asked the Minister for Health the number of births in the State for the last 20 years indicating the male/female breakdown and the geographic and county-by-county distribution; and if he will make a statement on the implications of the known trends in these respects.
Written Answers. - Birth Statistics.
The information requested is contained in the following tables. The main trends illustrated by these tables are:
(a) There was an overall increase in the number of births, from 60,735 in 1960 to 72,352 in 1979.
(b) The increase was not consistent. There were some periods of decline. In particular, there was a continuing decline from 1964 to 1968.
(c) The increase was unevenly distributed between counties. For example, comparing 1960 with 1979, the counties which had a greater than 20 per cent increase in births were Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Limerick, Clare, Louth, Meath, Donegal, Waterford, Wexford and Cork. Counties which had a decline in births in 1979 when compared with 1960 were Laois, Longford, Offaly, Cavan, Leitrim, Tipperary (SR), Mayo and Roscommon.
(d) The male/female ratio has remained fairly consistent. It was 1.052 in 1960 and 1.060 in 1979.
It may be implied from these trends that a number of factors were involved. Some of these factors tended to increase the number of births; some acted as a constraint on this increase.
1. The increase in births over this period was in step with the increase in population. The birth rate — number of births per 1,000 total population — was 21.5 in both 1960 and 1979.
2. The number of marriages taking place increased from 15,465 in 1960 to 20,864 in 1979 with a peak of 22,833 in 1974. The marriage rate — number of marriages per 1,000 total population — was 5.5 in 1960 and 6.2 in 1979.
3. The average age of the bride has decreased. It was 27.1 years in 1960 and had decreased to 24.1 years by 1976.
4. There was a change from net emigration to net immigration during this 20-year period. In the period 1961 to 1971 estimated net emigration amounted to about 135,000 while in the period 1971 to 1979 estimated net immigration was about 109,000. The great majority of the emigrants during these periods were in the child-bearing age groups.
5. Internal migration had an impact in the distribution of births between counties. Inward migration was experienced particularly in Dublin and the surrounding counties.
6. The age specific fertility rates of married women have declined, particularly in the case of the older women in the child-bearing age groups. This has resulted in a general decrease in average family size. An illustration of this decrease is that in 1960 22 per cent of all births were to mothers who already had 4 children while the corresponding figure for 1976 was 9 per cent.
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1960 |
1961 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
31,141 |
29,594 |
60,735 |
30,687 |
29,138 |
59,852 |
Carlow |
451 |
423 |
874 |
395 |
378 |
773 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,579 |
6,269 |
12,848 |
6,623 |
6,225 |
12,848 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
533 |
512 |
1,045 |
577 |
510 |
1,078 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
1,753 |
1,702 |
3,455 |
1,795 |
1,705 |
3,500 |
Kildare |
829 |
731 |
1,560 |
824 |
683 |
1,507 |
Kilkenny |
626 |
640 |
1,266 |
571 |
601 |
1,172 |
Laois |
513 |
481 |
994 |
500 |
485 |
985 |
Longford |
354 |
302 |
656 |
300 |
286 |
586 |
Louth |
793 |
827 |
1,620 |
799 |
762 |
1,561 |
Meath |
731 |
725 |
1,456 |
660 |
640 |
1,300 |
Offaly |
662 |
602 |
1,264 |
607 |
557 |
1,164 |
Westmeath |
635 |
579 |
1,214 |
611 |
610 |
1,221 |
Wexford |
831 |
899 |
1,730 |
907 |
869 |
1,776 |
Wicklow |
682 |
634 |
1,316 |
645 |
611 |
1,256 |
Leinster |
