In 2024, 3.55 million babies were born in the European Union — a drop of 3.3 percent compared to 2023. The EU fertility rate stands at 1.34 children per woman, down from 1.38 the previous year. Both figures are far below the 2.1 children per woman needed for natural population replacement.

North Macedonia, with a fertility rate of 1.44, performs somewhat better than the EU average, but is also below the natural replacement threshold. Over the past decade, the country's rate has fallen from 1.52, and the number of newborns has declined from 44,095 in 1960 to just 16,061 in 2024.

Fertility rates vary significantly between member states. Malta records the lowest rate in the EU — just 1.01 children per woman — while Bulgaria leads with 1.72. Spain and Lithuania also record very low rates of 1.10 and 1.11 respectively.

The average age for first birth in the EU reached 29.9 years in 2024, compared to 25 years in 2004. Macedonian women give birth to their first child at an average age of 27.8. The demographic trend poses a serious challenge for social systems across the continent.