Survey Name:

Vital Statistics

Survey purpose:

To provide information on live births in Ireland. Used in calculating natural increase which contributes to the population estimates. Used in fertility analysis.

Legislative Basis National:

The data is collected under the Vital Statistics Act 1952 and government order S.I. 831 of 2007.

Legislative Basis European:

Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013

Periodicity:

Annual

Statistical Population:

All live births in Ireland

Sampling Frame:

Not Applicable

Reference Area:

State, Region, County

Time Coverage:

The Central Statistics Office has published annual reports from 1953-2018 and quarterly vital statistics reports to 2020.

Base Period:

Not Applicable

Sector Coverage:

Not Applicable

Survey Size:

Not Applicable

Principal Variables:

Birth weight, Gestational Age, Date of birth of infant, Date of birth of parents, Marital status of mother, Number of previous children, County of residence of mother, Multiplicity, Occupation of parents, Baby's forename.

Principal External Users:

Census of Population, Dept of Social Protection, Dept of Education, General Public, Academics and Researchers and the Media.

Contact Organisation:

Central Statistics Office

Business Area:

Statistical Systems Coordination

Contact Person:

Sean O'Connor

Contact Person Function:

Statistician

Other Business Area Specialists:

David Griffin

Contact email:

Vitalstats@cso.ie

Contact phone number:

(+353) 21 453 5000