Over the past two decades, the rate of births among women under 20 has declined sharply, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office, reports RTE.
In 2023, the CSO reported 3.7 live births per 1,000 women under the age of 20 in Ireland, a substantial drop from the 17.6 recorded in 2004.
This marks a 79% reduction in that age category, reports RTE.
Back in 2004, there were 2,560 births among women under 20.
By last year, that number had decreased significantly to 634.
In contrast, births among women aged 45 and older increased, with 461 live births recorded last year compared to just 78 in 2004, reports RTE.
Data from the CSO also highlights a shift in the average age of first-time mothers, which was 31.7 in 2023.
This is up from an average age of 30.5 in 2014 and 28.5 in 2004, reports RTE.
A total of 54,062 live births were recorded last year, reflecting a decline from the 2004 figure of 61,684.
Declines were also observed in the 20-24, 25-29, and 30-34 age categories over the same timeframe, reports RTE.
Births among women aged 20-24 dropped to 3,886 in 2023, down from 8,213 in 2004.
Among those aged 25-29, births fell from 14,339 in 2004 to 9,088 in 2024.
For the 30-34 age group, there was a more moderate decline from 21,267 to 18,773 over the 20-year span, reports RTE.
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