Death rates in Ireland are higher than average, among 19 comparable developed countries, a new study has found.
The study says that if we matched the international average, approximately 1,100 fewer people would die each year.
The study, which was carried out by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, has found that on average, people under 75 years old, can expect to live 1.5 years less than their counterparts in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Italy and France. It examined data over a 25-year period, spanning 1980-2004.
It says that although 1.5 years may seem small, this translates into the 1,100 deaths per year that would not occur if Ireland matched average international standards.
The study says death rates for women aged 65-85 and men aged 75-85 are more than 20 per cent higher in Ireland.
However, it is not all bad news. The study found there had been particular improvements in Irish mortality rates over the past 25 years. Overall, death rates have reduced by 40 per cent between 1980 and 2004.
Ireland also has lower-than- average death rates among men aged 35-55 and for women aged 25-35 and 42-48.
The most significant successes have been in reducing the number of deaths from heart and strokes. Heart disease accounted for around 40 per cent of all deaths in 2004.
This represented a fall of almost 50 per cent on 1980 levels, which translates into around 52,000 deaths being "postponed over the period", or an average of around 2,200 deaths per year.
Although these are positive figures, other countries are enjoying similar sharp reductions in mortality in these areas, said Aisling Kennedy, director of professional affairs with the Society of Actuaries.
The study found that deaths from cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke, showed even greater improvements. The 2004 figure showed that death from these diseases reduced to 35 per cent of the 1980 figure.
Cancer showed a more mixed picture, accounting for around one-quarter of all deaths in 2004.
Although death rates from cancer have fallen overall, there has been a rise in prostate cancer deaths among men, and lung cancer among women, according to Ms Kennedy.
She said the study had taken the ageing population into account when examining the cancer figures.
Ms Kennedy said the study, which was still under way, was aimed at planning for the future in terms of pensions and social policy. Its data was complied using information from the human mortality database which includes 19 developed countries.
She said improving mortality rates was a matter for health professionals, but said there were certainly "huge improvements coming through" in terms of people's life expectancies being extended.
"We need to get a handle on it so that as a country, and individuals, we can plan for the future," she said.