Foreign Media: Europe's birth rate collapse—no country in the continent reached the 2.1 replacement level in 2024. Ukraine ranked last with a fertility rate of 0.99, followed closely by Spain at 1.1 and Poland at 1.14. Even the highest figures, Montenegro at 1.75 and Bulgaria at 1.72, remain far below the critical threshold.
Eastern and Southern Europe have seen exacerbated declines due to economic pressures and geopolitical instability. Ukraine has never recovered to replacement level since 1986. Major countries like Germany, the UK, Italy, and France also show low fertility rates (1.36–1.61), while Poland’s military expansion plans face strategic risks due to population shrinkage.
Nations attempting to offset labor shortages through immigration have triggered political backlash. Despite France, Hungary, and Poland introducing incentives such as child allowances and tax reductions, Hungary’s decade-long investment only raised its fertility rate to 1.41—matching the UK—demonstrating that economic measures alone cannot reverse deep-seated demographic trends.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1864006616504320/
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