Ireland ‘passes tipping point’ as fall in birth rate continues after 2009 peak

Ireland’s birth rate has passed its peak with fewer children born every year since the 2009 peak, figures show.

The decline in the birth rate continued last year with 74,377 births notified to the National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS).

Compared with 75,600 births in 2010, the 2011 figure represents a reduction of 1.6% since 2010 and 2.2% since the peak of 76,021 in 2009.