15,972 |
15,326 |
31,298 |
15,814 |
14,922 |
30,736 |
Clare |
732 |
676 |
1,408 |
679 |
640 |
1,319 |
Cork Co. Borough |
992 |
921 |
1,913 |
1,035 |
957 |
1,992 |
Cork County |
2,542 |
2,435 |
4,977 |
2,618 |
2,400 |
5,018 |
Kerry |
1,118 |
1,065 |
2,183 |
1,026 |
1,080 |
2,106 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
636 |
610 |
1,246 |
691 |
644 |
1,335 |
Limerick County |
840 |
719 |
1,559 |
855 |
825 |
1,680 |
Tipperary N.R. |
635 |
572 |
1,207 |
588 |
540 |
1,128 |
Tipperary S.R. |
840 |
765 |
1,605 |
794 |
799 |
1,593 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
325 |
358 |
683 |
354 |
345 |
699 |
Waterford County |
433 |
379 |
812 |
419 |
462 |
881 |
Munster |
9,093 |
8,500 |
17,593 |
9,059 |
8,692 |
17,751 |
Galway |
1,582 |
1,441 |
3,023 |
1,468 |
1,372 |
2,840 |
Leitrim |
335 |
280 |
615 |
291 |
254 |
545 |
Mayo |
1,115 |
1,064 |
2,179 |
1,035 |
1,037 |
2,072 |
Roscommon |
479 |
485 |
964 |
468 |
514 |
982 |
Sligo |
529 |
516 |
1,045 |
525 |
452 |
977 |
Connacht |
4,040 |
3,786 |
7,826 |
3,787 |
3,629 |
7,416 |
Cavan |
544 |
539 |
1,083 |
569 |
525 |
1,094 |
Donegal |
1,002 |
967 |
1,969 |
986 |
936 |
1,922 |
Monaghan |
490 |
476 |
966 |
472 |
434 |
906 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,036 |
1,982 |
4,018 |
2,027 |
1,895 |
3,922 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1962 |
1963 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
31,650 |
30,132 |
61,782 |
32,486 |
30,760 |
63,246 |
Carlow |
463 |
382 |
845 |
435 |
448 |
883 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,727 |
6,579 |
13,306 |
7,060 |
6,673 |
13,733 |
Dún Laoghaire Borough |
601 |
542 |
1,143 |
596 |
567 |
1,163 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
1,925 |
1,942 |
3,867 |
2,097 |
2,119 |
4,216 |
Kildare |
829 |
819 |
1,648 |
835 |
825 |
1,660 |
Kilkenny |
582 |
585 |
1,167 |
614 |
558 |
1,172 |
Laois |
502 |
483 |
985 |
561 |
507 |
1,068 |
Longford |
304 |
297 |
601 |
303 |
288 |
591 |
Louth |
815 |
782 |
1,597 |
841 |
817 |
1,658 |
Meath |
781 |
705 |
1,486 |
779 |
731 |
1,510 |
Offaly |
611 |
588 |
1,199 |
665 |
634 |
1,299 |
Westmeath |
673 |
557 |
1,230 |
619 |
617 |
1,236 |
Wexford |
916 |
890 |
1,806 |
971 |
931 |
1,902 |
Wicklow |
703 |
655 |
1,358 |
710 |
625 |
1,335 |
Leinster |
16,432 |
15,806 |
32,238 |
17,086 |
16,340 |
33,426 |
Clare |
694 |
661 |
1,355 |
718 |
699 |
1,417 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,052 |
995 |
2,020 |
1,086 |
997 |
2,083 |
Cork County |
2,732 |
2,508 |
5,240 |
2,793 |
2,506 |
5,299 |
Kerry |
1,097 |
1,006 |
2,103 |
1,097 |
1,031 |
2,128 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
673 |
728 |
1,401 |
749 |
661 |
1,410 |
Limerick County |
843 |
796 |
1,639 |
882 |
826 |
1,708 |
Tipperary N.R. |
653 |
549 |
1,202 |
548 |
595 |
1,143 |
Tipperary S.R. |
792 |
767 |
1,559 |
824 |
725 |
1,549 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
385 |
320 |
705 |
364 |
359 |
723 |
Waterford County |
458 |
423 |
881 |
457 |
445 |
902 |
Munster |
9,352 |
8,753 |
18,105 |
9,518 |
8,844 |
18,362 |
Galway |
1,479 |
1,426 |
2,905 |
1,540 |
1,456 |
2,996 |
Leitrim |
277 |
270 |
547 |
275 |
247 |
522 |
Mayo |
1,116 |
1,021 |
2,137 |
1,033 |
1,043 |
2,076 |
Roscommon |
489 |
457 |
946 |
435 |
440 |
875 |
Sligo |
508 |
464 |
972 |
523 |
470 |
993 |
Connacht |
3,869 |
3,638 |
7,507 |
3,806 |
3,656 |
7,462 |
Cavan |
533 |
451 |
984 |
568 |
512 |
1,080 |
Donegal |
941 |
1,009 |
1,950 |
1,074 |
953 |
2,027 |
Monaghan |
523 |
475 |
998 |
434 |
455 |
889 |
Ulster (part of) |
1,997 |
1,935 |
3,932 |
2,076 |
1,920 |
3,996 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1964 |
1965 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
32,759 |
31,313 |
64,072 |
32,438 |
31,087 |
63,525 |
Carlow |
450 |
463 |
913 |
421 |
437 |
