The global birth rate is falling rapidly — Financial Times

In most countries around the world, the fertility rate has already fallen below 2.1 children per woman—the rate necessary for natural population replacement. According to estimates by the Financial Times, this situation is observed in more than two-thirds of the world’s 195 countries.

The decline has been particularly pronounced in developing countries. In Thailand, the rate has fallen to 0.78 children per woman. If this trend continues, the country’s population could shrink to a minimal size within a century. In Mexico, the fertility rate has halved over the past 25 years—to 1.2 children per woman in 2024.

Similar trends are being observed in major African cities. Economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde believes that the demographic decline could last for several generations rather than being a temporary phenomenon.

According to his forecast, the global population may peak in the 2050s, after which a prolonged decline will begin. At the same time, an increasing number of countries are aging before they have a chance to achieve a sufficient level of prosperity.

Possible reasons for the decline in birth rates include economic crises, high housing costs, and lifestyle changes. A study by the University of Cincinnati also links the trend to the widespread use of smartphones: young people are spending more time online and less time interacting with one another.

Source: Financial Times

In 2025, only 355,000 children were born in Italy—the lowest figure in the entire postwar period. ANSA reported this, citing data from a relevant organization and Italy’s National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT).