 3.21 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 births per woman | 1.84 births per woman | 2.11 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.96 births per woman | 1.86 births per woman | 2.06 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 births per woman | 1.69 births per woman | 2.05 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.56 births per woman | 1.47 births per woman | 1.72 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland?
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate in Ireland was 1.47 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.07 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.47 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Ireland rank for total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate?
- Ireland ranks 157th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate summarizes the total number of births a woman would have, if she experienced the birth rates seen in women of each age group in one particular year across her childbearing years. The wanted fertility is an estimate of what the total fertility rate would be if all unwanted births were avoided, based on survey data.