Recent characteristics of Roman Catholic fertility in Northern and Southern Ireland

Abstract

Summary In this study census and vital registration data are used to analyse and compare Roman Catholic fertility in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. While Roman Catholic fertility is relatively high in both areas the birth rate amongst Roman Catholics has been generally higher in Northern Ireland than in the Republic. This difference, which was particularly marked in 1961, can be attributed to the higher levels of marital fertility and nuptiality amongst Northern Irish Catholics. An analysis of average family size amongst couples married between 1946 and 1971 also points to the higher fertility of Northern Irish Catholics. It is argued that the high levels of Catholic fertility in both countries can be attributed to certain characteristics common to both populations, such as the strength of the Roman Catholic Church, high levels of emigration and the relative lack of modernisation and economic development. In addition, it would appear that the differences between Roman Catholic marital fertility in Northern and Southern Ireland are not completely explained by variations in age structure, duration of marriage, age of wife at marriage, levels of childlessness or occupation, and it is suggested that the minority status of Northern Irish Catholics has played a small but important contributory role in accounting for their higher level of fertility.