Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Ireland
Ireland: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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
Ireland recorded 1.47 births per woman for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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.
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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 fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Ireland?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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 fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.07 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.47 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Ireland rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Ireland ranks 157th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 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 Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.