Live Births: There were 61,022 children born in Ireland during 2018, down 802 or 1.3% from 2017. This is the lowest number of births since 2005 when there were 61,372 births.

The birth rate was 12.6 per 1,000 of the population in 2018 compared to 12.9 in 2017 and 16.8 in 2008.

The total period fertility rate (TPFR), or the average number of children per woman was 1.75 in 2018, that is 0.02 per thousand lower than in 2017, and below replacement level. A value of 2.1 is generally taken to be the level at which a generation would replace itself in the long run, ignoring migration.

Ireland ranked fourth highest in respect of the fertility rate of the 28 EU member states in 2018 at 1.75 children per woman. See Births 2018, figure 2.4.

In 2018, the highest number of births – 20,881 (34.2%) were to mothers in the 30-34 years age group, representing over a third of births.

In 1993 there was an important shift in the age structure of fertility. Prior to 1993, the age-specific fertility rate was highest among women aged 25-29. (The age-specific fertility rate is the number of births per woman within a specific age group). In 1993 the highest fertility rate shifted from that age group to women aged 30 to 34.

Mothers of non-Irish nationality accounted for 22.8% of births in 2018, slightly higher than the 22.6% in 2017.

In 2018, Wednesday 1st August saw the highest number of babies born in one single day (248). This was followed by Wednesday 19th September with 233 births. The fewest number of babies born was on St. Stephen's Day (26 December) with only 89 births followed by Christmas day (25 December) with 90 births.

Deaths: There were 31,140 deaths in Ireland in 2018, of which 16,045 were male and 15,095 female. This is equivalent to a rate of 6.4 deaths per 1,000 total population, 0.1 per thousand higher than the 6.3 recorded in 2017. The crude death rate per 1,000 population has shown a gradual downward trend since the beginning of the century with the most striking long-term falls occurring in the death rates at the younger ages.

Neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the respiratory system were responsible for 72.7% of deaths.

Ranked in order, the next eight leading causes of death were mental and behavioural disorders; diseases of the nervous system; external causes of injury and poisoning; diseases of the digestive system; endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases; diseases of the genitourinary system; infectious and parasitic diseases; diseases of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.

The leading causes of death varied widely by age group in 2018.  Among young adults aged 15 to 24, external causes of injury and poisoning ranked first. Among individuals aged 45 to 74, neoplasms was the leading cause, while for those aged 75 and older, it was diseases of the circulatory system. See Deaths, Chapter 3.

Infant Mortality: During 2018 the number of deaths of infants under one year of age was 174 compared with 188 in 2017. The corresponding rate was 2.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018, down 0.1 from that recorded in 2017.

Stillbirths: The number of stillbirths registered during 2018 was 133 compared with 162 in 2017. The respective corresponding rates for 2018 and 2017 were 2.2 and 2.6 per 1,000 live and stillborn children. See Infant Mortality, Stillbirths and Maternal Mortality 2018.

Data in this report refers to Stillbirths registered under the Stillbirths Registration Act, 1994 and amended by sections 28 and 29 of the Civil Registration Act 2004.

Population: The estimated usual residence population in April 2018 was 4,857,015: 2,405,752 males and 2,451,263 females.

Usual residence population concept: For the purpose of this Report the population concept of usual residence has been used, i.e. all persons usually resident and present in the state on census night plus absent persons who are usually resident in Ireland but temporarily away from home and outside the State on census night. All persons are classified according to their region of usual residence.

Issue of Authority for Registration: Births and deaths (where no inquest has been held) which have not been registered within one year of their occurrence can be registered only on the authority of the Superintendent Registrars. The tables in the main body of this report exclude such births and deaths. The Appendix to the report contains an analysis of late death registrations in 2018 and of some deaths where an inquest has been held. The number of such deaths registered in 2018 was 877.

More up to date information on Vital Statistics is available in the Quarterly Report on Births, Deaths and Marriages published about five months after the end of the relevant quarter. In the Quarterly Report, births and deaths are classified according to quarter of registration.

Births are classified according to the area of residence of the mother and deaths according to the area of residence of the deceased. Births and deaths for each year since 1943 exclude late registrations; while deaths for each of the years 1940 to 1967 exclude non-residents. From 1968 however, the number of deaths includes non-residents.

For more detailed information and breakdowns in relation to births and deaths please go to: Births 2018 and Deaths 2018.