Population up 12.3% to more than 4m

THE population in Ireland increased by 12.3% to more than four million between 1995 and 2004, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

It was the second highest rate of increase in the EU and was significantly higher than the EU 25 growth of just 2.2%. The fertility rate in Ireland remained the highest in the EU 25 in 2003, at 1.98 compared to an EU average of 1.48.

Life expectancy in the period 2001-2003 was 80.3 years for Irish women, compared to the EU average of 81.1, and 75.1 years for Irish men, compared to the EU average of 74.8 years.