Global Fertility Rates Fall Sharply
(MENAFN) In 1970, Mexican women had an average of seven children.
By 2014, this figure had declined to about two, and it dropped even further to only 1.6 by 2023.
This notable decrease signals that Mexico's population is now reproducing at a rate insufficient for self-sustainability, showcasing a dramatic reduction in fertility levels.
However, Mexico is far from alone in this trend. Numerous nations around the globe are witnessing similar declines in birth rates, with only a handful of outliers.
As reported by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle, more than 75% of countries are predicted to follow this pattern by the year 2050.
“There has been an absolutely incredible drop in fertility -- much faster than anyone had anticipated.
“And it is happening in a lot of countries you would have never guessed," a news agency quoted Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde, an economist from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, in a published report.
In societies where economic structures rely on continuous population increases, falling fertility rates provoke concerns about potential reductions in creativity, efficiency, and a shrinking workforce needed to support growing numbers of elderly people.
Experts warn that declining birth rates may have wider implications, such as weaker national defense capabilities, less geopolitical power, and limited funding for environmentally sustainable technologies.
Austin Schumacher, a population data specialist with the IHME, emphasized the urgency for governments to confront the challenges tied to shrinking populations and their long-term consequences.
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