Ireland has highest birth rate in EU but lowest life expectancy

IRELAND has the highest birth rate but the lowest life expectancy in the EU, according to statistics released yesterday.

In 2002, there were 60,500 births and 29,400 deaths in Ireland, according to official figures.

Ireland has the lowest figure for life expectancy, both for females (78.5 years) and males (73). Between our high 15.1% birth rate and net migration, the Republic’s population now stands at 3,917,203.