There were 43 fewer births in Ireland in 2023 compared with 2022 (-0.1%), but over the last decade, there has been a fall of 14,428 when compared with 2013 (-20.9%).
There was a record number of 408 babies born to women 45 years and over in 2023, up 80.5% from 2013.
Ireland’s total period fertility rate (TPFR) for 2023 stood at 1.5 which continues to be below the replacement level of 2.1. In 2013 the TPFR stood at 1.9.
There were 35,649 deaths in Ireland in 2023, of which 18,629 were males and 17,020 were females. This is an overall increase of 20.8% in all deaths in Ireland since 2013, with an increase of 24.5% in male deaths and 17% for females.
The number of people who died aged 100 years and over in 2023 was 312, of which 61 were male and 251 were female.
Neoplasms, which can be benign or malignant (cancerous) growths accounted for the largest number of deaths in 2023 at 10,480, followed by deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system at 9,784 and 4,124 deaths from diseases of the respiratory system.
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (03 November 2025) published the Vital Statistics Annual Report 2023.
Commenting on the Annual Report, Seán O’Connor, Statistician in Life Events and Demography Division, said:
“The CSO’s Vital Statistics Annual Report 2023, provides an abundance of information on both births and deaths across a range of different themes over the 12-month period, such as births by age of mother and nationality. Data produced in relation to deaths in Ireland includes breakdowns by geography, sex, age, and detailed information relating to the underlying cause of death. Note the CSO's Vital Statistics Annual Report is based on the year a birth or death occurred, while the quarterly and yearly summary Vital Statistics reports are based on the year a birth or death was registered.
Births
There were 43 fewer births in Ireland in 2023 compared with 2022 (-0.1%), but over the last decade, the number of births has fallen by 14,428 when compared with 2013 figures (-20.9%).
Taking account of the population, and looking at the birth rate, it is clear to see the changes in Ireland over the last 50 years. In 2023, the birth rate stood at 10.3 births per 1,000 of population, down 0.2 when compared with 2022, when the birth rate was 10.5. Ten years ago, in 2013, Ireland’s birth rate stood at 14.9 births per 1,000 of population, while looking back 50 years ago, it stood at 22.4 per 1,000 population in 1973
Age of Mothers
The age at which a mother gives birth in Ireland continues to increase. In 1973, 29.0 years was the average age of a mother giving birth, while in 1993 it stood at 29.8 years, and in 2013 it was 32.2 years. In 2023, this figure stood at 33.2 years.
There was a 24.7% increase in births to mother's 40 years and over between 2013 (4,004), and 2023 (4,993). The highest number of babies born to women 45 years and over was recorded in 2023 with 408 births, up 80.5% or by 182 births since 2013. There were 683 babies born to teenagers. In 2023, 1.3% (683) births were to teenage mothers, while 0.7% were to mothers aged 45 years and over. Looking back to 1973, 4.4% (3,048) births were to teenage mothers, while 0.3% (213) were to mother’s 45 years and over.
Fertility Rate
The total period fertility rate (TPFR) is derived from the age specific fertility rates in the current year. It represents the projected number of children a woman would have if she experienced current age specific fertility rates while progressing from age 15-49 years. A value of 2.1 is considered to be the level at which the population would replace itself in the long run, excluding migration.
In 2023, the TPFR for Ireland was 1.5, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. In 2013, the TPFR stood at 1.9, and 50 years ago in 1973 it was 3.7. The last year the TPFR was above the replacement level was 2010 when it stood at 2.1.
Births to First-Time Mothers
First-time mothers accounted for 22,462 or 41.2% of all births occurring in 2023. Within Ireland, Galway City was the local authority with the highest proportion of first-time mothers. Of the 731 births which occurred in Galway City in 2023, 371 of these or 50.8% were first-time mothers. This share was lowest in Leitrim, where 32.3% of the 331 births were to first-time mothers.
Births within Marriage/Civil Partnership
Nearly six out of every ten births (59.4%) or 32,400 babies in 2023 were born within marriage/civil partnerships in Ireland, with the remaining 22,126 (40.6%) being born outside marriage/civil partnership. Over the last 30 years this has changed significantly as in 1993, the share of births within marriage/civil partnership stood at 80.1%.
Births by Nationality and by Location
Births to mothers of Irish nationality accounted for nearly three-quarters (73.9%) of births in 2023. This was down from 2022, when the share stood at 75.6%, and a further decrease from 2013 when the share stood at 76.9%.
There were 292 domiciliary or home births in Ireland in 2023, which accounted for 0.5% of total births. Regions such as Waterford (2.1%), Wicklow (1.4%), and Cork County, (1.0%) amongst others, recorded shares of domiciliary births which were greater than the national average.
Deaths
There were 35,649 deaths in Ireland in 2023, of which 18,629 were males and 17,020 were females. This is an overall increase of 20.8% in all deaths in Ireland since 2013, with an increase of 24.5% in male deaths and 17% for females.
In 2023, the annual death rate was 6.7 per 1,000 of population, down from 2022 when the figure stood at 6.9. Although the death rate has not changed much in the last decade, looking back over a longer period shows the long-term reduction in the death rate, which stood at 6.4 deaths per 1,000 of population in 2013, 9.0 deaths per 1,000 of population in 1993, and 11.2 deaths per 1,000 of population in 1973.
In 2023, the most frequent age of death for males was 83 years (3.5%), while for females it was 88 years (3.9%).
Most Common Causes of Death
Neoplasms, which can be benign or malignant (cancerous) growths, accounted for the largest number of deaths in 2023 at 10,480, followed by deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system at 9,784 and 4,124 deaths from diseases of the respiratory system. Deaths due to accidents, suicide, and other external causes accounted for a further 1,809 or 5.1% of all deaths in 2023.
Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 1.2% increase in malignant neoplasm deaths (cancers). Cancers of the bronchus and lungs were the most common causes of death which accounted for 2,032 of the 10,221 cancer deaths in 2023. These were followed by cancers of the breast (757), cancers of the pancreas (638), and cancers of the prostate (613).
Between 2013 and 2023, there was a 79.3% increase in the number of dementia-related deaths. In 2023, dementia collectively accounted for 5.9% of all deaths.
A total of 682 deaths occurred due to COVID-19 in 2023, down 58.2% from 2022, when the number of deaths stood at 1,633.
Infant Deaths
The death of a live-born infant under the age of one is categorised as an infant death. There were 180 infant deaths in 2023 giving an infant mortality rate of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, down 0.2 from 2022. In 1973, the infant mortality rate stood at 18.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal deaths are deaths of infants at ages under four weeks. There were 135 neonatal deaths in 2023. The neonatal mortality rate per 1,000 live births was 2.5 in 2023, unchanged from 2022. In 1973, the neonatal mortality rate stood at 12.7.
There were 108 stillbirths registered in 2023 which is two more than in 2022.
Deaths by Location
In terms of where people died in 2023, there were 14,880 deaths (41.7%) that occurred in general and orthopaedic hospitals, 8,725 (24.5%) were domiciliary deaths (deaths that occurred at home), and 6,089 (17.1%) deaths occurred in nursing homes.
For those aged under 35 years, the most common place of death was the home (238 out of 783 deaths), while general and orthopaedic hospitals were the most common location of deaths among those aged over 35 years (14,663 out of 34,866 deaths)."