EU hits record low in births in 2023: How many babies were born in past decade?

euronews (in English)

Experts believe the decline in birth rate may be driven by factors such as concerns over climate change, the pandemic, and the highest inflation surge in a generation.

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00:00EU birth rates hit a record low in 2023.

00:08Births across EU member states fell to 3,665,000 in 2023. This is the lowest number in 10 years.

00:19However, it is not the only downturn. Between 2022 and 2023, the total number of births also

00:26experienced the largest annual decline on record, with a 5.5% drop. Italy, Spain,

00:34Greece, Lithuania and Latvia saw the lowest birth rates in 2023. Experts claim that some of the

00:41reasons might be related to concerns over climate change, the pandemic and the worst surge in

00:47inflation in a generation. As people delay parenthood, the average mother's age in Europe

00:53also rises. In 2013, the largest age group was women aged 25 to 29, but a decade later,

01:01the largest age group was women aged 30 to 34. The United Nations says that most European

01:08populations have already peaked. It also warns that the increase in the proportion and number

01:15of people aged 65 and over requires the development and the strengthening of health care and social

01:22protection systems, as well as national policies to create fair and inclusive societies for people

01:28of all ages.

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