858 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,943 |
6,631 |
13,574 |
6,610 |
6,419 |
13,029 |
Dún Laoghaire Borough |
567 |
567 |
1,134 |
484 |
496 |
980 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
2,510 |
2,370 |
4,880 |
2,740 |
2,724 |
5,464 |
Kildare |
851 |
773 |
1,624 |
837 |
833 |
1,670 |
Kilkenny |
646 |
633 |
1,279 |
612 |
559 |
1,171 |
Laois |
508 |
502 |
1,010 |
533 |
448 |
981 |
Longford |
318 |
273 |
591 |
339 |
277 |
616 |
Louth |
869 |
762 |
1,631 |
888 |
804 |
1,692 |
Meath |
759 |
728 |
1,487 |
802 |
754 |
1,556 |
Offaly |
664 |
616 |
1,280 |
655 |
597 |
1,252 |
Westmeath |
653 |
650 |
1,303 |
661 |
634 |
1,295 |
Wexford |
950 |
932 |
1,882 |
1,035 |
916 |
1,951 |
Wicklow |
718 |
662 |
1,380 |
691 |
690 |
1,381 |
Leinster |
17,406 |
16,562 |
33,968 |
17,308 |
16,588 |
33,896 |
Clare |
686 |
737 |
1,423 |
728 |
721 |
1,449 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,020 |
1,016 |
2,036 |
1,047 |
985 |
2,032 |
Cork County |
2,800 |
2,677 |
5,477 |
2,866 |
2,680 |
5,546 |
Kerry |
1,038 |
1,018 |
2,056 |
1,046 |
1,000 |
2,046 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
693 |
655 |
1,348 |
675 |
635 |
1,310 |
Limerick County |
955 |
873 |
1,828 |
959 |
891 |
1,850 |
Tipperary N.R. |
628 |
561 |
1,189 |
601 |
584 |
1,185 |
Tipperary S.R. |
811 |
759 |
1,570 |
771 |
780 |
1,551 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
361 |
355 |
716 |
370 |
343 |
713 |
Waterford County |
450 |
432 |
882 |
471 |
459 |
930 |
Munster |
9,442 |
9,083 |
18,525 |
9,534 |
9,078 |
18,612 |
Galway |
1,543 |
1,505 |
3,048 |
1,469 |
1,462 |
2,958 |
Leitrim |
288 |
269 |
557 |
248 |
244 |
492 |
Mayo |
1,054 |
964 |
2,018 |
1,043 |
916 |
1,959 |
Roscommon |
466 |
421 |
887 |
398 |
425 |
823 |
Sligo |
500 |
515 |
1,015 |
430 |
430 |
860 |
Connacht |
3,851 |
3,674 |
7,525 |
3,615 |
3,477 |
7,092 |
Cavan |
537 |
533 |
1,070 |
503 |
499 |
1,002 |
Donegal |
1,063 |
1,027 |
2,090 |
1,009 |
1,027 |
2,036 |
Monaghan |
460 |
434 |
894 |
469 |
418 |
887 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,060 |
1,994 |
4,054 |
1,981 |
1,944 |
3,925 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1966 |
1967 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
32,173 |
30,042 |
62,215 |
31,642 |
29,665 |
61,307 |
Carlow |
447 |
387 |
834 |
396 |
372 |
768 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,673 |
6,083 |
12,756 |
6,447 |
5,918 |
12,365 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
545 |
514 |
1,059 |
553 |
578 |
1,131 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
2,779 |
2,569 |
5,348 |
2,654 |
2,517 |
5,171 |
Kildare |
842 |
799 |
1,641 |
815 |
785 |
1,600 |
Kilkenny |
606 |
591 |
1,197 |
584 |
564 |
1,148 |
Laois |
477 |
416 |
893 |
487 |
413 |
900 |
Longford |
286 |
322 |
608 |
313 |
273 |
586 |
Louth |
867 |
824 |
1,691 |
862 |
838 |
1,700 |
Meath |
803 |
705 |
1,508 |
750 |
743 |
1,493 |
Offaly |
598 |
603 |
1,201 |
643 |
539 |
1,182 |
Westmeath |
707 |
613 |
1,320 |
650 |
587 |
1,237 |
Wexford |
1,003 |
963 |
1,966 |
956 |
876 |
1,832 |
Wicklow |
681 |
619 |
1,300 |
679 |
652 |
1,331 |
Leinster |
17,314 |
16,008 |
33,322 |
16,789 |
15,655 |
32,444 |
Clare |
730 |
720 |
1,450 |
691 |
653 |
1,344 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,605 |
1,384 |
2,989 |
1,596 |
1,407 |
3,003 |
Cork County |
2,207 |
2,129 |
4,336 |
2,250 |
2,201 |
4,451 |
Kerry |
1,004 |
964 |
1,968 |
1,014 |
964 |
1,978 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
784 |
692 |
1,476 |
768 |
723 |
1,491 |
Limerick County |
824 |
798 |
1,622 |
837 |
787 |
1,624 |
Tipperary N.R. |
580 |
559 |
1,139 |
578 |
545 |
1,123 |
Tipperary S.R. |
768 |
726 |
1,494 |
753 |
722 |
1,475 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
354 |
388 |
742 |
381 |
336 |
717 |
Waterford County |
