During the year 2019 there were 167 deaths of infants under one year, compared to 174 in 2018. The infant mortality rate was 2.8 per 1,000 live births in 2019, down 0.1 from 2018. See tables 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3.
For EU comparison rates go to Eurostat:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news
Almost two fifths (38.3%) of all infant deaths occurred within the first day of birth and 56.9% occurred within the first week. See table 4.5.
There were 128 neonatal deaths (deaths of infants under 4 weeks) in 2019, a decrease of 3 on the 2018 figure. The neonatal mortality rate of 2.2 per 1,000 live births is an increase of 0.1 from 2018. See tables 4.2, 4.3, 4.6 and fig. 4.1.
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period accounted for 46.1% of infant deaths in 2019. Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities accounted for a further 40.7%, while sudden infant death syndrome accounted for 7.2% of such deaths. See table 4.6.
For infant deaths occurring in the first day of life, the causes of death were split between certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (54.7%), and congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (42.2%). See table 4.6.
Leitrim had the highest rate for infant mortality in 2019 (4 infant deaths) with a rate of 9.4 per 1,000 births. See table 4.3.
The number of stillbirths registered in 2019 was 133, the same figure as registered in 2018. The overall stillbirth rate for 2019 was 2.2, also no change from 2018. See tables 4.1, 4.2 and fig. 4.2.
| Year | Infant | Neonatal | Post neonatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 17.5 | 12 | 5.6 |
| 1976 | 15.7 | 10.5 | 5.2 |
| 1977 | 15.5 | 9.9 | 5.6 |
| 1978 | 14.9 | 9.8 | 5 |
| 1979 | 12.8 | 8.4 | 4.4 |
| 1980 | 11.1 | 6.7 | 4.4 |
| 1981 | 10.3 | 6.5 | 3.8 |
| 1982 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 3.9 |
| 1983 | 10.1 | 6.1 | 4 |
| 1984 | 9.6 | 6 | 3.7 |
| 1985 | 8.8 | 5.3 | 3.6 |
| 1986 | 8.9 | 5 | 3.9 |
| 1987 | 7.9 | 4.3 | 3.6 |
| 1988 | 8.6 | 5.2 | 3.4 |
| 1989 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 3.3 |
| 1990 | 8.2 | 4.8 | 3.4 |
| 1991 | 7.6 | 5 | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 6.5 | 4.3 | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 6.1 | 4 | 2.1 |
| 1994 | 5.7 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 1.6 |
| 1996 | 6 | 4.1 | 1.9 |
| 1997 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 |
| 1998 | 5.9 | 3.4 | 1.6 |
| 1999 | 5.9 | 4 | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 1.9 |
| 2001 | 5.7 | 4 | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 5 | 3.6 | 1.5 |
| 2003 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 1.5 |
| 2004 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 1.3 |
| 2005 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| 2006 | 3.9 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| 2007 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| 2009 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 0.7 |
| 2013 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.7 |
| 2018 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 |
| 2019 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.7 |
| Year | Perinatal | Stillbirth |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 5.7 | 3.9 |
| 2010 | 5.7 | 3.6 |
| 2011 | 4.7 | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 4.6 | 2.6 |
| 2013 | 5 | 2.7 |
| 2014 | 4.2 | 2.4 |
| 2015 | 5.1 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4.5 | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 4.3 | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 3.8 | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 3.8 | 2.2 |
For stillbirths, the highest rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths was in Waterford County (4.2). There were no registered stillbirths for Sligo in 2019. See table 4.3.
In 2019, stillbirths classified as being due to certain conditions originating in the perinatal period accounted for 82.7% of all registered stillbirths and 17.3% were due to congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. See table 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.16.
While statistics of infant mortality are obtained in the course of the usual procedure for registration of deaths, which has been in operation since 1863, particulars of late foetal mortality have been obtained through a scheme of notification to the Directors of Community Care. The scheme of notifying late foetal deaths was introduced in 1957, but comparisons between different areas of the country showed marked differences in the coverage of the scheme in the early years. Consequently, the number of late foetal deaths in the early years of the scheme is believed to be understated.
In 1995 stillbirths were registered in Ireland for the first time under the Stillbirths Registration Act, 1994. The definition of a stillbirth under the Act is broader than the definition used for late foetal deaths in previous Vital Statistics Reports. Care should be taken in comparing statistics on stillbirths and late foetal deaths in consideration of the changes between the notification and registration systems.
