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Regional SDGs Ireland 2017

Poverty & health

CSO SDG banner with SDG indicator icons 1 & 3

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At risk of poverty rate
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Consistent poverty rate
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Life expectancy
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Total period fertility rate
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Age-standardised discharge rates
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Standardised death rates
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Persons with a disability
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Carers
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Medical cards
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Perception of health status
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Prevalence of drinking alcohol
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Mortality rates due to road traffic accidents
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Suicide mortality rate
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Fair Deal scheme
Table 2.1 At risk of poverty rate by region, 2013 - 2017
     % persons
Region20132014201520162017
Border28.623.821.820.525.7
Midland19.117.015.618.914.2
West18.821.919.522.718.4
Dublin9.510.512.211.611.7
Mid-East16.116.716.516.014.5
Mid-West16.020.914.814.112.9
South-East19.717.019.018.118.3
South-West17.318.318.818.018.7
Total16.216.716.316.215.7
 Source: CSO SILC
  • Nationally 15.7% of people in Ireland were at risk of poverty in 2017.
  • One in four people (25.7%) living in the Border region was at risk of poverty in 2017.
  • The at risk of poverty rates in Dublin (11.7%) and the Mid-West (12.9%) were less than half the rate of the Border region.
Table 2.2 Consistent poverty rate by region, 2013 - 2017
     % persons
Region20132014201520162017
Border20.913.810.111.49.4
Midland8.59.17.510.67.7
West9.09.07.97.83.9
Dublin5.35.46.97.36.4
Mid-East9.39.08.18.16.5
Mid-West8.08.67.77.06.2
South-East12.610.29.96.35.9
South-West7.58.111.39.48.5
Total9.08.38.58.26.7
Source: CSO SILC
  • In 2017 6.7% of people were living in consistent poverty in Ireland.
  • The highest proportion of persons in consistent poverty was in the Border region at 9.4% while the lowest rate was in the West at 3.9%.
Table 2.3 Life expectancy at birth and age 65 by region, 2005-2007 
    years
RegionAt birthAge 65
 MaleFemaleMaleFemale
Border77.081.716.519.8
Midland77.281.516.819.3
West77.182.716.820.6
Dublin76.781.216.919.7
Mid-East77.281.416.619.5
Mid-West76.380.416.118.7
South-East76.881.716.719.9
South-West76.581.616.420.0
Total76.881.616.619.8
Source: CSO Vital Statistics
  • Life expectancies at birth and at age 65 were similar for men and women across all the regions in 2005-2007.
  • At birth women could expect to live about five years longer than men on average, while at age 65 they could expect to live around three years longer than men.
  • For women, life expectancy at birth ranged from 82.7 years in the West to 80.4 years in the Mid-West. For men, life expectancy at birth ranged from 77.2 years in the Midlands and Mid-East to 76.3 years in the Mid-West.
  • For 65-year-olds, the highest male life expectancy was in Dublin at 16.9 years while the highest for females was in the West at 20.6 years.
MaleFemale
Border7781.7
Midland77.281.5
West77.182.7
Dublin76.781.2
Mid-East77.281.4
Mid-West76.380.4
South-East76.881.7
South-West76.581.6
Total76.881.6
Table 2.4 Total period fertility rate by county, 2011 & 2016
   
Region and countyTotal period fertility rate
20112016
Border2.051.98
Cavan2.382.21
Donegal1.961.89
Leitrim2.122.15
Louth1.991.99
Monaghan2.011.97
Sligo2.021.83
Midland2.161.98
Laois2.121.89
Longford2.282.25
Offaly2.221.89
Westmeath2.102.03
West2.021.91
Galway City1.521.60
Galway County2.302.16
Mayo2.131.92
Roscommon2.031.89
Dublin1.901.65
Dublin City1.681.46
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown1.801.65
Fingal2.161.94
South Dublin2.221.81
Mid-East2.221.95
Kildare2.161.95
Meath2.311.97
Wicklow2.171.92
Mid-West2.161.95
Clare2.071.94
Limerick City1.712.03
Limerick County2.281.88
North Tipperary2.442.02
South-East2.131.93
Carlow2.381.99
Kilkenny2.021.80
South Tipperary1.962.04
Waterford City2.181.61
Waterford County2.092.21
Wexford2.191.94
South-West2.021.78
Cork City1.651.50
Cork County2.121.90
Kerry2.021.77
Total2.021.81
Source: CSO Vital Statistics
  • The total period fertility rate dropped from 2.02 to 1.81 in Ireland between 2011 and 2016.
  • Thus, the fertility rate in Ireland is now below the theoretical replacement level of 2.1.
