New figures show that Ireland remains one of the most expensive countries in Europe to live in - with prices higher than all but four other European Union countries.

The latest "Measuring Progress" report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also highlights a growing number of robberies and sexual offences, but a fall in the number of violent deaths.

It also points to Ireland as one of the fastest-growing EU nations with Irish women having more children than any other country.

The latest progress report shows that Ireland is the fifth most-expensive country in the EU with prices 15% above average.

However that is down considerably from 2008 when Irish prices ranked the second-highest in Europe.

The report also includes crime figures - which show that from 2007 until 2012, the number of sexual offences rose by 50% with robberies up 30%.

However the number of homicides fell by over 40%.

The CSO says the figures highlight Irish status as one of the fastest growing EU nations, with almost one-third of the population under the age of 14. That is the highest proportion in Europe.

Meanwhile it says under one-fifth are over the age of 65, which is the second lowest in the EU.

And it says that Irish women on average have two children - the highest rate in Europe, edging out France and the United Kingdom.