Depopulation is eastern Europe’s biggest problemThere is a connection between the twin crises of democracy and demographyIn charts: Europe’s demographic time-bomb While global population is ageing, continent presents extreme exampleChina’s falling birth rate threatens economic growthFewer women are willing to have a second baby owing to high costsThe costs of a declining populationSome of the economic consequences are obvious: fewer people make and consume less stuffItaly’s collapsing birth rate rings demographic alarm bellsPerilous economy leaves women having to choose between motherhood or employmentHow best to boost Europe’s birth ratesWorking mothers need government support, not traditional valuesMore from this SeriesHungary’s Viktor Orban designates fertility clinics ‘strategic’ sectorAnti-immigration PM offers free IVF and nationalises clinics to reverse demographic declineAgeing Japan set to cross critical demographic linePopulation will soon be shrinking by one person every minute, according to forecastFalling populations pose ‘existential’ risk, Croatia warns EULow birth rates and emigration take toll as many states in Europe’s east lose people
Depopulation is eastern Europe’s biggest problemThere is a connection between the twin crises of democracy and demographyIn charts: Europe’s demographic time-bomb While global population is ageing, continent presents extreme exampleChina’s falling birth rate threatens economic growthFewer women are willing to have a second baby owing to high costsThe costs of a declining populationSome of the economic consequences are obvious: fewer people make and consume less stuffItaly’s collapsing birth rate rings demographic alarm bellsPerilous economy leaves women having to choose between motherhood or employmentHow best to boost Europe’s birth ratesWorking mothers need government support, not traditional valuesMore from this SeriesHungary’s Viktor Orban designates fertility clinics ‘strategic’ sectorAnti-immigration PM offers free IVF and nationalises clinics to reverse demographic declineAgeing Japan set to cross critical demographic linePopulation will soon be shrinking by one person every minute, according to forecastFalling populations pose ‘existential’ risk, Croatia warns EULow birth rates and emigration take toll as many states in Europe’s east lose people