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Statistics

2,700 texts per person sent in Ireland

Latest Eurostat yearbook shows how we compare to our EU neighbours across a range of issues from household expenses to marriage and divorce.
3.18pm, 12 May 2012
8.5k
32

EUROSTAT, the European statistics-compiling body, has released its yearbook for 2012.

Ireland was among the highest-ranking countries when it came to texting – sending 2,700 messages per inhabitant in 2009. Ireland also recorded 119 mobile phone contracts per 100 persons.

Meanwhile, we have the youngest third-level students among the EU27, a below-average ratio of inhabitants to post offices, and the lowest divorce rate.

Here’s how we compare to our EU neighbours:

2,700 texts per person sent in Ireland
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  • Post offices

    In 2010, Ireland had an average of 3,322 inhabitants per post office. The EU average was 3,900 inhabitants per post office, up from 3,300 in 2004. In 2010, the largest number of persons per post office were recorded in Belgium (7,900), the Netherlands (7,600) and Greece (7,100). (Image: Photocall Ireland)

  • Texting

    Some 580 text were sent per EU27 inhabitant in 2009, with national levels varying. Lithuania led this field, with 2,800 texts sent per inhabitant, while in Ireland 2,700 were sent per inhabitant. (Image: PA Wire)

  • Mobile phones

    There were 125 mobile phone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in the EU27 in 2009. The highest rates were observed in Greece (180 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants), Italy and Portugal (both 151). Ireland had 119 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. (PA File)

  • Study

    The median age in third-level education across the EU27 was 22.1 years in 2009. The highest median ages were observed in Sweden (25.3) and Denmark (25.2), while the lowest were in Ireland (20.2) and France (20.5). (Image: failedimitator/Flickr/Creative Commons)

  • Employment

    The EU27 rate for people aged between 15 and 64 was measured at 64.2 per cent (down from 64.6 in 2009). Some 23.2 million people were unemployed across the EU27 in 2010. The proportion of the EU-27 workforce reporting that their main job was part-time increased steadily from 16.2 per cent in 2000 to 19.2 per cent by 2010. The highest proportion of part-time workers was found in the Netherlands (48.9 per cent in 2010), followed by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Austria, where part-time work accounted in each case for over a quarter (25 - 27 per cent) of those in employment. Part-time employment was relatively uncommon in Bulgaria (2.4 per cent of employment) and Slovakia (3.9 per cent). (Image: rbrwr/Flickr/Creative Commons)

  • Life expectancy

    Around 4.85m persons died in the EU-27 in 2010 (this was broadly in line with deaths recorded over the previous 40 years). Based on EU-27 observations for 2008, a new born male is expected to live, on average, to 76.4 years old, while a new born female is expected to live to 82.4 years old. (Image: PA File)

  • Housing

    Housing costs accounted for an average of 24 per cent of household consumption expenditure in the EU27 in 2010. The lowest share spent on housing was recorded in Malta (12 per cent) and the highest was in Denmark (30 per cent). Ireland registered 22.3 per cent (acc to 2008 figures). (Images_of_Money/Flickr/Creative Commons)

  • Infant mortality

    During the 15 years from 1994 to 2009 the infant mortality rate in the EU-27 was almost halved. The lowest infant mortality rate within the EU-27 in 2009 occurred in Slovenia (2.4 deaths per 1 000 live births), Luxembourg, Sweden (both 2.5 per cent) and Finland (2.6 per cent). Infant mortality rates were approximately four times higher in Romania (10.1 per cent) and Bulgaria (9.0 per cent). (Image: PA File)

  • Food

    Food and non-alcoholic drinks accounted for an average 12.9 per cent share of household consumption expense in the EU27 in 2010. Ireland recorded a 9.8 per cent share in 2008. (Image: Photocall Ireland)

  • Transport

    Transport costs accounted for about the same average expense as food across the EU27 in 2010 (13 per cent of overall household consumption expenses). In Ireland, transport accounted for a 12.2 per cent share of the expenses in 2008. (Image: slightly everything/Flickr/Creative Commons)

  • Population

    On 1 January 2011 the population of the EU-27 was estimated at 502.5 million; this was 1.4 million people more than the year before and therefore continued a pattern of uninterrupted EU-27 population growth that has been apparent since 1960. The number of inhabitants in the EU-27 grew from 402.6 million in 1960, rising by almost 100 million persons through to 2011. Just over one third (36.8 per cent) of the population increase in the EU-27 during 2010 resulted from natural growth; Net migration plus statistical adjustment continued to be the main determinant of population growth in the EU-27, accounting for 63.2 per cent of the population increase during 2010. (Image: Photocall Ireland)

