The Irish population grew at the fastest rate for 25 years in 2006, with more than twice as many births as deaths.
The Central Statistics Office said 64,237 babies were born during the year with 27,479 deaths recorded, the highest natural increase in population since 1982.
In 2006 the number of births was 3,195 more than the 2005 figure, which the CSO says can largely be explained by a corresponding increase in the female population of child-bearing age.
There was also a small rise in the average fertility rate, which was 1.9 children per woman in 2006.
Over a third of the babies were born outside marriage with the highest percentage, almost two-thirds, in Limerick city.
There were 21,841 marriages registered last year, 486 more than in 2005, and the courts granted 3,466 divorces.
