28/07/2010

Ireland Has Highest EU Birth Rate

With the news that the EU population has surpassed 501 million, it has been revealed that the Irish Republic boasts the highest birth rate in the Union.

Ireland recorded the highest natural growth in population among member states along with the lowest death rates. However, it was also responsible for the biggest net outflow of people, according to new figures from Eurostat.

The birthrate in Ireland was 16.8 children per 1,000 inhabitants last year, compared to the EU average of 10.7 births per 1,000. Britain, which had the second highest EU birthrate, was at 12.8 children per 1,000 people.

Ireland's population now stands at 4,456,000. According to the most recent figures gathered for 2008, the world population is now 6.7 billion.

Overall, the population of the 27 European Member States grew by 1.4 million in 2009, an annual rate of 2.7 per 1000 inhabitants, due to a natural increase of 0.5 million and net migration of 0.9 million.

The highest birthrate along with Ireland and the United Kingdom was France, while the lowest rates of births were in Germany and Austria.

Ireland also had the lowest death rate in Ireland at just 6.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, as against an EU average of 9.7. The highest death rates in the European Union were recorded in Bulgaria, Latvia, Hungary and Lithuania.

Ireland has the highest net outflow of population at 9 per 1,000 inhabitants, almost twice that of Lithuania, which recorded the second highest net outflow. Net outflow figures include people emigrating from Ireland as well as those from other countries who are returning home after having lived here for a period of time.

The largest relative increases in terms of population were in Luxembourg, Sweden and Slovenia.

(DW/BMcC)

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