The Central Statistics Office says we also had the highest fertility rate in the region, and the lowest divorce rate, at 0.6 per 1,000 people.
Their 'Measuring Progress' report shows we also had the second biggest average primary school classes.
The figures cover crime too, and show the number of kidnapping-related incidents jumped by more than half between 2008 and 2013, and sexual offences rose 43%.
Public order and similar offences dropped 41%, and controlled drug offences fell by a third.
