Europe Ranking Evolution of Lower Fertility Rate (1960-2021)
Channel: Kidata
Date: 2024-03-07

The fertility rate indicates the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced the age-specific fertility rates of a given year and completed her childbearing years.

Replacement level fertility is the fertility rate at which a population replaces itself from one generation to the next without migration. It is generally considered to be around 2.1 children per woman. If the fertility rate is consistently below this level, a population may experience a decline over time.

Fertility rates vary significantly worldwide. Some countries, especially in Africa, have high fertility rates, while many developed countries, particularly in Europe and East Asia, have fertility rates below replacement level.

This indicator is a key component of the demographic transition model, which describes the historical shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates in a population as it undergoes economic and social development.

Fertility rates are influenced by various social and economic factors, including education, healthcare, women's empowerment, and access to family planning. Higher education levels and increased access to healthcare often correlate with lower fertility rates.

Low fertility rates contribute to population aging, where the proportion of elderly individuals increases relative to the younger population. This demographic shift poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare, and the labor market.

Some countries implement pro-natalist policies to boost fertility rates. These policies may include parental leave, childcare support, and financial incentives for families with children.

Despite declining fertility rates in many regions, the global population continues to grow due to population momentum— the effect of a youthful age structure in some countries, even if their fertility rates are declining.


Total fertility rates are derived from registered live births data obtained from vital registration systems, censuses, or sample surveys. In the absence of empirical age-specific fertility rates, a model estimates the share of births to adolescents. In countries lacking vital registration systems, fertility rates are often extrapolated from trends observed in earlier censuses or surveys.

Data Source: World Bank Data: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2022 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.

🎵 Track Info:
Artist Name: Rafael Krux
Song Title: Black Knight