  • Fertility rates in two regions (Dublin and the South-West) were below the national average of 1.81 in 2016 while all other regions were above the national average.
  • The four lowest fertility rates in 2016 were all in city areas - Dublin City (1.46), Cork City (1.50), Galway City (1.60) and Waterford City (1.61).
  • Three other counties had fertility rates in 2016 which were below the overall rate for Ireland, namely Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (1.65), Kerry (1.77) and Kilkenny (1.80).
  • All the other counties in Ireland in 2016 had fertility rates above the national average.
  • The highest fertility rates in 2016 were 2.25 in Longford and 2.21 in both Cavan and Waterford County.
20112016
Border2.051.9782192826229
Midland2.161.98279248568131
West2.021.91101234090747
Dublin1.91.64860390217054
Mid-East2.221.94850500514944
Mid-West2.161.94546185936108
South-East2.131.93030683345669
South-West2.021.77985730228201
Total2.021.81
Table 2.5 Age standardised discharge rates by selected principal diagnosis and region, 20171
    per 100,000 population
RegionRespiratory diseasesInjuries & poisoningsCirculatory diseasesDigestive diseasesMalignant neoplasmsAll Causes
Border1,8571,0861,4311,09672414,381
Midland2,2241,5661,7011,64782019,023
West1,8611,2741,7951,38691816,158
Dublin1,5731,2011,23898961512,429
Mid-East2,3381,7292,0371,58586419,737
Mid-West2,3841,6742,0361,69775120,537
South-East1,5921,1371,4021,01057612,720
South-West1,4891,1541,3741,02074013,122
Total1,8061,2951,5361,20872214,972
Source: Department of Health, Hospital Inpatient Enquiry data
1 Rates for in-patients (day cases excluded) from publicly funded acute hospitals in the State. Based on region of residence.
2 The Rates provided in the table are age-standardised to the European standard population (ESP2013) and are presented as rates per 100,000 population.
  • Residents of the Mid-West region had the highest discharge rate from publicly funded acute hospitals of 20,537 per 100,00 population, followed by people from the Mid-East (19,737). The lowest rate was in the Dublin at 12,429.
  • The national average discharge rate for respiratory diseases was 1,806 per 100,000 population, ranging from a high of 2,384 in the Mid-West to a low of 1,489 in the South-West.
  • The highest discharge rates for circulatory diseases were for people living in the Mid-East (2,037) and in the Mid-West (2,036) while the lowest rate was 1,238 in Dublin.
Table 2.6 Standardised death rates by cause and region, 2010 & 20151
 standardised death rate
RegionNeoplasmsDiseases of the Circulatory systemDiseases of the Respiratory systemTotal
 20102015201020152010201520102015
Border1.81.92.12.10.70.86.06.5
Midland1.62.02.22.00.80.96.26.5
West1.81.92.12.00.80.86.16.2
Dublin1.92.02.01.90.70.86.16.3
Mid-East1.71.81.81.80.70.95.76.0
Mid-West1.92.02.62.40.81.06.87.0
South-East1.92.02.22.00.80.86.36.5
South-West1.81.92.12.10.60.86.26.5
State1.81.92.12.00.70.86.16.4
Source: CSO Vital Statistics
1 Standardised rates take account of the age structure of the population of the particular region and therefore the variation of such structures between regions. This enables comparisons across regions. Here the rates are standardised to the State's population in each year.
  • In 2015 the national standardised death rate (SDR) was 6.4 per 1,000 population. The lowest rate was in the Mid-East at 6 while the highest rate of 7 was in the Mid-West.
  • Between 2010 and 2015 the national average SDR increased from 6.1 to 6.4 per 1,000 population.
  • The national average SDR for neoplasms rose slightly between 2010 and 2015, from 1.8 to 1.9 per 1,000 population, while the national average SDR for diseases of the respiratory system also rose slightly over this time period, from 0.7 to 0.8.
  • The national average SDR for diseases of the circulatory system fell slightly from 2.1 to 2 per 1,000 population between 2010 and 2015.
  • There was very little regional variation in the SDR for neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the respiratory system for both years 2010 and 2015.
