Ireland latest country to warn of falling birth rates

A new report out of Ireland shows that the nation had a “sharp and sustained fall in births” in 2024, as officials warn that more must be done to bolster the birth rate.

Key Takeaways:

• A recent report shows that Ireland's birth rate is falling, with just 54,000 children born in the country in 2024.

• Experts warn that a continued decline in births will have widespread demographic impacts.

• Authors of the report are advocating for new policies to bolster family life and encourage childbirth.

The Details:

The Building a Virtuous Demographic Cycle report, issued by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC), found that just 54,000 babies were born in Ireland in 2024, down from 77,000 in 2010. Ireland repealed the Eighth Amendment to its Constitution in 2018, legalizing abortion.

“Ireland is undergoing a series of demographic shifts and has already passed two notable turning points: ‘peak baby’ in 2010 and ‘peak child’ in 2024, both reflecting a sharp and sustained fall in births,” the report stated.

The Pro Life Reply to: "Abortion Will Stop Overpopulation"

Why It Matters:

The report's authors warn that the falling birth rate will have a cascading effect on the nation's entire infrastructure.

“The effect of this is that fertility declines further, emigration rises, and the population continues to age,” the report said.

“Fiscal and pension pressures mount, constraining future investment and creating a downward spiral of stagnation, as well as intergenerational and regional unfairness. Once established, such dynamics can be very difficult to reverse.”

While the report called the current situation a "vicious cycle," it advocated for the “shift to a virtuous cycle — where birth rates are supported, participation in the labour force is increased and health services are reconfigured to support early intervention and community-based interventions.” Among other things, the report encouraged policies to help support family life as a way to boost the declining population.

“Fertility may be stabilised through stronger family supports: affordable childcare and housing, adequate parental leave, and income and welfare policies that de-risk family formation,” it said.

The Bottom Line:

Ireland is just one of many nations across the globe dealing with falling birth rates and an impending demographic crisis. Many of these nations are now recognizing that more must be done to support family life though policies aimed at supporting, not undermining, families. Unfortunately, decades of anti-child sentiment, poor family policies, and a culture that supports widespread contraception and abortion means there is much work to be done to cultivate a society that welcomes children and encourages large families.