EU report confirms highest natural population growth rate for Ireland

Ireland had the highest natural population growth rate (difference between births and deaths) in the EU in 2010, at 10.3%, according to an EU report released today.

However, Ireland showed the second highest net outflow of people at -7.5%, according to the Eurostat report.

The report covers the period up to January 1, 2011, at which time the population of the EU's 27 member states was estimated at 502.5 million, compared with 501.1 million on January 1, 2010.

The population of the EU grew by 1.4 million in 2010, an annual rate of +2.7 per 1000 inhabitants, due to a natural increase of 0.5 million (+1.0‰) and net migration of 0.9 million (+1.7‰).

The population of the euro area (EA17) was estimated at 332.0 million on January 1, 2011, compared with 330.9 million on 1 January 2010.

Highest natural growth rates were in Ireland, Cyprus, France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. In 2010, 5.4 million children were born in the EU.

The crude birth rate was 10.7 per 1000 inhabitants, the same as in 2009.

The highest birth rates were recorded in Ireland (16.5%), the United Kingdom (13%), and France (12.8%), and the lowest rates in Germany (8.3%).