In 2016, the latest figures available from the ESRI, Ireland reported the highest fertility rate of any of the 28 EU countries, at 13.5 births per 1,000 population.
The twinning rate for 2016 was 18.8 per 1,000 maternities, this represents an increase of 22.1% over the decade since 2006 and an a 1.6% increase between 2015 and 2016. Multiple births in 2016 included 2,363 sets of twins, 79 higher order multiple births.
Multiple Births in Ireland
|
|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
2016 |
| Twin births | 2,575 | 2,373 | 2,480 | 2,638 | 2,435 | 2,526 | 2,461 | 2,390 |
2,363 |
|
Higher Order |
96 | 43 | 74 | 88 | 99 | 91 | 79 | 95 |
79 |
| Twinning rate
(per 1,000 maternities) |
17.4 | 15.9 | 16.7 | 18.1 | 17.2 | 18.6 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
18.8 |
Source: ESRI Perinatal Statistics Report 2016, Health Research and Information Division, December 2016 http://www.hpo.ie/latest_hipe_nprs_reports/NPRS_2016/Perinatal_Statistics_Report_2016.pdf