There were 6,205 births outside marriage.in the second quarter of 2010, which is higher than 
for any other second quarter on record, new CSO figures show.
The total amounted to 32.9 per cent of all births.
Of these, 3,381 births were to unmarried parents with the same address, 17.9 per cent of all births.
The figures showed that 2,824 births were to unmarried parents with different addresses, or 14.9 per cent of all births.
The highest percentage of births outside marriage occurred in Limerick City at 50 per cent, while the lowest percentage occurred in Galway County at 21 per cent.
The figures also showed that, in terms of regional authorities, South Dublin had the highest percentage of children born to parents with separate addresses. Fifty seven per cent of all births outside marriage were to parents living at different addresses which translates into18.3 per cent of all births in this area.
In Dublin City, 55.3 per cent of births outside marriage were to parents at separate addresses.
The figures from Limerick showed that, among children born outside marriage, 51.6 per cent of children born outside marriage, 25 per cent of all births, were to parents with different addresses.
Overall, there were 18,844 births registered in the second quarter, the same number of births registered in the corresponding quarter of 2009.
Births in the second quarter of 2010 represented an annual birth rate of 16.9 per 1,000 population.
The rate for the corresponding quarter of 2009 was also 16.9 per 1,000 population and 14.9 per 1,000 population in quarter 2 of 2001.
Co. Fingal, in Dublin, recorded the highest birth rate of 21.8 per 1,000 population, while Limerick City recorded the lowest birth rate of 11.4 per 1,000 population.
A total of 7,749 births (41.3 per cent) were to first time mothers in quarter 2 of 2010.
This quarter traditionally has the lowest percentage of first time births registered. The average age of first time mothers at maternity was 29.5 years. The average age of all mothers at maternity was 2 years older at 31.5 years.
