When it comes to total population rise (i.e. natural change plus migration), Ireland had the fourth highest relative rise in population in the EU in 2016 (+10.6 per 1,000 residents). This meant Ireland had a total population rise of just over 50,000 in 2016 bringing the total population of Ireland in 2017 to 4,774,800 on 1 January 2017.
Ireland had the highest birth rate and lowest death rate in the EU in 2016
There were 63,900 live births in Ireland in 2016, or 13.5 per 1,000 inhabitants, the highest birth rate in the EU and well above the EU average of 10 births per 1,000 inhabitants.
At the same time, there were 30,400 deaths or 6.4 per 1,000 inhabitants, joint lowest rate in the EU with Cyprus. This led to a natural population change of +7.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, the largest natural rise in the EU.