Ireland has the highest life expectancy in the EU, according to a report by the Department of Health.
The report found people in Ireland have a life expectancy of 82 years.
The Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2022 report by the department compared Ireland in areas such as topics population growth, life expectancy and health status.
It said the life expectancy is continuing to increase.
In 2020, the life expectancy of women in the State was 84, up from 83 a decade before and for men it was 81, up from 79.
The gap between the two sexes is also narrowing. It was 3.6 years in 2020, down from 5.2 years in 2000.
The report confirmed that the greatest gains in life expectancy have been achieved in the older age groups, reflecting decreasing mortality rates from major diseases.
According to the report, the population in 2022 grew by an estimated 7.6% since the 2016 Census.
While the report noted that the population is growing across all regions and age groups, it said: "The most significant growth is seen in the older age groups.
"The population aged 65 and over has increased by 35% since 2013, which is considerably higher than the EU average increase of 17.3%".
It said that the latest population projections released by the Central Statistics Office indicated that population growth was set to continue for at least the next two decades.
"Assuming moderate changes in migration and fertility rates, the total population is projected to reach 5.77 million by 2042," it said.
At 82 yrs, Ireland's life expectancy is the highest in the EU. #HealthTrends2022 Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2022 Report https://t.co/94uDdSRugy pic.twitter.com/XzXdpmE0dc
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) December 22, 2022
According to the report, Ireland's fertility rate is at its lowest in the last decade, but nevertheless, it is the sixth highest in the EU, behind France, Romania, Czechia, Denmark and Sweden.
The report also noted that since 2012 there has been a gradual decrease in the number of live births.
It said: "This is due in part to the reduction in fertility rates but, more significantly, to the fact that the number of women in the main child-bearing age groups has declined in recent years.
"This is a demographic feature which is likely to result in a steady reduction in the number of births over the coming decade even if, as expected, Ireland continues to experience fertility rates which are higher than most other EU countries."
According to the report, Ireland has the highest self-perceived health status in the EU, with 82.1% of people rating their health as good or very good.
It said that the number of people reporting a chronic illness or health problem is also better than the EU average, at around 29% of the population.
However, it noted that "fewer low-income earners reporting good health both in Ireland and across the EU".
The report found age-standardised mortality rates here have declined for all causes over the past decade by 15.8%.
It said: "This decrease is particularly strong for mortality rates from suicide (-32.6%), transport accidents (-54.7%), pneumonia (-59.1%) and stroke (-47.8%).
"Infant mortality, measured as deaths per 1,000 live births, has also decreased by 14.3% since 2011 and remains below the EU average."
However, it noted that improvements in mortality rates and high levels of self-rated health can mask variations between regions, age groups and other population subgroups.
