The fertility rate in Cyprus is quite low compared to the average of the countries of the European Union, while the average age of women at childbirth remains stable.
According to data from the EU statistical office – Eurostat, births per woman for 2021 amount to 1.39, a percentage lower than the EU average of 1.53 births per woman.
Compared to previous years, births in 2021 increased slightly, since in 2020 births per woman were 1.36 and in 2019 1.33.
Regarding the average age of women who give birth in Cyprus, it fluctuates at stable levels since for 2021 the average age was 31.8 years, in 2020 it was 31.7 years and in 2019 it was also 31.7 years.
Also, the average age of women at the birth of their first child for 2021 is 30.3 years, while at the birth of their second child it is 32.8 years and at the birth of their third child it is 34.3 years.
In 2021, 4,09 million babies were born in the EU
For the EU as a whole, according to Eurostat, there was a slight increase in babies born in 2021 compared to 2020
Specifically, 2021 million babies were born in 4,09 and 2020 million babies were born in 4,07. However, overall, there has been a downward trend in the number of children born in the EU, which started in 2008 (4,68 million children).
In terms of the total fertility rate, in the EU there were 1.53 live births per woman in 2021 and in 2019 the figure was at 1.50, slightly higher than in 2020.
Also, the fertility rate in 2021 was slightly lower than the peak seen in 2016 (1.57), but was up compared to 2001 (1.43).
The highest total fertility rate since the start of the comparable time series was 1.57 in 2008, 2010 and 2016. In the years in between, it ranged between 1.51 and 1.57.
The highest fertility rate in France
It is noted that in 2021, France had the highest total fertility rate in the EU (1.84 live births per woman), followed by the Czech Republic (1.83), Romania (1.81) and Ireland (1.78).
In contrast, the lowest fertility rates were observed in Malta (1.13 births per woman), Spain (1.19) and Italy (1.25).
Source: ygeiawatch.com.cy