  • Marriage

    The crude marriage rate in the EU-27 declined from 7.9 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 1970 to 4.5 marriages in 2009. The rate was highest in Cyprus (7.9 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 2009) and Poland (6.0); the lowest crude marriage rates were reported by Slovenia and Bulgaria (both with 3.2 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants). Ireland recorded a rate of 4.6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 2010. (Image: Instant Vintage/Flickr/Creative Commons)

  • Divorce

  • In 2010, Ireland had an average of 3,322 inhabitants per post office. The EU average was 3,900 inhabitants per post office, up from 3,300 in 2004. In 2010, the largest number of persons per post office were recorded in Belgium (7,900), the Netherlands (7,600) and Greece (7,100). (Image: Photocall Ireland)
  • Some 580 text were sent per EU27 inhabitant in 2009, with national levels varying. Lithuania led this field, with 2,800 texts sent per inhabitant, while in Ireland 2,700 were sent per inhabitant. (Image: PA Wire)
  • There were 125 mobile phone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in the EU27 in 2009. The highest rates were observed in Greece (180 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants), Italy and Portugal (both 151). Ireland had 119 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. (PA File)
  • The median age in third-level education across the EU27 was 22.1 years in 2009. The highest median ages were observed in Sweden (25.3) and Denmark (25.2), while the lowest were in Ireland (20.2) and France (20.5). (Image: failedimitator/Flickr/Creative Commons)
  • The EU27 rate for people aged between 15 and 64 was measured at 64.2 per cent (down from 64.6 in 2009). Some 23.2 million people were unemployed across the EU27 in 2010. The proportion of the EU-27 workforce reporting that their main job was part-time increased steadily from 16.2 per cent in 2000 to 19.2 per cent by 2010. The highest proportion of part-time workers was found in the Netherlands (48.9 per cent in 2010), followed by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Austria, where part-time work accounted in each case for over a quarter (25 - 27 per cent) of those in employment. Part-time employment was relatively uncommon in Bulgaria (2.4 per cent of employment) and Slovakia (3.9 per cent). (Image: rbrwr/Flickr/Creative Commons)
  • Around 4.85m persons died in the EU-27 in 2010 (this was broadly in line with deaths recorded over the previous 40 years). Based on EU-27 observations for 2008, a new born male is expected to live, on average, to 76.4 years old, while a new born female is expected to live to 82.4 years old. (Image: PA File)
  • Housing costs accounted for an average of 24 per cent of household consumption expenditure in the EU27 in 2010. The lowest share spent on housing was recorded in Malta (12 per cent) and the highest was in Denmark (30 per cent). Ireland registered 22.3 per cent (acc to 2008 figures). (Images_of_Money/Flickr/Creative Commons)
  • During the 15 years from 1994 to 2009 the infant mortality rate in the EU-27 was almost halved. The lowest infant mortality rate within the EU-27 in 2009 occurred in Slovenia (2.4 deaths per 1 000 live births), Luxembourg, Sweden (both 2.5 per cent) and Finland (2.6 per cent). Infant mortality rates were approximately four times higher in Romania (10.1 per cent) and Bulgaria (9.0 per cent). (Image: PA File)
  • Food and non-alcoholic drinks accounted for an average 12.9 per cent share of household consumption expense in the EU27 in 2010. Ireland recorded a 9.8 per cent share in 2008. (Image: Photocall Ireland)
  • Transport costs accounted for about the same average expense as food across the EU27 in 2010 (13 per cent of overall household consumption expenses). In Ireland, transport accounted for a 12.2 per cent share of the expenses in 2008. (Image: slightly everything/Flickr/Creative Commons)
  • On 1 January 2011 the population of the EU-27 was estimated at 502.5 million; this was 1.4 million people more than the year before and therefore continued a pattern of uninterrupted EU-27 population growth that has been apparent since 1960. The number of inhabitants in the EU-27 grew from 402.6 million in 1960, rising by almost 100 million persons through to 2011. Just over one third (36.8 per cent) of the population increase in the EU-27 during 2010 resulted from natural growth; Net migration plus statistical adjustment continued to be the main determinant of population growth in the EU-27, accounting for 63.2 per cent of the population increase during 2010. (Image: Photocall Ireland)
  • The crude marriage rate in the EU-27 declined from 7.9 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 1970 to 4.5 marriages in 2009. The rate was highest in Cyprus (7.9 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 2009) and Poland (6.0); the lowest crude marriage rates were reported by Slovenia and Bulgaria (both with 3.2 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants). Ireland recorded a rate of 4.6 marriages per 1,000 inhabitants in 2010. (Image: Instant Vintage/Flickr/Creative Commons)

Explore the Eurostat yearbook for 2012 in full >

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