Fecundity – Children shortage in Europe - 中欧社会论坛 - China Europa Forum

Fecundity – Children shortage in Europe

Authors: DG Research

Date: 2006

Published by European Commission

URL:

It looks somehow as if Europe was fraying, losing every year a little more of its troops. The rates are known: 2.1 children per woman are necessary for generation sustainment. In 2003, European women were bearing an average 1.5 children (as opposed to 1.8 in 1990), and deceases outnumbered births. Even though this curve started in the 70s in many countries of the Union, it has been considerably accelerating since 1990 in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This low fecundity is accompanied by a decrease in the number of marriages – which does not seem to prevent the increase in the number of divorces.

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