Vital Statistics Annual Report 2020

Infant Mortality

During the year 2020, there were 178 deaths of infants under one year of age, compared to 167 in 2019. The infant mortality rate was 3.1 per 1,000 live births in 2020, up 0.3 from 2019. See tables 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

Infant Mortality by detailed age

There were 134 neonatal deaths (deaths of infants under 4 weeks) in 2020, an increase of 6 on the 2019 figure. The neonatal mortality rate per 1,000 live births was 2.4 in 2020, an increase of 0.2 from 2019. See tables 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and figure 3.1.

Infant Mortality by cause

Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period accounted for 47% of infant deaths in 2020. Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities accounted for a further 41%, while sudden infant death syndrome accounted for 6.7% of such deaths. See table 3.5. 

Galway City had the highest rate for infant mortality in 2020 (6 infant deaths) with a rate of 7.5 per 1,000 births. See table 3.3.

Stillbirths

The number of stillbirths registered in 2020 was 120, a decrease of 11 on the 2019 figure. The overall stillbirth rate was 2.1 in 2020, a decrease of 0.1 from 2019. See tables 3.1, 3.2 and figure 3.2.

For stillbirths, the highest rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths was in Carlow (6.7). There were no registered stillbirths for Laois, Longford, Waterford County, Galway City and Leitrim in 2020. See table 3.3. 

In 2020, stillbirths classified as being due to certain conditions originating in the perinatal period accounted for 86% of all registered stillbirths and 14% were due to congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities. See table 3.4.

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) Healthcare Pricing Office 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.

Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium

There were no maternal deaths registered in 2020, giving a rate of 0.0 maternal deaths per 100,000 live and stillbirths. See figure 3.3.