The National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) (http://www.hpo.ie/,HIPE and NPRS Reports, Perinatal Statistics Reports). Perinatal Statistics Reports also produces statistics on stillbirths, which can be compared to the numbers in these reports. The NPRS figures are derived from birth notification forms, whereas the figures contained in this report are derived from stillbirths registered. In recent years, the numbers of stillbirths according to NPRS reports have been higher than the numbers published in these reports. This suggests that there is considerable non-registration of stillbirths and that caution should be taken in interpreting the statistics on stillbirths in these reports.
There were no maternal deaths registered in 2019, giving a rate of 0.0 maternal deaths per 100,000 live and stillbirths. See table 4.17 and fig 4.3.
| Year | Maternal death rate |
|---|---|
| 1945 | 263.2 |
| 1946 | 240 |
| 1947 | 214.6 |
| 1948 | 188.1 |
| 1949 | 201.1 |
| 1950 | 155.7 |
| 1951 | 163.8 |
| 1952 | 142.3 |
| 1953 | 132.7 |
| 1954 | 110.3 |
| 1955 | 113.6 |
| 1956 | 85.6 |
| 1957 | 132.3 |
| 1958 | 102.5 |
| 1959 | 64.8 |
| 1960 | 57.6 |
| 1961 | 45.1 |
| 1962 | 43.7 |
| 1963 | 34.8 |
| 1964 | 46.8 |
| 1965 | 28.3 |
| 1966 | 28.9 |
| 1967 | 22.8 |
| 1968 | 36.1 |
| 1969 | 31.8 |
| 1970 | 31.1 |
| 1971 | 25.2 |
| 1972 | 40.9 |
| 1973 | 11.6 |
| 1974 | 21.8 |
| 1975 | 7.4 |
| 1976 | 16.4 |
| 1977 | 11.6 |
| 1978 | 17.1 |
| 1979 | 9.6 |
| 1980 | 6.8 |
| 1981 | 4.2 |
| 1982 | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 11.9 |
| 1984 | 6.2 |
| 1985 | 6.4 |
| 1986 | 4.9 |
| 1987 | 3.4 |
| 1988 | 1.8 |
| 1989 | 3.8 |
| 1990 | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 5.7 |
| 1992 | 3.9 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5.9 |
| 1997 | 5.7 |
| 1998 | 3.7 |
| 1999 | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 1.8 |
| 2001 | 5.2 |
| 2002 | 8.3 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1.6 |
| 2005 | 1.6 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 1.5 |
| 2015 | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 1.6 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| Year | Maternal death rate |
|---|---|
| 1945 | 263.2 |
| 1946 | 240 |
| 1947 | 214.6 |
| 1948 | 188.1 |
| 1949 | 201.1 |
| 1950 | 155.7 |
| 1951 | 163.8 |
| 1952 | 142.3 |
| 1953 | 132.7 |
| 1954 | 110.3 |
| 1955 | 113.6 |
| 1956 | 85.6 |
| 1957 | 132.3 |
| 1958 | 102.5 |
| 1959 | 64.8 |
| 1960 | 57.6 |
| 1961 | 45.1 |
| 1962 | 43.7 |
| 1963 | 34.8 |
| 1964 | 46.8 |
| 1965 | 28.3 |
| 1966 | 28.9 |
| 1967 | 22.8 |
| 1968 | 36.1 |
| 1969 | 31.8 |
| 1970 | 31.1 |
| 1971 | 25.2 |
| 1972 | 40.9 |
| 1973 | 11.6 |
| 1974 | 21.8 |
| 1975 | 7.4 |
| 1976 | 16.4 |
| 1977 | 11.6 |
| 1978 | 17.1 |
| 1979 | 9.6 |
| 1980 | 6.8 |
| 1981 | 4.2 |
| 1982 | 5.6 |
| 1983 | 11.9 |
| 1984 | 6.2 |
| 1985 | 6.4 |
| 1986 | 4.9 |
| 1987 | 3.4 |
| 1988 | 1.8 |
| 1989 | 3.8 |
| 1990 | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 5.7 |
| 1992 | 3.9 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5.9 |
| 1997 | 5.7 |
| 1998 | 3.7 |
| 1999 | 1.9 |
| 2000 | 1.8 |
| 2001 | 5.2 |
| 2002 | 8.3 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1.6 |
| 2005 | 1.6 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 1.5 |
| 2015 | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 1.6 |
For definitions on the terms used in this chapter, see link to technical notes on: Infant, Stillbirth and Maternal Mortality
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