page_title: Ageing of Europe
section_title: Fertility
hierarchical_section_title: Ageing of Europe / Causes / Fertility
caption_attribution_description: English: This is a figure illustrating trends in total fertility rates by regions of the world from 1950-2010.
context_page_description: The aging of Europe, also known as the greying of Europe, is a demographic phenomenon in Europe characterised by a decrease in fertility, a decrease in mortality rate, and a higher life expectancy among European populations. Low birth rates and higher life expectancy contribute to the transformation of Europe's population pyramid shape. The most significant change is the transition towards a much older population structure, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of the working age while the number of the retired population increases. The total number of the older population is projected to increase greatly within the coming decades, with rising proportions of the post-war baby-boom generations reaching retirement. This will cause a high burden on the working age population as they provide for the increasing number of the older population.
  Throughout history many states have worked to keep high birth rates in order to have moderate taxes, more economic activity and more troops for their military.
  Population aging is observed in most European countries today.
context_section_description: The high number of people aged 60 and older in Europe is the result of high fertility rates which occurred in years 1950–1960. The period after the end of World War II was characterised by good social and economic status of the population in the child-bearing age and resulted in a "baby boom".
  Current low fertility levels also contribute to the ageing of Europe. As the fertility levels drop, the age structure of the population changes, and the number of the younger groups decrease in relation to the older age groups. Europe's fertility rates have been less than the 2.1 children per woman (standard) replacement level and are projected to remain below the replacement level in the future.
caption: Trends in Total Fertility 1950–2010
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