Births fell drastically in 2024, the lowest number in 90 years

The number of babies born in our country is experiencing a drastic decline from year to year, reflecting the deterioration of demographic indicators and social and economic conditions in the country.

Official INSTAT data published today show that during 2024, only 22,425 babies were born in our country, or 5 percent less than in 2023. The decline in births deepened further last year compared to 2023 when births fell by 4.3%.

In 2024, only 22,425 babies were born nationwide, the lowest level since 1934 when official annual data was reported.

Data shows that even during World War II, more births were recorded in Albania than today. For example, in 1942, over 36,000 babies were born at a time when the number of women of reproductive age was lower than today.

In 1950, when the communist dictatorship regime was established, 47,291 babies were born, according to data from INSTAT archives, while the number of women of reproductive age (15-49 years old) was only 259,472 thousand.

Last year, just over 22,000 babies were born, while the number of women of reproductive age was almost twice as high as in the 1950s.

Demographers and sociologists are concerned that birth rates in Albania have fallen beyond all predictions.

Experts claim that the policy is long overdue to implement a set of measures, which should focus on curbing immigration and identifying means that can help young couples have children.

They suggest interventions to improve the economic situation of young families. The dermographers claim that a detailed examination of the needs of young families by region is needed and then a package of policies should be designed to help them with the costs of raising children.

Despite economic and social changes, Albanian society still preserves the values ​​of tradition and family. Albanian women still want to have more children than they have.

Six years ago, women were asked what the ideal number of children they would like to have in their lifetime was. The results showed that 100 women wanted to have at least 250 children, a figure higher than the replacement rate that ensures natural population growth.

In fact, these women had far fewer children than they had in their ideal. Six years after the survey, 100 women of reproductive age had given birth to just 121 children, not even half of what they considered ideal in 2018.

The practices of other countries, which have experienced declining fertility rates before us, show that the most effective tool was supporting young married families.

In 2003, Spain adopted a birth-boosting reform in which working mothers with children under three years old were exempted from personal income tax. Tax breaks were extended to mothers who gave birth to more children. A baby bonus of 2,500 euros was also given for each birth./Monitor