The number of teenage mothers in Ireland has dropped to its lowest rate since 1963.

According to the latest information from the Central Statistics Office, births to women under the age of 20 fell to just 2.3%, a total of 1,690.

In 1999, the rate was at its highest of 6.2% but had continued to drop by 2010 to 2.7%.

Ireland's fertility rate dropped overall, but still remains the highest in Europe at 2.02%.

The number of home births has also increased by 2.5% in the last two years with 334 babies being born at home, while the baby boom seems to be slowing down.

The birth rate is 16.2 per 1,000 of the population in comparison to 15.0% in 2001.

The population is now 4.57 million.

1,307 sets of twins were born, as were 27 sets of triplets and one set of quadruplets.

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