In 2022, for the first time since 1960, the number of live births in the European Union fell below 4 million, with only 3.88 million births registered. This figure represents a sharp decline compared to 5.1 million births in 1990, reflecting the ongoing fertility crisis affecting the region.

France Leads in Fertility Rate; Malta Records the Lowest

Fertility rates vary significantly among EU countries. France leads the bloc with a fertility rate of 1.79 births per woman, while Malta recorded the lowest rate at just 1.08. Other countries with worryingly low rates include Spain (1.16), Italy (1.24), and Greece (1.32). All these figures are well below the population replacement rate of 2.1, necessary to maintain a stable population without migration.

Downward Trend Over Decades

The EU's fertility rate has continuously declined over the decades, with only brief signs of recovery. In 1970, the EU reached its fertility peak with 2.35 births per woman. However, by 1998, this number plummeted to 1.4, the lowest level ever recorded. Although there was a slight recovery, reaching 1.57 in 2016, the rate fell again to 1.46 in 2022.

Regional Variations and Impacts of the Decline

Between 2002 and 2022, 13 EU countries saw their fertility rates decrease. Ireland and Finland experienced the biggest drops, reducing more than 0.4 points. Conversely, countries like the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria had significant increases, with growth exceeding 35%. Overall, fertility in the EU remained relatively stable, with a slight increase of 2% over the last two decades.

Europe Among the Lowest Global Fertility Rates

In 2021, the EU recorded a fertility rate of 1.52, one of the lowest in the world, surpassed only by regions like East Asia and the Pacific, with 1.49. In contrast, West and Central Africa continue to have the highest fertility rates, with a global average of 2.27 births per woman, well above the European average.

Fertility Crisis: A Global Phenomenon

Although the fertility crisis is especially severe in the EU, declining birth rates are a global phenomenon. While Africa shows a slower decline, regions like North America, the Arab world, and North Africa still maintain higher birth rates than Europe. Despite this, the ongoing decline in birth rates raises concerns about the continent's demographic and economic future.

The sharp decrease in births in the EU underscores the urgent need for policies to encourage childbirth and address the socioeconomic factors behind this decline.

—

Discover more about the dramatic changes in birth rates in the European Union and their implications for the future. Read the full article here.