The rate of natural population increase has continued to decline in Ireland, according to the latest figures from the CSO, with more elderly and fewer children.

There were 54,400 births and 35,800 deaths in the year to April 2025, leading to a natural increase of 18,600. This represents a fall of 800 (-4%) from 2024, and well down from a high of 48,800 in 2010.

861,100 people were living in Ireland aged 65 and over in April 2025. Their share of the population rose from 14.1% in April 2019 to 15.8% by 2025, an increase of 159,700 people.

There were 55,200 babies under the age of 1 year, a decrease of 19,700 (-26%) from the 2010 figure of 74,900 infants.

There were also 290,100 children aged between 0 and 4 years, down 3,100 (1%) in the past 12 months and a decline of 68,100 (-19%) from the 2012 figure of 358,200.

Lastly, there were 330,000 children aged between 5 and 9, a decrease of 30,700 (-9%) from the 2017 figure of 360,700 children