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Components of Period Fertility in the Irish Republic, 1962–77

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

K. Wilson-Davis
K. Wilson-Davis
Affiliation:
Social Research Division, Stormont, Belfast
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Summary

The method of decomposition is applied to evaluate the role played by fertility and changing nuptiality patterns in the number of legitimate live births in Ireland, 1962–77. In recent years there has been a demographic ‘transformation’ in Ireland with increasing proportions marrying and at younger ages than previously while the crude birth rate has remained one of the highest in Western Europe.

The analysis shows that the upward trend in births between 1962 and 1977 was due to more women marrying than in previous years and marrying at younger ages, but that age-specific birth rates have declined dramatically.

It is postulated that both the increasing nuptiality and the decreasing marital fertility have been occasioned by the increasing use of ‘artificial’ contraception in Ireland.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , January 1983 , pp. 95 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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References

Farid, S.M. (1974) Components of period fertility in England and Wales. J. biosoc. Sci. 6, 59.Google Scholar
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Wilson-Davis, K. (1974) The contraceptive situation in the Irish Republic. J. biosoc. Sci. 6, 483.Google Scholar