• 3.55 million babies were born in the EU in 2024
• 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
• 29.9 years was the average age of women at the birth of their first child in the EU in 2024, ranging from 26.9 in Bulgaria to 31.9 in Italy

The number of births in the European Union continues to fall, with 3.55 million children born in 2024 — almost half the level recorded six decades ago.

The crude birth rate dropped to 7.9 per 1,000 people, down from 16.4 in 1970, reflecting a long-term downward trend.

The EU’s total fertility rate reached a new low of 1.34 children per woman in 2024, well below the 2.1 replacement level needed to maintain population size without migration. Fertility has been declining again since 2022, after a brief stabilisation earlier in the decade.

There are notable differences between countries. Bulgaria recorded the highest fertility rate (1.72), followed by France (1.61) and Slovenia (1.52). At the other end, Malta had the lowest rate (1.01), with similarly low levels in Spain (1.10) and Lithuania (1.11).

Between 2023 and 2024, fertility rates decreased in most EU countries, with only Slovenia recording a slight increase. Over the longer term, fertility levels across the EU have gradually converged, with smaller differences between countries than in previous decades.

At the same time, women in the EU are having children later in life. The average age at childbirth rose to 31.3 years in 2024, up from 29.0 in 2001. The average age at first childbirth also increased to 29.9 years.

This shift reflects changing patterns: births among women under 30 have declined, while fertility rates among women aged 30 and over — particularly those aged 30–34 — have increased and are now the highest among all age groups.

Overall, the data points to a continued trend of fewer children being born and motherhood occurring later, contributing to slower population growth across the EU.