474 |
403 |
877 |
434 |
397 |
831 |
Munster |
9,330 |
8,763 |
18,093 |
9,302 |
8,735 |
18,037 |
Galway |
1,564 |
1,330 |
2,894 |
1,492 |
1,341 |
2,833 |
Leitrim |
238 |
204 |
442 |
259 |
201 |
460 |
Mayo |
924 |
940 |
1,864 |
962 |
946 |
1,908 |
Roscommon |
447 |
389 |
836 |
434 |
404 |
838 |
Sligo |
449 |
480 |
929 |
475 |
452 |
927 |
Connacht |
3,622 |
3,343 |
6,965 |
3,622 |
3,344 |
6,966 |
Cavan |
509 |
488 |
997 |
463 |
505 |
968 |
Donegal |
963 |
989 |
1,952 |
1,011 |
984 |
1,995 |
Monaghan |
435 |
451 |
886 |
455 |
442 |
897 |
Ulster (part of) |
1,907 |
1,928 |
3,835 |
1,929 |
1,931 |
3,860 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1968 |
1969 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
31,469 |
29,535 |
61,004 |
32,143 |
30,769 |
62,912 |
Carlow |
409 |
347 |
756 |
407 |
402 |
809 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,515 |
6,043 |
12,558 |
6,522 |
6,264 |
12,786 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
618 |
594 |
1,212 |
728 |
678 |
1,406 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
2,651 |
2,430 |
5,081 |
2,614 |
2,522 |
5,136 |
Kildare |
842 |
803 |
1,645 |
896 |
846 |
1,742 |
Kilkenny |
595 |
581 |
1,176 |
640 |
629 |
1,269 |
Laois |
493 |
440 |
933 |
477 |
455 |
932 |
Longford |
278 |
247 |
525 |
282 |
291 |
573 |
Louth |
889 |
868 |
1,757 |
921 |
915 |
1,836 |
Meath |
780 |
716 |
1,496 |
795 |
765 |
1,560 |
Offaly |
602 |
551 |
1,153 |
570 |
588 |
1,158 |
Westmeath |
613 |
599 |
1,212 |
617 |
581 |
1,198 |
Wexford |
999 |
897 |
1,896 |
1,014 |
959 |
1,973 |
Wicklow |
712 |
637 |
1,349 |
746 |
688 |
1,434 |
Leinster |
16,996 |
15,753 |
32,749 |
17,229 |
16,583 |
33,812 |
Clare |
680 |
719 |
1,399 |
756 |
720 |
1,476 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,557 |
1,447 |
3,004 |
1,551 |
1,416 |
2,967 |
Cork County |
2,124 |
2,042 |
4,166 |
2,221 |
2,183 |
4,404 |
Kerry |
1,030 |
960 |
1,990 |
1,009 |
1,027 |
2,036 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
742 |
654 |
1,396 |
841 |
767 |
1,608 |
Limerick County |
768 |
723 |
1,491 |
815 |
776 |
1,591 |
Tipperary N.R. |
594 |
527 |
1,121 |
625 |
493 |
1,118 |
Tipperary S.R. |
700 |
717 |
1,417 |
739 |
740 |
1,479 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
391 |
352 |
743 |
455 |
421 |
876 |
Waterford County |
423 |
397 |
820 |
442 |
371 |
813 |
Munster |
9,009 |
8,538 |
17,547 |
9,454 |
8,914 |
18,363 |
Galway |
1,435 |
1,441 |
2,876 |
1,483 |
1,494 |
2,977 |
Leitrim |
230 |
197 |
427 |
201 |
185 |
386 |
Mayo |
938 |
909 |
1,847 |
997 |
980 |
1,977 |
Roscommon |
447 |
399 |
846 |
453 |
401 |
854 |
Sligo |
476 |
375 |
851 |
418 |
406 |
824 |
Connacht |
3,526 |
3,321 |
6,847 |
3,552 |
3,466 |
7,018 |
Cavan |
493 |
467 |
960 |
475 |
453 |
928 |
Donegal |
989 |
1,024 |
2,013 |
1,003 |
941 |
1,944 |
Monaghan |
456 |
432 |
888 |
430 |
412 |
842 |
Ulster (part of) |
1,938 |
1,923 |
3,861 |
1,908 |
1,806 |
3,714 |
Live Births by County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1970 |
1971 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
33,131 |
31,251 |
64,382 |
34,751 |
32,800 |
67,551 |
Carlow |
397 |
457 |
854 |
438 |
450 |
888 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,715 |
6,375 |
13,090 |
7,042 |
6,531 |
13,573 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
755 |
671 |
1,426 |
722 |
651 |
1,373 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
2,983 |
2,721 |
5,704 |
3,182 |
3,024 |
6,206 |
Kildare |
936 |
871 |
1,807 |
1,093 |
981 |
2,074 |
Kilkenny |
627 |
578 |
1,205 |
685 |
610 |
1,295 |
Laois |
523 |
449 |
972 |
487 |
439 |
926 |
Longford |
282 |
295 |
577 |
291 |
276 |
567 |
Louth |
966 |
948 |
1,914 |
995 |
915 |
1,910 |
Meath |
804 |
793 |
1,597 |
905 |
838 |
1,743 |
Offaly |
564 |
569 |
1,133 |
573 |
593 |
1,166 |
Westmeath |
657 |
527 |
