The downward trend in births per woman of reproductive age in Greece and Europe shows no sign of ending.
Europe recorded its lowest figures since 2001, while Greece ranks 20th, with births falling significantly since 2021.
These findings come from a Eurostat report published today, which includes 2024 data from 1,165 regions across EU countries.
According to the report’s authors, the EU’s total fertility rate was 1.34 live births per woman, its lowest level since records began.
Over the past 20 years, the fertility rate has remained consistently below the replacement rate of 2.1, ranging from 1.34 to 1.57 live births per woman.
A record decline was also reported in last year’s Eurostat report, which was covered by iatronet.gr.
Higher rates
Rates of at least 1.75 live births per woman were recorded in 14 regions in Bulgaria and France, six regions in Germany, three regions in Slovenia, two regions each in Hungary, the Netherlands and Romania, and individual regions in Ireland, Greece, Croatia and Slovakia.
By contrast, total fertility rates were particularly low in Spain (mainly in the north-west and some island regions) and much of Italy (especially Sardinia).
The lowest rates, at fewer than one live birth per woman, were recorded in 16 Spanish regions, seven Polish regions, five Italian regions, three Greek regions and two regions each in Germany and Lithuania.
In Greece
According to Eurostat data, Greece ranks 20th for fertility among the 27 member states of the European Union.
In 2024, the rate was 1.24 births per woman, significantly lower than in 2021 (1.43 births), 2022 (1.32) and 2023 (1.26 births).
The lowest rate was recorded in Central Athens, at just 0.92 births per woman.
The highest rates were recorded in the Cyclades (1.95 births per woman) and Zakynthos (1.71), while the rate in Attica was 1.13 births per woman.
SOURCE: www.iatronet.gr