Catholic Baptisms in Ireland Decline Nearly 30% Over the Past Decade

Catholic baptisms across Ireland have declined by nearly 30% over the past decade, according to a new report from The Iona Institute. The briefing, based on baptism figures provided by almost every Catholic diocese in Ireland, found that the number of baptisms fell by 29.6% compared with figures from ten years earlier. The report identified two major factors behind the decline: a significant reduction in the number of births and an increasing number of people identifying as having no religion. Births across Ireland decreased by 18.8% during the same period. Based on this decline, The Iona Institute estimated that about 60% of the reduction in baptisms could be attributed to fewer children being born. The scale of the decline varied considerably between dioceses. In the Archdiocese of Dublin, baptisms fell from 15,759 in 2015 to 9,465 in 2025, representing a decline of almost 40%. The Diocese of Meath recorded a 40.8% decrease, while Down and Connor, which includes Belfast, saw baptisms fall by 37.9%. Other dioceses recorded considerably smaller changes. Baptisms in Achonry declined by 3.2%, while Elphin recorded a slight increase of 0.9%. The report also pointed to broader changes in the religious identity of young children in Ireland. According to census figures, 78.3% of children under the age of five in the Republic of Ireland were recorded as Roman Catholic in 2016. By 2022, that figure had fallen to 65.4%. During the same period, the proportion of children under five recorded as having no religion increased from 9.2% to 15.6%. Despite these changes, The Iona Institute said the figures indicate that many parents who identify as Catholic continue to choose baptism for their children. Dr. Tom Finegan, chairman of The Iona Institute, said the decline in baptisms should be considered in the context of both Ireland's falling birth rate and the growth of people identifying as having no religion. He also pointed to the continued practice of what the institute describes as “cultural Catholicism.” According to the report, some families continue to celebrate Catholic sacraments, including Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation, even as regular participation in church life has declined. The institute therefore argued that Ireland's changing baptism figures cannot be explained by secularisation alone. The decline in the number of children being born is also an important factor. Overall, the figures highlight two significant demographic and religious changes taking place in Ireland: fewer children are being born, while a growing proportion of families are identifying as having no religion.