1,184 |
600 |
585 |
1,185 |
Wexford |
1,023 |
929 |
1,952 |
1,040 |
994 |
2,034 |
Wicklow |
772 |
732 |
1,504 |
861 |
802 |
1,663 |
Leinster |
18,004 |
16,915 |
34,919 |
18,914 |
17,689 |
36,603 |
Clare |
754 |
700 |
1,454 |
826 |
751 |
1,577 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,640 |
1,590 |
3,230 |
1,731 |
1,696 |
3,427 |
Cork County |
2,377 |
2,167 |
4,544 |
2,405 |
2,322 |
4,727 |
Kerry |
1,094 |
1,018 |
2,112 |
1,109 |
999 |
2,108 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
744 |
751 |
1,495 |
854 |
779 |
1,633 |
Limerick County |
849 |
765 |
1,614 |
881 |
852 |
1,733 |
Tipperary N.R. |
612 |
562 |
1,174 |
602 |
570 |
1,172 |
Tipperary S.R. |
778 |
688 |
1,466 |
715 |
744 |
1,459 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
420 |
409 |
829 |
446 |
400 |
846 |
Waterford County |
421 |
419 |
840 |
477 |
443 |
920 |
Munster |
9,689 |
9,069 |
18,758 |
10,046 |
9,556 |
19,602 |
Galway |
1,507 |
1,450 |
2,957 |
1,646 |
1,612 |
3,258 |
Leitrim |
196 |
215 |
411 |
245 |
219 |
464 |
Mayo |
918 |
962 |
1,880 |
976 |
900 |
1,876 |
Roscommon |
426 |
366 |
792 |
424 |
388 |
812 |
Sligo |
434 |
386 |
820 |
474 |
484 |
958 |
Connacht |
3,481 |
3,379 |
6,860 |
3,765 |
3,603 |
7,368 |
Cavan |
481 |
453 |
934 |
495 |
473 |
968 |
Donegal |
1,024 |
995 |
2,019 |
1,086 |
1,030 |
2,116 |
Monaghan |
452 |
440 |
892 |
445 |
449 |
894 |
Ulster (part of) |
1,957 |
1,888 |
3,845 |
2,026 |
1,952 |
3,978 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1972 |
1973 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
35,375 |
33,152 |
68,527 |
35,304 |
33,409 |
68,713 |
Carlow |
447 |
455 |
902 |
422 |
436 |
858 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
6,732 |
6,374 |
13,106 |
6,349 |
6,019 |
12,368 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
667 |
618 |
1,285 |
578 |
528 |
1,106 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
3,561 |
3,253 |
6,814 |
3,859 |
3,543 |
7,402 |
Kildare |
1,100 |
1,067 |
2,167 |
1,158 |
1,138 |
2,296 |
Kilkenny |
649 |
682 |
1,331 |
691 |
631 |
1,322 |
Laois |
522 |
496 |
1,018 |
485 |
486 |
971 |
Longford |
337 |
270 |
607 |
288 |
297 |
585 |
Louth |
1,016 |
942 |
1,958 |
989 |
960 |
1,949 |
Meath |
961 |
854 |
1,815 |
956 |
898 |
1,854 |
Offaly |
644 |
549 |
1,193 |
630 |
644 |
1,274 |
Westmeath |
645 |
578 |
1,223 |
606 |
636 |
1,242 |
Wexford |
1,095 |
977 |
2,072 |
1,122 |
1,026 |
2,148 |
Wicklow |
843 |
851 |
1,694 |
942 |
879 |
1,821 |
Leinster |
19,219 |
17,966 |
37,185 |
19,075 |
18,121 |
37,196 |
Clare |
821 |
821 |
1,642 |
895 |
846 |
1,741 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,695 |
1,558 |
3,253 |
1,661 |
1,439 |
3,100 |
Cork County |
2,448 |
2,318 |
4,766 |
2,565 |
2,360 |
4,925 |
Kerry |
1,174 |
1,102 |
2,276 |
1,137 |
1,100 |
2,237 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
875 |
827 |
1,702 |
850 |
734 |
1,584 |
Limerick County |
903 |
828 |
1,731 |
917 |
912 |
1,829 |
Tipperary N.R. |
640 |
580 |
1,220 |
638 |
560 |
1,198 |
Tipperary S.R. |
788 |
740 |
1,528 |
794 |
732 |
1,526 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
408 |
368 |
776 |
396 |
398 |
794 |
Waterford County |
475 |
424 |
899 |
473 |
470 |
943 |
Munster |
10,227 |
9,566 |
19,793 |
10,326 |
9,551 |
19,877 |
Galway |
1,657 |
1,576 |
3,233 |
1,633 |
1,640 |
3,273 |
Leitrim |
249 |
229 |
478 |
212 |
219 |
431 |
Mayo |
987 |
931 |
1,918 |
997 |
957 |
1,954 |
Roscommon |
430 |
397 |
827 |
457 |
426 |
883 |
Sligo |
471 |
455 |
926 |
480 |
474 |
954 |
Connacht |
3,794 |
3,588 |
7,382 |
3,779 |
3,716 |
7,495 |
Cavan |
511 |
487 |
998 |
501 |
532 |
1,033 |
Donegal |
1,143 |
1,104 |
2,247 |
1,148 |
1,074 |
2,222 |
Monaghan |
481 |
441 |
922 |
475 |
415 |
890 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,135 |
2,032 |
4,167 |
2,124 |
2,021 |
