Record number of women in Ireland had a caesarean birth, new report finds

There has been an increase in caesarean births in Ireland

According to a report by the Irish Maternity Indicator System, this is largely due to an increase in older mothers.

More than four in every 10 women giving birth in Ireland in 2025 had a caesarean birth. This figure includes both planned and emergency C-sections.

The figure has risen from 40.6% to 42.3% in 2025.

The report has also revealed a continuing decline in Ireland's birth rate.

"Over the past 12 years, since 2014, there has been a decline nationally in the numbers of Total births/Total women delivering of over 19%. The decline has been observed across all 19 maternity hospitals/units, irrespective of size."

The report adds, "The rise is attributed to various factors, including later maternal age, increasing use of reproductive technologies, smaller family sizes and the need for timely access to care."

What happens during a C-Section?

There are two different types of C-sections: a planned (elective) operation or an emergency operation.

A caesarean birth is when your baby is born through an incision (cut) in your tummy and womb.

The cut is usually made across your tummy, just below your belly button. A C-section operation takes about 45 minutes.

An epidural or spinal anesthetic is used in most C-sections, and the patient will be awake during the operation. However, some patients will be given a general anesthetic during an emergency C-section, meaning they will be asleep for the operation.

You can view the full report here.