Time to ‘redouble efforts over low fertility rates’

By Martin Banks

Date: 14/04/05

EU member states should "redouble their efforts" to cope with the unprecedented demographic challenges of lower fertility rates and an ageing population in the 21st century, according to a report by the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe.

The Council's report, Recent demographic developments in Europe, reveals that Europe's population grew by just 0.23%, or 1.9 million citizens, in 2003.

During this 12-month period, 63,000 more people died than were born in Europe and that the population grew was due to immigration.

The demographic situation in the 46 Council of Europe member states is very variable.

In western European countries, ageing is the main problem. In contrast, central and eastern European states suffer from an even lower fertility rate and a lower life expectancy.

The report's author, Charlotte Höhn, president of the Council's European population committee, said that European policymakers were already late dealing with the problem, pointing out that demographic changes only happen within a period of two, three and more decades.

She said: "Painful political decisions will have to be taken - people have to work longer in the future. In addition, the low fertility rate will be linked to major economic problems. If people are unemployed they tend not to start a family."

The fastest-growing countries in 2003, the last year for which figures are available, were Ireland, Albania, Spain and Turkey; the lowest rates of population growth were in Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria and the Russian Federation.

Fertility has declined dramatically in recent years in Europe.

Currently, European women have 1.5 children on average, a decline from 1.8 in 1990, and well below the replacement level of 2.1 children.

The average age of women who become a mother for the first time is 25.9 years, compared with 24.2 in 1990, and 28% of children are born out of wedlock.

Mortality levels vary across Europe with generally higher levels in central and eastern Europe.

Average life expectancy for women has increased from 77 in 1990 to a current 78.8. For men, the comparable figures are 70 and 72.1.

The report highlights the need for member states to "redouble" their efforts to tackle future demographic changes, said the Council's Secretary-General Terry Davis.

He said that low fertility rates underlined the need to make societies and economies "more child and family-friendly".

In the 2003 edition of the Council of Europe's demographic yearbook, entitled 'Recent demographic trends in Europe', the main finding was the continued dramatic decline of fertility. In 2003 Europe's population grew by just 0.23%, or 1.9 million citizens and the growth was purely due to net immigration.

• Primary Source

Council of Europe: Social Cohesion: Population: Demographic Yearbook http://www.coe.int/t/e/social_cohesion/population/demographic_year_book/

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