Ireland fertility rate continues to decline as number of deaths rises

New demographic data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows that Ireland's fertility rate has fallen to 1.5 children per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed for a population to sustain itself. Births have dropped sharply, from 68,930 in 2013 to 54,678 in 2023, and even further to 54,125 in 2025. Over just a decade, Ireland has lost nearly 18% of its annual births.

Key Takeaways:

• Ireland's fertility rate has fallen to 1.5 children per woman.

• As the fertility rate has declined, the annual number of deaths has risen.

• The number of marriages fell by more than 2,000 in one year.

• The number of abortions has also risen.

The Details:

Commenting on the most recent report, Seán O’Connor, statistician in the CSO’s Life Events and Demography Division, explained that the findings offer “a snapshot of the life events (births, deaths and marriages) which were registered in the year 2025.” That snapshot reveals a nation where fewer children are being born, mothers are older, and the population is steadily shifting toward old age.

The average age of first-time mothers in Ireland reached 31.6 years in 2023, up from 28.2 in 2003. By 2025, first-time mothers averaged 31.8 years. While women have more opportunities than ever before, the cultural message that motherhood can always wait has real consequences. Fertility naturally declines with age, and many couples discover too late that the window for welcoming children is smaller than they were led to believe.

Meanwhile, deaths continue to rise. Ireland recorded 35,459 deaths in 2023 and 35,587 in 2025, with more than four-fifths occurring among those aged 65 and older. According to the Irish Times, “Covid-19 was identified as the underlying cause of death in 2.2 per cent of the 35,459 registered deaths in 2023, half the number attributed to the disease the previous year.” Cancer and circulatory diseases remain the leading causes of death, while accidents, suicide, and other external causes accounted for nearly four percent (4%) of deaths. Infant mortality, though improved, still accounted for 161 deaths in 2025. 

Marriage rates have also declined. Ireland registered 21,159 marriages in 2023, down from 23,173 the year before and far below the levels seen a decade ago. Fewer marriages, fewer births, and an aging population form a pattern that cannot be ignored.

The Bottom Line:

Ireland’s demographic decline is not merely a statistical trend; it reflects a deeper cultural shift in how the nation views children and family, and how it values life itself. In recent years, Ireland has embraced policies and attitudes that treat preborn life as optional, and abortions have increased significantly. When a society signals that the smallest lives are disposable, it should not be surprised when fewer children are welcomed at all.

Ireland’s future depends on the children it welcomes today. The falling fertility rate is not just a demographic warning; it is a call to rediscover the beauty and dignity of life.