The rate of natural population increase has continued to decline in Ireland [1], 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