I missed posting this back in January:
The United States' birth rate fell for the fourth year in a row, reaching its lowest level in more than three decades, according to the CDC’s 2018 National Vital Statistics report, which reflects the most up-to-date information on birth statistics (it takes about a year to analyze the data).
The report, which collected its data from 3.79 million birth certificates, found the average birth rate dropped two percent since 2017—highlighting a steady decline since the Great Recession in 2007. Total fertility rate is the expected number of children a woman would have over her entire child-bearing lifetime—calculated as the ages between 15 and 44. In 2018, the fertility rate in the US was 1,729.5 births per 1,000 women. According to the CDC, replacement fertility rates are 2,100 births per 1,000 women. That means each woman needs to have at least two babies to replace the parents as well as account for early deaths.
4 years in a row. Not good news.
There is more to the story, however. Take a read: https://www.popsci.com/story/health/us-birth-rates-decline-economy/
On this topic, Italy is already in crisis:
Italy’s growing demographic crisis, with births falling and life expectancy rising, is one reason for its chronically stagnant economy, and the situation is getting worse.
National statistics agency ISTAT said there were 435,000 births last year, down 5,000 on 2018 and the lowest level ever recorded in Italy. Deaths totaled 647,000 in 2019, some 14,000 more than the year earlier.
And Greece has issues too.
'It's national preservation': Greece offers baby bonus to boost birthrate
Athens’ centre-right government has been galvanised into action on the back of projections that Greece’s population of 10.7 million could shrink by a third in the next three decades unless declining birthrates are reversed. At current rates, by 2050, 36% of the population will be above the age of 65, according to Eurostat, a prospect with severe implications for the workforce and a social security system already under strain. In 1970 just 7% of the Greek population was in that age bracket.
Without appropriate levels of youth, a country's in store for all sorts of economic -- and possibly national security -- issues.
Raising the next generation is just not given the same weight today as it was 30, 60, 100 years ago.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt