Increase in birth rate slowing - CSO

Nearly 19,000 births were registered during the third quarter of 2008, with 33 per cent of all births registered to unmarried parents, according to new figures released today.

A total of 18,792 births were registered during the quarter, an increase of just over 1 per cent compared to the same three month period a year earlier, but significantly lower than the level of increase recorded in recent quarters.

During the second quarter of last year for example, the annual increase recorded was 11 per cent.

However, the number of births registered during the third quarter of 2008 was 36 per cent higher than the same quarter in 1999 when just 13,840 babies were registered.

These figures are contained in the Central Statistics Office's Vital Statistics Third Quarter 2008report.

Galway City and Cork City recorded the lowest birth rate of 13.1 per 1,000 population, while the highest birth rate was recorded in Co Meath at 22.2 per 1,000 population.

Of the 18,792 births which took place during the third quarter of last year, 42 per cent were to first time mothers, and just under one third to second time mothers.

The average age of mothers having their first child was 28.8 years.

During the same quarter, 6,829 deaths were registered, giving an annual death rate of 6.2 per 1,000 population.

For those aged 65 and over, the annual death rate was 43.3 per 1,000 population.

Over one third of all deaths recorded were attributed to circulatory diseases, while 31 per cent were due to malignant neoplasms and 10 per cent to respiratory diseases.

A total 73 infant deaths were recorded during the quarter, according to the figures.

There were 8,765 marriages registered during the period, which is traditionally the most popular quarter in which to tie the knot. This marks a 19 per cent increase on the third quarter of 1999 when 7,342 marriages were registered.

The estimated population at the end of April 2008 was 4,422,100.