Table 2.7 Persons with a disability by age group and county, 20161
   % of age group%persons
Region and county0-1415-6465-7475+Total Total persons with a disability
Border5.411.424.149.113.653,740
Cavan5.110.623.347.812.59,508
Donegal5.812.125.251.014.422,955
Leitrim5.311.823.546.014.04,486
Monaghan4.69.522.748.711.87,214
Sligo5.712.623.547.914.69,577
Midland6.212.226.449.113.840,350
Laois6.412.127.150.413.511,393
Longford5.413.026.849.714.55,916
Offaly6.712.226.850.714.311,154
Westmeath5.811.925.246.213.411,887
West5.211.022.349.013.259,946
Galway City5.711.622.944.112.910,133
Galway County5.010.321.650.412.622,523
Mayo4.911.122.448.913.817,977
Roscommon5.811.923.249.914.49,313
Dublin5.811.026.549.913.1177,164
Dublin City6.211.730.152.914.781,502
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown5.09.721.446.012.527,266
Fingal5.59.923.248.210.831,970
South Dublin6.311.827.148.013.136,426
Mid-East5.811.325.351.312.787,501
Kildare6.111.325.953.312.527,768
Louth5.412.327.552.613.917,881
Meath5.510.323.949.211.622,608
Wicklow6.211.824.450.213.519,244
Mid-West6.112.425.749.114.468,190
Clare5.510.923.645.712.915,369
Limerick6.513.027.350.215.029,228
Tipperary6.212.625.450.314.823,593
South-East6.012.525.849.414.460,894
Carlow6.313.026.549.014.58,237
Kilkenny5.211.425.049.913.413,332
Waterford5.612.525.248.314.416,675
Wexford6.713.226.750.015.122,650
South-West6.311.723.948.313.895,346
Cork City7.515.131.452.018.122,722
Cork County6.110.822.548.312.652,659
Kerry6.011.221.545.113.519,965
Total5.911.525.149.513.5643,131
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 County where the persons were enumerated on Census night.
  • In the 2016 Census 13.5% of all persons reported that they had a disability.
  • The highest rates of disability were in the Mid-West and South-East at 14.4% while the rate in the Mid-East was the lowest at 12.7%.
  • At county level, 18.1% of persons in Cork city had a disability in 2016 compared to just 10.8% in Fingal. 
  • Nationally, one in four persons aged 65-74 had a disability in 2016 while two in four persons aged 75 and over had a disability.
  • For people aged 65-74, the highest rates of disability were in Cork City (31.4%) and Dublin City (30.1%) while the lowest rates were in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (21.4%) and Kerry (21.5%).
26.1%
Proportion of carers who worked more than 43 unpaid hours of work a week in the South-East region
Table 2.8 Carers by hours of unpaid work per week and county, 20161
   % of row % of population
Region and countyHours per weekCarersCarers
 1 to 1415 to 4243 or more  
Border46.028.925.217,4634.4
Cavan45.528.526.03,1314.1
Donegal43.429.826.97,2114.5
Leitrim47.029.723.21,4354.5
Monaghan49.627.223.22,5894.2
Sligo48.928.123.03,0974.7
Midland46.927.525.612,2124.2
Laois46.427.426.23,5814.2
Longford46.229.024.81,7604.3
Offaly46.827.925.23,3574.3
Westmeath47.826.525.73,5144.0
West48.528.023.519,8404.4
Galway City53.426.020.62,8913.7
Galway County48.328.523.27,8974.4
Mayo47.728.224.16,1294.7
Roscommon46.127.925.92,9234.5
Dublin51.725.722.750,3913.7
Dublin City50.627.222.220,8083.8
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown58.122.219.88,5343.9
Fingal52.024.623.310,5153.6
South Dublin47.926.625.510,5343.8
Mid-East49.426.324.326,4683.8
Kildare50.125.824.18,1423.7
Louth47.529.023.55,3524.2
Meath49.425.225.57,4153.8
Wicklow50.326.023.65,5593.9
Mid-West46.728.125.221,0094.4
Clare49.727.023.35,4924.6
Limerick45.428.725.88,4764.3
Tipperary45.828.126.17,0414.4
South-East47.026.926.117,4294.1
Carlow46.426.826.92,2684.0
Kilkenny48.826.724.64,3214.4
Waterford49.226.124.74,8174.1
Wexford44.327.927.96,0234.0
South-West49.926.623.530,4514.0
Cork City48.326.725.15,4134.3
Cork County51.525.822.718,2694.4
Kerry46.628.924.66,7694.6
Total49.026.924.1195,2634.1
Source: CSO Census of Population
1 County where the persons were enumerated on Census night.
  • There were 195,263 carers in Ireland in 2016 or 4.1% of the population.
  • The Border, West and Mid-West had the highest percentage of carers at 4.4% in each of these regions while Dublin, at 3.7%, had the lowest.
  • At county level, Sligo and Mayo had the highest rates of carers at 4.7% while Fingal had the lowest at 3.6%.
  • Nationally about half of carers provided 1 to 14 unpaid hours per week while about a quarter provided 15 to 42 hours and another quarter provided 43 or more hours.
