In 2024, the European Union recorded 3.55 million births — a decline 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 values are far below the 2.1 children per woman needed for natural population replacement.

Macedonia, with a fertility rate of 1.44, is somewhat better compared to 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 decreased from 44,095 in 1960 to just 16,061 in 2024.

Fertility rates vary significantly among 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 low rates — 1.10 and 1.11 respectively.

The average age of women at the birth of their first child in the EU reached 29.9 years in 2024, up from 25 years in 2004. Macedonian women give birth to their first child at an average age of 27.8 years.