Soaring birth rates

EU population is increasing thanks to immigration flows and to a lesser degree also thanks to natural replacement rate. Birth rates are surging in a number of Countries, mostly thanks to well-planned fertility policies. But Europe is marked by an ongoing ageing trend due to higher life expectancy.Over five million born in EU27. According to data issued by Eurostat on 1 January 2009, the population of the EU27 was estimated at 499.8 million, compared with 497.7 million on 1 January 2008. “The population of the EU27 grew by 2.1 million in 2008, an annual rate of +0.4%, due to a natural increase of 0.6 million and net migration of 1.5 million”. 5.4 million children were born in the EU27 in 2008 and 4.8 million deaths were registered. Eurostat acknowledges “a continuation of the upward trend” explained by a moderate increase in the crude birth rate. The population of the euro area (EA16) was estimated at 328.7 million on 1 January 2009, amounting to an increase of 1.6 million compared with the previous year. Fertility-rate and migration-factor. Eurostat reports that the crude birth rate in the EU27 was 10.9 per 1000 inhabitants, an increase of 0.3 live births per 1000 inhabitants compared with 2007. The highest increases were recorded in Lithuania, Ireland Cyprus and Poland. Birth rates in EU27 differ especially in the period 2000-2008. In fact, remarkable increases were registered in a number of East-European Countries that entered the EU in 2004 from which they presumably benefited economically. Accordingly, Bulgaria’s birth rate surged from 9.0 (per 1000 inhabitants) in the year 2000 to 10.2, the Czech Republic from 8.8 to 11.5, Latvia from 8.5 to 10.6 and Poland from 9.8 to 10.9. Romania exceptionally dropped from 10.4 in 2000 to 10.0 in 2007 and 10.3 in 2008. The situation can be explained with the negative migratory balance. Indeed, since migration involves primarily young people leaving the country, Romania looses a consistent part of potential parents (who often perform their parenthood in other countries). Germany is stable, while increases are registered in the U.K. and in Turkey. Birth-death ratio is positive in almost all Countries, while negative figures are registered in Germany, Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary and Romania. Negative migratory balances involve Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Germany however is the State with the highest population in Europe (over 82 million inhabitants, followed by France (64 million), United Kingdom (61), Italy (60), Spain (45), Poland (38), Romania (21), the Netherlands (16). Turkey is the most populated EU candidate Country (71.5 million inhabitants) with a high fertility rate (17.9), followed by Croatia (over 4 million) and by Macedonia with 2 million inhabitants. The outcome of fertility policies. Vital fertility trends are registered in France, the U.K. and Sweden, among other countries. These trends are most likely due to the fact that the above-mentioned Countries have long-dated fertility policies (support to married couples, childcare facilities, flexible working hours for mothers and fathers along with social benefits). Increasing birth rates are registered also in those Countries with positive migration balance such as the U.K. In fact, 56% of last year’s crude births are the second generation of immigrants. These figures confirm that when migrants are well-integrated and have a house, a job, adequate social benefits and health assistance they tend to have larger families. Ireland’s record-breaking birth-rate. France’s birth rate is one of the highest (approximately 13 children per 1000 inhabitants); positive trends are also registered in Finland, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain and Cyprus. However, over the past 8 years Germany’s birth rate has been marked by a constant downward trend (9.3 children per 1000 inhabitants in the year 2000 that dropped to 8.2 in 2008). Other countries with modest increases are Italy, Austria and Portugal. Ireland preserves the record-breaking figures with 14.4 births per 1000 inhabitants in the year 2000 and 16.9 in 2008.