  • In the South-East region, 26.1% of carers provided 43 or more unpaid hours per week.
Table 2.9 Medical cards by age group, April 2017
     % persons
RegionAge group
 0-45-2425-6465+Total
Border32.241.136.473.343.1
Midland30.739.633.071.939.6
West27.736.531.571.538.7
Dublin24.628.820.758.427.6
Mid-East24.231.125.766.031.8
Mid-West31.135.731.468.938.2
South-East31.638.133.870.840.2
South-West25.031.327.467.834.1
Total27.233.627.566.734.4
 Source: Health Service Executive
  • Just over a third (34.4%) of people had a medical card in April 2017. 
  • Children under five years and people aged between 25 and 64 had the lowest coverage of medical cards, at about 27%, while 66.7% of people age 65 and over were covered.
  • The proportion of the population with a medical card varied widely from 43.1% in the Border to just 27.6% in Dublin.
% Total population
Border43.1
Midland39.6290811174689
West38.6695421366954
Dublin27.644962962963
Mid-East31.8
Mid-West38.2
South-East40.2
South-West34.0940121492624
This table was updated on 4 March 2019 to correct an error in the original calculations.
Table 2.10 Perception of health status by region, 20161
     %years
RegionVery goodGoodFairBad or very badNot statedAverage age
Border58.128.39.31.72.738.3
Midland58.028.68.61.73.036.7
West57.729.28.91.62.638.6
Dublin59.626.67.41.64.836.8
Mid-East62.126.77.21.42.535.8
Mid-West57.529.18.71.82.838.2
South-East59.328.08.51.62.638.0
South-West60.027.77.81.53.038.1
Total59.427.68.01.63.337.4
   Source: CSO Census of Population
1 Persons aged 15 & over. De facto population, i.e., all people present in the State on Census night.
  • More than half (59.4%) of people aged 15 and over perceived their health to be "very good" in 2016. This proportion varied from a high of 62.1% in the Mid-East to a low of 57.5% in the Mid-West.
  • The average age of all persons living in Ireland in 2016 was 37.4 years. The Mid-East had the youngest average age at 35.8 while the West had the oldest at 38.6.
% of population
Border86.4
Midland86.6
West86.9
Dublin86.2
Mid-East88.8
Mid-West86.6
South-East87.3
South-West87.7
Table 2.11 Prevalence of drinking and frequency of drinking 6 or more units of alcohol in one sitting, 2015
% of persons age 15+% of persons aged 15+ who drink alcohol
RegionPrevalence of drinking alcoholFrequency of drinking 6 or more units of alcohol
At least once a weekAt least once a month (but not every week)At least once a year (but not every month)Not in the last twelve months / Never drink this much
Border7717222536
Midland7713193435
West7912193336
Dublin8619252630
Mid-East8113262833
Mid-West8016252633
South-East7816213033
South-West7918223030
Total8116232832
  Source: Irish Health Survey
1 Consuming six or more units of alcohol in one sitting is classified as binge drinking. Please see Appendix 1 for further details.
  • In Dublin 86% of people aged 15 and over drank alcohol, which was the highest proportion in Ireland.
  • The Border and Midland regions had the lowest proportions of people who drank alcohol at 77%.
  • Among people who drink alcohol the highest rates of binge drinking were in Dublin.  About one in five persons (19%) who drink alcohol and are aged 15 and over in Dublin binge drink at least once a week.
  • Binge drinking is defined as consuming six or more units of alcohol in one sitting, which is the equivalent of three pints of beer or six pub measures of spirits.
  • Among people aged 15 and over who drink alcohol, the lowest rate of binge drinking at least once a week was in the West at just 12%.
Table 2.12 Mortality rates due to road traffic accidents, 2016
   
Region and countyNumber of fatalities in road traffic accidentsDeath rate per 1,000 population
Border230.06
Cavan40.05
Donegal110.07
Leitrim10.03
Monaghan50.08
Sligo20.03
Midland150.05
Laois40.05
Longford30.07
Offaly40.05
Westmeath40.05
West210.05
Galway 100.04
Mayo40.03
Roscommon70.11
Dublin210.02
Mid-East270.04
Kildare70.03
Louth70.05
Meath110.06
Wicklow20.01
Mid-West330.07
Clare40.03
Limerick160.08
Tipperary130.08
South-East190.05
Carlow00.00
Kilkenny60.06
Waterford90.08
Wexford40.03
South-West280.04
Cork210.04
Kerry70.05
Total1870.04
Source: Road Safety Authority
  • There were 0.04 deaths from road traffic accidents per 1,000 population in Ireland in 2016.
