asked the Minister for Health whether there are any up-to-date figures on infant mortality in the State; whether any decrease has been apparent in recent years; and how the Irish rate compares with that in the EEC countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infant Mortality.
18.
In 1968 the infant mortality rate for this country was 20.98 per 1,000 live births. In 1967 the rate was 24.43 and in 1966 it was 24.95. The comparable figure for 1958 was 35.44. There has therefore been a marked and welcome decrease in infant mortality through the years.
The infant mortality rates per 1,000 live births in the EEC countries for 1968 were:—
|
Netherlands |
13.6 |
|
France |
20.4 |
|
Belgium |
22.0 |
|
Federal Republic of Germany |
22.8 |
|
Italy |
32.2 |
The latest figures available for Luxembourg is for 1967, when the rate was 20.4.