EU records lowest birth rate in history as population decline accelerates

In 2023, the European Union recorded its lowest birth rate ever, with just 3.67 million babies born, a 5.5% decrease from 2022. This marks the largest drop since 1961, raising concerns about potential underpopulation. Countries like Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic saw significant declines, with Romania experiencing a 13.9% drop. Only five EU nations reported an increase in births, highlighting a widespread trend of falling fertility rates across the continent. Experts attribute the decline to factors such as women prioritizing education and careers, economic pressures, and concerns about climate change. All EU nations now have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.