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.

Europe’s 15 states saw their population rise a mere 1.29 million (0.3%) to 379 million in 2001, according to EU statistical office Eurostat.

Immigration accounted for 75% of the increase, according to Eurostat, which noted the populations of Germany, Italy and Greece would have shrunk without it. Net migration has outpaced natural increases in the EU since 1989.

While Ireland led the EU with its population increase, Germany was last with 1.2%. After 10 more countries join the EU next year its population will rise to 453.3 million. The average life expectancy in the EU in 2002 was 81.6 for women (compared with 77.2 in 1980) and 75.5 for men (70.5 in 1980). The highest life expectancy for women was in Spain (83.1), with Sweden highest for men at 77.7.

The infant mortality rate in the EU fell to 4.5 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2002 from 4.7 in 2001. The lowest rates were recorded by Sweden (2.8) and the highest by Greece (5.9) and Britain (5.3).

Sinn Féin health spokesperson Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin said the figures reflected the failure of Government policies.

“The lower than EU average life expectancy in this State is a damning indictment of successive governments, but especially the FF-PD administration of the past six years.

“Government policies have widened the gap between rich and poor and it is those on lower income who suffer more from ill-health and reduced life expectancy. This brings down the national average. It is a direct result of our grossly unequal economy and our crisis-ridden health service.”