4,145 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1974 |
1975 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
35,432 |
33,475 |
68,907 |
34,532 |
32,646 |
67,178 |
Carlow |
487 |
433 |
920 |
497 |
406 |
903 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
5,791 |
5,587 |
11,378 |
4,968 |
4,630 |
9,598 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
434 |
445 |
879 |
361 |
367 |
728 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
4,199 |
4,010 |
8,209 |
4,661 |
4,468 |
9,129 |
Kildare |
1,302 |
1,129 |
2,431 |
1,227 |
1,119 |
2,346 |
Kilkenny |
693 |
609 |
1,302 |
681 |
627 |
1,308 |
Laois |
475 |
458 |
933 |
442 |
456 |
898 |
Longford |
311 |
287 |
598 |
309 |
280 |
589 |
Louth |
984 |
935 |
1,919 |
973 |
934 |
1,907 |
Meath |
980 |
935 |
1,915 |
1,003 |
927 |
1,930 |
Offaly |
660 |
608 |
1,268 |
608 |
573 |
1,181 |
Westmeath |
639 |
639 |
1,278 |
575 |
601 |
1,176 |
Wexford |
1,103 |
1,022 |
2,125 |
1,054 |
993 |
2,047 |
Wicklow |
964 |
910 |
1,874 |
958 |
920 |
1,878 |
Leinster |
19,022 |
18,007 |
37,029 |
18,317 |
17,301 |
35,618 |
Clare |
851 |
777 |
1,628 |
834 |
802 |
1,636 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,503 |
1,378 |
2,881 |
1,238 |
1,125 |
2,363 |
Cork County |
2,643 |
2,552 |
5,195 |
2,904 |
2,643 |
5,547 |
Kerry |
1,139 |
1,086 |
2,225 |
1,130 |
1,108 |
2,238 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
708 |
647 |
1,355 |
482 |
468 |
950 |
Limerick County |
1,058 |
1,036 |
2,094 |
1,272 |
1,233 |
2,505 |
Tipperary N.R. |
655 |
631 |
1,286 |
608 |
592 |
1,200 |
Tipperary S.R. |
769 |
762 |
1,531 |
770 |
748 |
1,518 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
391 |
362 |
753 |
371 |
359 |
730 |
Waterford County |
545 |
521 |
1,066 |
533 |
522 |
1,055 |
Munster |
10,262 |
9,752 |
20,014 |
10,142 |
9,600 |
19,742 |
Galway |
1,720 |
1,615 |
3,335 |
1,679 |
1,574 |
3,253 |
Leitrim |
239 |
186 |
425 |
241 |
229 |
470 |
Mayo |
1,053 |
974 |
2,027 |
1,022 |
1,014 |
2,036 |
Roscommon |
402 |
419 |
821 |
413 |
414 |
827 |
Sligo |
534 |
477 |
1,011 |
471 |
475 |
946 |
Connacht |
3,948 |
3,671 |
7,619 |
3,826 |
3,706 |
7,532 |
Cavan |
511 |
526 |
1,037 |
556 |
475 |
1,031 |
Donegal |
1,179 |
1,095 |
2,274 |
1,195 |
1,121 |
2,316 |
Monaghan |
510 |
424 |
934 |
496 |
443 |
939 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,200 |
2,045 |
4,245 |
2,247 |
2,039 |
4,286 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1976 |
1977 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
34,849 |
32,869 |
67,718 |
35,259 |
33,177 |
68,436 |
Carlow |
468 |
460 |
928 |
458 |
421 |
879 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
4,902 |
4,681 |
9,583 |
4,834 |
4,594 |
9,428 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
418 |
375 |
793 |
552 |
493 |
1,045 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
4,673 |
4,444 |
9,117 |
4,842 |
4,491 |
9,333 |
Kildare |
1,262 |
1,099 |
2,361 |
1,183 |
1,121 |
2,304 |
Kilkenny |
649 |
621 |
1,270 |
664 |
661 |
1,325 |
Laois |
504 |
439 |
943 |
496 |
477 |
973 |
Longford |
321 |
311 |
632 |
326 |
275 |
601 |
Louth |
966 |
932 |
1,898 |
971 |
943 |
1,914 |
Meath |
990 |
926 |
1,916 |
1,043 |
991 |
2,034 |
Offaly |
644 |
573 |
1,217 |
609 |
546 |
1,155 |
Westmeath |
635 |
619 |
1,254 |
679 |
659 |
1,338 |
Wexford |
1,146 |
1,001 |
2,147 |
1,034 |
1,049 |
2,083 |
Wicklow |
951 |
916 |
1,867 |
926 |
898 |
1,824 |
Leinster |
18,529 |
17,397 |
35,926 |
18,617 |
17,619 |
36,236 |
Clare |
821 |
774 |
1,595 |
839 |
782 |
1,621 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,218 |
1,159 |
2,377 |
1,279 |
1,258 |
2,537 |
Cork County |
2,815 |
2,697 |
5,512 |
2,905 |
2,696 |
5,601 |
Kerry |
1,176 |
1,141 |
2,317 |
1,228 |
1,129 |
2,357 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
593 |
526 |
1,119 |
651 |
614 |
