Life expectancy increases as people smoke and drink less, health minister says

In terms of alcohol use and smoking, the report suggests that per-capita annual consumption has fallen by 12.2% and 50% respectively between 2015 and 2024. File picture 

Irish people are living longer while smoking and drinking less, but demand on our health services has risen significantly, statistics have shown.

Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill published the details as part of the annual check of the nation’s health in Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2025 which she said showed how the country has made large strides in health outcomes in recent years.

“We have the eighth highest life expectancy in the EU, and the highest rate of self-reported good health,” she said. “This report reflects the impact of sustained investment in our health service and the dedication of those working across it.

“At the same time, our population is growing and ageing and demand for health services continues to increase.”

The annual survey looks at trends across demographics, population health, hospital and primary care, health service employment and expenditure, and child and adolescent health.

Policymakers and the health service use data such as this to develop legislation and strategies to help combat the issues plaguing the nation’s health.

For the fourth year in a row, people in Ireland had the highest rate of reporting they were in good health in the EU, with 80.4% of men and 79.6% of women rating their health as good or very good.

Life expectancy has increased in the last decade, by over two years for men to 81.1 years in 2023 and by a year for women to 84.6 years.

The report said the overall mortality rate has fallen by 16.1% since 2015, with the Department of Health hailing substantial reductions in deaths from cancer, circulatory system diseases, ischaemic heart disease, and respiratory system diseases.

At the same time Ireland’s population has grown significantly, by 15.2% since 2016, with the largest increase among those aged 65 and over. Between 2016 and 2025, their numbers have risen by 36.7%.

This increase in the older population has coincided with an increased demand on health services, with 1.6m attendances at hospital emergency departments in 2024, which was a 6.6% increase on the previous year.

Furthermore, there was an 8.9% increase in outpatient attendances to 4m. It said those aged 65 and over accounted for more than half of inpatient bed days in 2024.

In terms of alcohol use and smoking, the report suggests that per-capita annual consumption has fallen by 12.2% and 50% respectively between 2015 and 2024.

Looking at the health workforce, the data shows that the number of consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors employed in the public health service stood at 14,468 in 2025, an increase of 62.2% since 2016.

The number of nurses and midwives, meanwhile, has risen 36.1% to almost 49,000.

There has also been a significant increase in medical and dental staff, health and social care professionals, and patient and client care workers.

All of this has meant public health expenditure has more than doubled between 2015 and 2024, with annual health expenditure reaching €27.4bn in Budget 2026.

Ms Carroll MacNeill added: “This report provides vital evidence to help us understand these trends and to ensure that our policies and planning are focused on delivering accessible, timely and highquality care for everyone, both now and into the future.”

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here