CSO sums up nation of long marriages and high birthrates

The Irish have some of the longest marriages and working weeks in Europe. The annual review of life here also confirms our reputation as a nation of baby-makers and emigrants.

Measuring Ireland’s Progress uses a range of data on health, economics, society, the environment, and education to paint a picture of how the country fares against EU counterparts, and what we need to know about ourselves.

We keep out-breeding most of the continent with a birthrate second only to the traditionally more romantic French. The fertility rate of 1.96 in 2013 is back to what it was in 2003 and a falloff from 2.06, when Ireland’s baby boom appeared to peak at the height of the recession.