Natural population growing at fastest rate in 25 years
31/07/2007 - 12:04:56Ireland's natural population is growing at its fastest rate in 25 years, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
The CSO says more than 64,000 babies were born in 2006, with just under 27,500 deaths recorded during the year.
This is the largest natural increase since 1982 and makes 2006 the fifth successive year when the number of births has been more than double the number of deaths.
Forty percent of births last year were to first-time mothers and 30% were outside marriage.
Elsewhere, four fifths of all deaths were due to circulatory disease, respiratory disease or cancer.
Four hundred and nine deaths were recorded as suicide, 78% of them among men.
There were also 22,000 marriages and around 3,500 divorces.
