New data released by Eurostat show that fertility across the European Union fell to its lowest level on record in 2024, while the population continued to grow older.

An estimated 3.55 million babies were born in the EU in 2024, a 3.3% decrease compared with 3.67 million births in 2023. The total fertility rate dropped to 1.34 live births per woman, down from 1.38 the previous year. It is the lowest figure recorded since EU-wide data became available in 2001.

The United Nations Population Division defines sub-replacement fertility as any rate below approximately 2.1 children born per woman of childbearing age. The growing needs of an ageing population and the expectation that many people already in the healthcare workforce will be retiring in the coming years mean that healthy ageing is receiving renewed importance.

Fertility rates differed significantly between member states…