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E-TJERA

The economy is pushing young people to become parents later

Politiko 2026-06-12 16:40:37

The economy is pushing young people to become parents later

Career, economic uncertainty and lifestyle changes are increasingly influencing young people's decision to start a family, pushing back the age at which they become parents for the first time. According to Eurostat data, women in Albania gave birth to their first child on average at the age of 27.5 in 2024. When all births are taken into account, the average age of mothers reaches 29.6 years.

Citizens associate this phenomenon mainly with economic difficulties, but also with women's desire to build a career earlier and ensure financial independence.

"In the past, people married earlier due to economic and family conditions. Today, women are more independent and seek to achieve professional success before starting a family," citizens say.

Others point out that the high cost of living and economic insecurity make couples hesitant to have children. "They don't want to because they can't afford to have them," says one citizen.

At the European level, the average age of women who become mothers for the first time is 29.9 years. Women become mothers earlier in Bulgaria, with an average age of 26.9 years, while in Italy and Luxembourg this decision is made later, at the age of 31.9 and 31.6 years, respectively.

The Eurostat report also highlights the continuous decline in fertility in Albania over the last two decades. In 2004, the fertility rate was 1.86 births per woman, while in 2024 it dropped to 1.64 births per woman.

The highest fertility rate in the country was recorded in 2003, with an average of 2.06 births per woman.

However, this is not just an Albanian phenomenon. Across Europe, a decline in the number of births is being observed, contributing to a slowdown in population growth. In 2024, the total fertility rate in the European Union fell to 1.34 births per woman, the lowest level recorded in the last two decades.

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