Ireland continues to lead the fertility ratings in the EU with 1.89 children per woman of childbearing age, according to a report by the EU's statistical office.
The report shows the EU population was 375,967,700 on January 1st, 2000, marking an increase from the previous year of 989,200.
While all EU member-states had some increase in population growth, the highest rates recorded were in Luxembourg (15 per cent) and Ireland (10.7 per cent). While most countries owed their increases to net migration, natural growth remained the primary factor in Ireland, as well as in France, Finland and the Netherlands.
There was a decline in infant mortality throughout Europe, from 12.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1980 to five per 1,000 in 1999. The EU's overall crude mortality rate was 9.9 inhabitants per 1,000 in 1999 (Ireland's rate was 8.4).
Life expectancy continues to rise and, for children born in 1999, it is 74.6 for boys and 80.9 for girls.
After falling for many years, the crude marriage rate in the EU rose slightly, from five per 1,000 inhabitants to 5.1. It increased in nine member-states, including Ireland.