Fewer children: These countries have the lowest birth rates

It is a global trend that will probably be difficult to reverse: the world population is aging and there are not enough young people. To get the population figure, it would take 2.1 births per woman or person with a uterus. However, several listings show that the rate is undercut in more than half of all countries worldwide. In Germany, the birth rate is between 1.4 and 1.5, depending on the source.

Country structures determine the number of children

There are various reasons why fewer children are being born. Some don’t want children at all, others have to give up family planning because of the financial situation. A study by economists Matthias Westphal and Daniel Kamhöfer also showed that university graduates have fewer children on average than people without a university degree. The researchers conclude that it was difficult to reconcile work and family life. For same-sex partnerships, it is also important whether they are allowed to have children at all in their place of residence or whether they are supported in doing so.

In the countries with the lowest birth rates in the world, it is striking that traditional family images also play a role. In South Korea or Taiwan, for example, more women are pursuing a career than in the 20th century. From just over a quarter in the 1960s, the number rose to almost 50 percent in the early 2000s. Scientific studies show that these women value a fair distribution of child-rearing and household chores in a partnership. When that’s not the case, some women prefer to stay alone.

Many countries try to counteract the increasing childlessness with expensive campaigns, financial incentives or skilled workers from abroad. Because when societies age, there is a long-term shortage of workers and this can also cause tensions in the social fabric.

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