Moreover women postpone childbearing. This means that it takes longer for the replacement of the generations. The most important demographic phenomenon in Europe, which is of concern to all demographers, is the smaller base of younger people that must support an ever-growing number of aged persons. Due to higher levels of prosperity, emigration to countries outside Europe has slowed down generally. At the same time emigration from regions where there is unemployment is usually to other European countries where workers are needed.
Immigration helps to sustain the population of some European countries.
Political and economic reasons account for the large immigrant population who came into Germany from the Balkans. Germans from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have returned to Germany in large numbers. The presence of many workers from Southern Europe in certain countries is an example of the fluid movement of populations within Europe as people seek work in a changing situation. Thirdly, we recommend that the causes and effects of the population situation in Europe should be analysed carefully. To this end, we indicate the following major factors.