Total fertility rate (UNICEF) in Ireland
Ireland: Total fertility rate was 1.47 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.47
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
40th
of 74 countries
All-time high
2.11
in 1990
All-time low
1.47
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Total fertility rate in Ireland, 1990–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 1.47 for total fertility rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total fertility rate in Ireland peaked at 2.11 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.47, in 2024.
Ireland ranks 40th of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Total fertility rate in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.11 | — |
| 1991 | 2.08 | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 1.99 | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 1.9 | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 1.85 | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 1.84 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 1.88 | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 1.93 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 1.94 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 1.9 | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 1.89 | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 1.94 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 1.97 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 1.96 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 1.93 | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 1.86 | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 1.91 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 2.01 | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 2.06 | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 2.06 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 2.05 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2.03 | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.98 | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.93 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.89 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 1.85 | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.81 | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 1.76 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 1.74 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 1.69 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 1.6 | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 1.72 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | 1.51 | -12.0% |
| 2023 | 1.5 | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.47 | -1.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 1.47 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.41, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 1.47 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.44, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.94 | 1.84 | 2.11 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.96 | 1.86 | 2.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 | 1.69 | 2.05 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.56 | 1.47 | 1.72 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More population data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,725 Persons (2050)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total fertility rate in Ireland?
- Total fertility rate in Ireland was 1.47 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest total fertility rate recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.11 in 1990.
- What is the lowest total fertility rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.47 in 2024.
- How does Ireland rank for total fertility rate?
- Ireland ranks 40th out of 74 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total fertility rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. 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 Total fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).