The fertility rate in the European Union fell between 2021 and 2024 in 26 of 27 member states, reaching 1.34 in 2024, below the generational replacement level of 2.1.
Social PolicyEuropean Union
- Omissions
- Eurostat's own reporting on country-level changes refers to the 2023–2024 comparison (decrease in 24 of 27 member states, stable in 2, increase in 1), not to the 2021–2024 window stated in the claim; the exact figure of a decline in 26 of 27 member states between 2021 and 2024 could not be confirmed in the sources found.
- The Eurostat news release on 2024 fertility data was published on 2026-03-06, i.e. it was available before the session date of 2026-10-08, so the MEP could have known it.
- The claim does not mention that 2021 was itself a partial post-COVID rebound year, which enlarges the measured three-year decline relative to a 2023–2024 comparison.
- Sources
- PrimaryEurostat — EU fertility rate at 1.34 live births per woman in 2024 (Eurostat news)"The total fertility rate for 2024 was 1.34 live births per woman in the EU, down from 1.38 in 2023. This is the lowest rate since 2001..." and "In 2024, 3.55 million babies were born in the EU, a 3.3% decrease from the 3.67 million in 2023."
- PrimaryEurostat — Fertility statistics (Statistics Explained)"The total fertility rate stood at 1.34 live births per woman in the EU in 2024, ranging from 1.01 in Malta to 1.72 in Bulgaria." and "Between 2023 and 2024, the total fertility rate decreased in 24 EU countries, remained stable in 2 (Luxembourg and the Netherlands) and increased only in..."