1,265 |
Limerick County |
1,230 |
1,207 |
2,437 |
1,195 |
1,081 |
2,276 |
Tipperary N.R. |
648 |
557 |
1,205 |
697 |
574 |
1,271 |
Tipperary S.R. |
809 |
731 |
1,540 |
722 |
672 |
1,394 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
352 |
343 |
695 |
387 |
382 |
769 |
Waterford County |
571 |
510 |
1,081 |
541 |
541 |
1,082 |
Munster |
10,233 |
9,645 |
19,878 |
10,444 |
9,729 |
20,173 |
Galway |
1,661 |
1,594 |
3,255 |
1,764 |
1,748 |
3,512 |
Leitrim |
233 |
209 |
442 |
224 |
221 |
445 |
Mayo |
1,043 |
1,006 |
2,049 |
933 |
856 |
1,789 |
Roscommon |
466 |
396 |
862 |
420 |
405 |
825 |
Sligo |
522 |
489 |
1,011 |
537 |
482 |
1,019 |
Connacht |
3,925 |
3,694 |
7,619 |
3,878 |
3,712 |
7,590 |
Cavan |
500 |
531 |
1,031 |
523 |
536 |
1,059 |
Donegal |
1,196 |
1,158 |
2,354 |
1,296 |
1,115 |
2,411 |
Monaghan |
466 |
444 |
910 |
501 |
466 |
967 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,162 |
2,133 |
4,295 |
2,320 |
2,117 |
4,437 |
Live Births by County and County Borough and by Sex
Area |
1978 |
1979 |
||||
Males |
Females |
Total |
Males |
Females |
Total |
|
Total |
35,568 |
34,276 |
69,844 |
37,222 |
35,130 |
72,352 |
Carlow |
498 |
423 |
921 |
474 |
518 |
992 |
Dublin Co. Borough |
5,014 |
4,756 |
9,770 |
4,947 |
4,785 |
9,732 |
Dun Laoghaire Borough |
394 |
404 |
798 |
441 |
425 |
866 |
Dublin Co. (remainder) |
5,052 |
4,772 |
9,824 |
5,535 |
5,119 |
10,654 |
Kildare |
1,250 |
1,183 |
2,433 |
1,370 |
1,232 |
2,602 |
Kilkenny |
669 |
653 |
1,322 |
769 |
679 |
1,448 |
Laois |
498 |
504 |
1,002 |
511 |
461 |
972 |
Longford |
362 |
326 |
688 |
324 |
321 |
645 |
Louth |
942 |
927 |
1,869 |
1,053 |
956 |
2,009 |
Meath |
1,026 |
996 |
2,022 |
1,083 |
1,100 |
2,183 |
Offaly |
564 |
608 |
1,172 |
624 |
625 |
1,249 |
Westmeath |
625 |
642 |
1,267 |
722 |
698 |
1,420 |
Wexford |
1,083 |
1,106 |
2,189 |
1,154 |
1,131 |
2,285 |
Wicklow |
1,053 |
962 |
2,015 |
1,013 |
981 |
1,994 |
Leinster |
19,030 |
18,262 |
37,292 |
20,020 |
19,031 |
39,051 |
Clare |
872 |
878 |
1,750 |
880 |
832 |
1,712 |
Cork Co. Borough |
1,296 |
1,222 |
2,518 |
1,288 |
1,243 |
2,531 |
Cork County |
2,762 |
2,699 |
5,461 |
3,079 |
2,857 |
5,936 |
Kerry |
1,214 |
1,141 |
2,355 |
1,288 |
1,129 |
2,417 |
Limerick Co. Borough |
530 |
549 |
1,079 |
564 |
494 |
1,058 |
Limerick County |
1,134 |
1,076 |
2,210 |
1,184 |
1,146 |
2,330 |
Tipperary N.R. |
659 |
613 |
1,272 |
673 |
636 |
1,309 |
Tipperary S.R. |
746 |
743 |
1,489 |
791 |
771 |
1,562 |
Waterford Co. Borough |
368 |
368 |
736 |
361 |
325 |
686 |
Waterford County |
568 |
518 |
1,086 |
628 |
590 |
1,218 |
Munster |
10,149 |
9,807 |
19,956 |
10,736 |
10,023 |
20,759 |
Galway |
1,723 |
1,664 |
3,387 |
1,800 |
1,719 |
3,519 |
Leitrim |
262 |
244 |
506 |
246 |
222 |
468 |
Mayo |
1,193 |
1,138 |
2,331 |
970 |
952 |
1,922 |
Roscommon |
414 |
383 |
797 |
453 |
421 |
874 |
Sligo |
511 |
504 |
1,015 |
552 |
565 |
1,117 |
Connacht |
4,103 |
3,933 |
8,036 |
4,021 |
3,879 |
7,900 |
Cavan |
544 |
535 |
1,079 |
534 |
520 |
1,054 |
Donegal |
1,253 |
1,237 |
2,490 |
1,348 |
1,192 |
2,540 |
Monaghan |
489 |
502 |
991 |
563 |
485 |
1,048 |
Ulster (part of) |
2,286 |
2,274 |
4,560 |
2,445 |
2,197 |
4,642 |
323.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state for each year for which statistics are available (a) the number of illegitimate children born in the State; (b) whether any information is available on the number of illegitimate children born outside the State to parents normally resident in the State and, if so, if he will give details; (c) if information is available on whether such children were born to either unmarried mothers, married mothers through a non-husband father, "common law" marriages, or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on all up-to-date information in the foregoing respects.
