In Europe in general and in Spain in particular nanas are barely heard. The fall in birth in our country and in good part of the old continent has acquired structural dimensions.
Eurostat data are overwhelming: in 2023, 3.67 million children were born in the European Union, 5.4% less than the previous year, And almost half of those born in 1964. A catastrophe for everything: for the generational relief, for the sustainability of pensions …
The total fertility rate has fallen to 1.38 children per woman and in Spain that figure barely reaches 1.12. To this is added the delay in the age of maternity: today it is so rare to have a son with 25 years as before it was to have it with less than 18 or with more than 41. The average age of first -time mothers in Spain already exceeds 31 years.
The chart of Our World in Data clearly illustrates it: in Spain, in Spain Generations born between 1930 and 1975 tended to have children before 30while from the 80s onwards the peak of fertility has moved at 30-34 years.
The collapse of European birth
Europe advances towards a society with hardly any children. The backward of the birth rate initiated in the 60s, far from stopping, accelerates. The births of 2023 are half of those registered in 1964, the year in which the historical maximum was reached: 6.8 million.
Since then, European birth fell sustained up to a minimum of 4.36 million in 2002. Subsequently, there was a slight rebound to 2008, with 4.68 million births, but the trend has fallen again since then with very few exceptions.
The gross birth rate has followed the same descending logic: In 1970 it was 16.4 births per thousand inhabitants, it fell to 12.8 in 1985, to 10.5 in 2000 and has fallen to 8.2 in 2023. A collapse that puts in check not only population growth, but also the sustainability of social and labor systems.
Spain, in the lowest fertility positions
The fertility rate in Spain was only 1.12 children per woman in 2023, the second lowest in the European Union after Malta (1.06). At the opposite end are Bulgaria (1.81), France (1.66) and Hungary (1.55), but none reaches the level of generational replacement estimated in 2.1 births per woman.
According to Eurostat, another relevant fact is that 46.4% of children born in the EU were from the first -time mother, a figure that in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Malta or Luxembourg exceeds 50%. The majority of women who decide to be mothers, are only once, and only 6% of births in Europe correspond to fourth or more.
-The delay of motherhood is consolidated
One of the most consolidated trends is the delay of the age of maternity. In 2023, the average age having the first child was 29.8 years in Europe. In countries like Italy, it is already approaching 32; In Ireland and Spain, it exceeds 31. In contrast, Bulgaria (26.9) and Romania (27,1) present the lowest ages.
This trend is also visible in the chart of Our World in Data. Generations born in the 90s and 2000 concentrate their fertility between 30 and 35 years, something that contrasts radically with what happened in previous generations. The cohorts of women born in the 50 or 60 reached their maximum fertility between 23 and 27 years.
Risks of late motherhood
This delay in motherhood has not only demographic implications, but also sanitary. The Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SEGO) warns that pregnancies from 35 years are considered at greater risk. From 40, the chances of complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, premature birth or chromosomal anomalies increase significantly.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, The births of women over 40 have doubled in the last decade in Spain. At the same time, the rate of assisted reproduction treatments has also grown, which reflects a growing difficulty to naturally conceive at advanced ages.
An unfavorable environment for motherhood
The economic context, job instability, lack of effective conciliation measures and the high cost of housing are factors that make many people difficult for children when they wish. According to the youth barometer of the SM Foundation, 67% of Spanish young people say they would like to have children, but are not seen in a position to do so.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) points out that Spain is one of the European countries with lower public investment in support of families. The lack of free nurseries, insufficient maternity and paternity permits or the low hourly flexibility are some of the factors that contribute to this unlawful environment.
The lack of generational relief compromises the future of pensions, economic dynamism and territorial balance. And highlights the urgency of implementing public policies that favor stability, access to housing, conciliation and support for motherhood.
Europe has already turned on all alarms. In Spain, we are still in time to reverse the trend. But nanas will remain silent if it does not act with determination and urgency.
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