Number of live births in Ireland
Ireland: Number of live births was 54,483 births in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
54,483 births
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
27th
of 34 countries
All-time high
75,554 births
in 2009
All-time low
48,255 births
in 1994
Years of data
68
1955–2022
Number of live births in Ireland, 1955–2022
Source: Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births.
Analysis
In 2022, number of live births in Ireland stood at 54,483 births.
The figure is down 10.1% on the previous year and down 24.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of live births in Ireland peaked at 75,554 births in 2009 and was at its lowest, 48,255 births, in 1994.
Ireland ranks 27th of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Number of live births in Ireland, year by year
| Year | births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 61,622 births | — |
| 1956 | 60,740 births | -1.4% |
| 1957 | 61,242 births | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 59,510 births | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 60,188 births | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 60,735 births | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 59,825 births | -1.5% |
| 1962 | 61,782 births | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 63,246 births | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 64,072 births | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 63,524 births | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 62,215 births | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 61,307 births | -1.5% |
| 1968 | 61,004 births | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 62,912 births | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 64,382 births | +2.3% |
| 1971 | 67,551 births | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 68,527 births | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 68,713 births | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 68,907 births | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 67,178 births | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 67,718 births | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 68,892 births | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 70,299 births | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 72,539 births | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 74,064 births | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 72,158 births | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 70,843 births | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 67,117 births | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 64,062 births | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 62,388 births | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 61,620 births | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 58,433 births | -5.2% |
| 1988 | 54,600 births | -6.6% |
| 1989 | 52,018 births | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 53,044 births | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 52,718 births | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 51,089 births | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 49,304 births | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 48,255 births | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 48,787 births | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 50,655 births | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 52,775 births | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 53,969 births | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 53,924 births | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 54,789 births | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 57,854 births | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 60,503 births | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 61,529 births | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 61,972 births | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 61,372 births | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 65,425 births | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 71,389 births | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 75,173 births | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 75,554 births | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 75,174 births | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 74,033 births | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 71,674 births | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 68,954 births | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 67,295 births | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 65,536 births | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 63,841 births | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 61,824 births | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 61,022 births | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 59,294 births | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 56,812 births | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 60,575 births | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 54,483 births | -10.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 54,483 births is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 89,018 births, 61% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 54,483 births is below the median for high income countries, which is 98,451 births, 55% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 60,660 births | 59,510 births | 61,622 births | 5 |
| 1960s | 62,062 births | 59,825 births | 64,072 births | 10 |
| 1970s | 68,471 births | 64,382 births | 72,539 births | 10 |
| 1980s | 63,730 births | 52,018 births | 74,064 births | 10 |
| 1990s | 51,452 births | 48,255 births | 53,969 births | 10 |
| 2000s | 64,556 births | 54,789 births | 75,554 births | 10 |
| 2010s | 66,865 births | 59,294 births | 75,174 births | 10 |
| 2020s | 57,290 births | 54,483 births | 60,575 births | 3 |
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 number of live births in Ireland?
- Number of live births in Ireland was 54,483 births in 2022, according to Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of live births recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 75,554 births in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of live births recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 48,255 births in 1994.
- How does Ireland rank for number of live births?
- Ireland ranks 27th out of 34 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of live births rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of live births. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of live births recorded in a given year.