  • The regional death rate varied from just 0.02 in Dublin to 0.07 in the Mid-West.
  • At county level the highest rate was in Roscommon at 0.11 deaths per 1,000 population.
  • The second highest rate was 0.08 in Limerick, Tipperary, Monaghan and Waterford.
  • There were no deaths in 2016 in Carlow from road traffic accidents while the rate in Wicklow was just 0.01.
Table 2.13 Standardised suicide rates by sex, 2015
per 1,000 population
Region and countyMaleFemaleTotal
Border0.160.060.11
Cavan0.160.030.10
Donegal0.200.100.15
Leitrim0.210.000.11
Louth0.130.030.08
Monaghan0.170.000.09
Sligo0.090.090.09
Midlands0.160.030.09
Laois0.170.060.11
Longford0.200.000.10
Offaly0.210.000.10
Westmeath0.090.050.07
West0.190.030.11
Galway City0.160.030.09
Galway County0.210.040.13
Mayo0.150.040.10
Roscommon0.290.000.15
Dublin0.060.010.04
Dublin City0.080.030.05
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown0.010.000.01
Fingal0.080.000.04
South Dublin0.060.010.04
Mid-East0.170.050.11
Kildare0.150.040.09
Meath0.160.080.12
Wicklow0.190.040.12
Mid-West0.200.060.13
Clare0.230.050.14
Limerick City0.100.120.11
Limerick County0.210.070.14
North Tipperary0.210.030.12
South-East0.190.060.12
Carlow0.140.070.11
Kilkenny0.170.110.14
South Tipperary0.210.090.15
Waterford City0.130.000.06
Waterford County0.180.000.09
Wexford0.220.040.13
South-West0.180.040.11
Cork City0.220.010.12
Cork County0.170.050.11
Kerry0.200.040.12
Total0.140.040.09
Source: CSO Vital Statistics
  • The standardised rate of suicide was 0.09 per 1,000 population in 2015.
  • The rate of suicide for males, at 0.14, was more than three times higher than the female rate of 0.04 per 1,000 population.
  • The Mid-West region had the highest rate of male suicides at 0.20 per 1,000 population while the lowest rate was in Dublin at 0.06.
  • For females, the highest rate of suicide at regional level was 0.06 in both the Mid-West and South-East while the lowest rate of 0.01 was in Dublin.
  • At county level, the highest rate of suicide for males were in Roscommon at 0.29 and Clare at 0.23 per 1,000 population.
  • For females, the highest rates were in Limerick City at 0.12 and Kilkenny at 0.11 per 1,000 population.
Table 2.14 Fair Deal scheme participants by county, 2017
       persons%
Region and countyFair deal participantsFair deal participants as % of population aged 65 and over 1
 Age groupMaleFemaleTotal
 Under 6565-7475-8485+   
Border902216721,0637291,3172,0463.2
Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Leitrim621554677575219201,441 
Donegal2866205306208397605 
Midland821835007145379421,4793.8
Laois, Offaly43110251398306496802 
Longford, Westmeath3973249316231446677 
West1343007881,3291,0011,5502,5513.6
Galway781723926545267701,296 
Mayo3782241401286475761 
Roscommon1946155274189305494 
Dublin3927092,0273,0922,0224,1986,2203.6
Mid-East1723428441,1878671,6782,5453.0
Kildare63121262364260550810 
Louth4469194300190417607 
Meath4081203280230374604 
Wicklow2571185243187337524 
Mid-West1483258571,2209091,6412,5503.4
Clare1967169277185347532 
Limerick46122303405301575876 
Tipperary831363855384237191,142 
South-East922146659236361,2581,8943.0
Carlow, Kilkenny2064202272192366558 
Waterford2879199317212411623 
Wexford4471264334232481713 
South-West1854471,2261,7421,2662,3343,6003.5
Cork1353319691,3439811,7972,778 
Kerry50116257399285537822 
Total1,2952,7417,57911,2707,96714,91822,8853.4
Source: Health Service Executive
1 Note that the numerator in this calculation includes a small number of people aged under 65.
  • There were 22,885 participants in the Fair deal scheme at the end of 2017. The vast majority of participants (94.3%) are aged 65 or over with about half aged 85 or over.
  • Nationally 3.4% of those aged 65 and over are in the Fair Deal scheme.
  • In the Midland region 3.8% of those aged 65 and over were in the Fair Deal scheme, the highest proportion in the country, while the South-East and the Mid-East had the lowest rate at 3%.
  • There were about twice as many women as men in the Fair Deal scheme in 2017.

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