Sorcha CrowleyThe Economist magazine has apologised for errors relating to Ireland in their recently published Pocket World in Figures 2004.
In the new reference book, figures relating to marriage rates and alcohol spend in Ireland suggested that the Republic had the lowest marriage rate in Europe and one of the highest spend on alcohol.
In a statement yesterday the Economist apologised for errors relating to marriage rates figures around the world, "in particular those in Ireland".
"We stated that in Ireland there were 2.1 marriages per 1,000 population (source: Euromonitor). This figure is incorrect," a spokeswoman said.
This figure would make the Irish marriage rate the lowest in Europe by far. The study also found Britain, with 10 marriages per 1,000 population, to have the highest marriage rate.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal a much higher rate of marriage per 1,000 population in Ireland: 5.1 per 1,000, which would equate with the average EU marriage rate.
On the alcohol spend, the book states that $1,335.50 per 1,000 is spent on alcoholic drinks for every man, woman and child in Ireland - higher than France, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands combined.
In its apology the Economist admitted "figures relating to alcohol spend in Ireland may not be strictly comparable. We apologise for any confusion."
The source of these figures was questioned by the Central Statistics Office and criticised by a senior Irish economist with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Mr Danny McCoy this week described the book's figures on marriage and alcohol consumption as "ludicrous".