Suicide is the main cause of death among young men in Ireland according to official statistics.
A report on births marriages and deaths released by the Central Statistics Office shows there were 116 suicides in the third quarter of 2003, or 12 per 100,000 population.
This represents 30 per cent of deaths in the 15-24 age group and 23 per cent of all deaths in the 25-34 age group making it the largest cause of death in these age groups. Men represented 78 per cent of suicides, while women accounted for 22 per cent.
According to the report, 15,900 babies were born between July and September 2003, giving a birth rate of 16 births per head of population, the highest in ten years. Over one third of babies are now born outside marriage.
First and second-time mothers accounted for three quarters of births reflecting the trend towards smaller family sizes. Over 30 per cent of births were outside marriage. A total of 650 teenagers had babies, nine of whom were under 16. Over 27 per cent of births outside marriage were to women aged 30 years and over.
The highest percentage of births outside marriage occurred in Limerick city at 55 per cent, while the county with the lowest percentage was Co Galway at 18 per cent.
The average age at maternity was 30.6 years while the average age at first birth was 28.3 years.
The report also shows that heart disease is remains the main cause of death in Ireland. Of the 6,600 deaths recorded in the third quarter, 36 per cent were due to heart diseases, 28 per cent from cancer and 14 per cent from respiratory disease.