(a) The number of illegitimate children born in the State is given in Table 1 for each year from 1864 to 1979; (b) Information is not available on the number of illegitimate children born outside the State to parents normally resident in the State; (c) The information which is available does not make it possible to categorise illegitimate births according to the criteria requested.
Table 1 Number of Illegitimate Births, 1884 to 1979
Year |
Number |
1864 |
3,111 |
1865 |
3,015 |
1866 |
2,693 |
1867 |
2,561 |
1868 |
2,475 |
1869 |
2,189 |
1870 |
2,043 |
1871 |
2,136 |
1872 |
1,851 |
1873 |
1,754 |
1874 |
1,673 |
1875 |
1,573 |
1876 |
1,570 |
1877 |
1,657 |
1878 |
1,501 |
1879 |
1,676 |
1880 |
1,657 |
1881 |
1,584 |
1882 |
1,655 |
1883 |
1,558 |
1884 |
1,679 |
1885 |
1,662 |
1886 |
1,529 |
1887 |
1,545 |
1888 |
1,557 |
1889 |
1,518 |
1890 |
1,564 |
1891 |
1,501 |
1892 |
1,275 |
1893 |
1,448 |
1894 |
1,516 |
1895 |
1,472 |
1896 |
1,482 |
1897 |
1,525 |
1898 |
1,534 |
1899 |
1,470 |
1900 |
1,462 |
1901 |
1,424 |
1902 |
1,518 |
1903 |
1,435 |
1904 |
1,443 |
1905 |
1,475 |
1906 |
1,459 |
1907 |
1,407 |
1908 |
1,411 |
1909 |
1,519 |
1910 |
1,586 |
1911 |
1,508 |
1912 |
1,547 |
1913 |
1,543 |
1914 |
1,599 |
1915 |
1,689 |
1916 |
1,530 |
1917 |
1,537 |
1918 |
1,509 |
1919 |
1,668 |
1920 |
1,819 |
1921 |
1,603 |
1922 |
1,520 |
1923 |
1,624 |
1924 |
1,677 |
1925 |
1,662 |
1926 |
1,716 |
1927 |
1,758 |
1928 |
1,788 |
1929 |
1,853 |
1930 |
1,863 |
1931 |
1,925 |
1932 |
1,819 |
1933 |
2,004 |
1934 |
2,030 |
1935 |
1,946 |
1936 |
1,908 |
1937 |
1,813 |
1938 |
1,878 |
1939 |
1,781 |
1940 |
1,824 |
1941 |
1,975 |
1942 |
2,419 |
1943 |
2,448 |
1944 |
2,567 |
1945 |
2,626 |
1946 |
2,642 |
1947 |
2,348 |
1948 |
2,165 |
1949 |
2,006 |
1950 |
1,627 |
1951 |
1,588 |
1952 |
1,619 |
1953 |
1,340 |
1954 |
1,310 |
1955 |
1,234 |
1956 |
1,173 |
1957 |
1,032 |
1958 |
976 |
1959 |
959 |
1960 |
968 |
1961 |
975 |
1962 |
1,111 |
1963 |
1,157 |
1964 |
1,292 |
1965 |
1,403 |
1966 |
1,436 |
1967 |
1,540 |
1968 |
1,558 |
1969 |
1,642 |
1970 |
1,709 |
1971 |
1,842 |
1972 |
2,005 |
1973 |
2,167 |
1974 |
2,309 |
1975 |
2,515 |
1976 |
2,545 |
1977 |
2,837 |
1978 |
2,951 |
1979 |
3,331 |
Table 2 Number of Illegitimate Births per 100 Total Births
Country |
Year |
Ilegitimate Birth Rate |
Belgium |
1977 |
3.1 |
Denmark |
1978 |
27.9 |
Federal Republic of Germany |
1978 |
7.0 |
France |
1977 |
8.8 |
Ireland |
1979 |
4.6 |
Italy |
1978 |
3.7 |
Luxembourg |
1978 |
4.2 |
Netherlands |
1978 |
3.1 |
United Kingdom |
1978 |
9.9 |