Recent statistics reveal that Spain’s birth rate has plummeted to historic lows, but what are the reasons behind the current trend?
Spain’s birth rate has hit an all-time low, with fewer than 300,000 children born in the first 11 months of 2023.
amazing statistics
The marked decline meant that only 294,854 children were born in Spain between January and November 2023. This figure was 6,504 fewer than the same period last year and was the lowest since the National Institute for Statistics (INE) began keeping records.
Compared to 359,424 people in 2017, the downward trend is clear. This is the first time that annual births have fallen below 300,000 in the first 11 months, and the data shows a worrying change.
increasing maternal age
Another major change is the increasing age of new mothers. INE data for November 2023 shows an interesting reversal. According to the figures, more births were given to mothers aged 40 and over (2,934 births) than to mothers under 25 (2,446 births).
The number of births in November was 27,507, 804 fewer than the same month in 2022. It is the first time in more than two years that the number of births in Spain exceeded 30,000 in a single month, and this was last seen in October 2021.
Mortality and economic factors
The number of deaths in 2023 was 433,533, the lowest since 2019 and 26,945 fewer than in 2022. After several difficult years of the pandemic, this decline in deaths suggests a gradual return to pre-pandemic normality.
As experts outline, economic factors play a key role in this demographic shift. Today, UGT Secretary General Pepe Álvarez highlighted the large income inequality in Spain.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining vital economic systems. He emphasized that Spain’s income distribution is highly unequal and how important it is to be able to maintain an adequate minimum wage.
A broader European perspective
The phenomenon of declining birth rates is not limited to Spain. Similar trends can be seen in neighboring countries. For example, France’s birth rate is the lowest since 1946, with just 678,000 births in 2023, down 6.6% from the previous year.
The Nordic countries are seeing notable increases in certain regions. However, Eurostat data shows a decline in birthrates, with Denmark facing a 2% drop, Sweden a 12% decline and Finland a steep 20% decline.
Thank you for reading this article. Don’t forget to come back and check out the Euro Weekly News website for all the latest national and international news. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.