ESRI Perinatal statistics for 2012 put the number of births in Ireland at just under 72,000 - down 3.2% on 2011. The number of babies born in Ireland each year has been declining since 2009 when 76,000 babies were born.
Ireland's birth rate is the highest in Europe versus the EU average of 10.4. It has dropped from a high ot 16.8 per 1,000 population in 2008 to 16.2 per 1,000 in 2011 and 15.6 per 1,000 in 2012.
The countries with the next highest birth rates are the UK at 12.8 and France at 12.6. Germany had the lowest birth rate in Europe last year at 8.4.
Perinatal mortality rates in Ireland continue to decline at 5.9 per 1,000 live and still births last year. In 2003 the rate was 8.6 per 1,000 live and still births. The highest mortality rates were among babies born to mothers aged 40 to 44.
Breast feeding levels remain low, with 40% of babies born to Irish women being breast fed compared to 75% for babies born to mothers from Europe and America.
The average age of women having babies was just under 32 last year up from 30.6 years a decade ago. The number of women aged under 20 giving birth has fallen to 2% compared to 5% in 2003.
ESRI - Perinatal Statistics Report - 2012
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