Lithuania’s biggest crisis of the 21st century: the birth rate is decreasing, society is “shrinking” and aging. Is there a way out?



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Falling birth rates and an aging population are worrisome in many European countries. And so far they don’t know how to fix this problem.

Lithuania is no exception.

In Lithuania it has been three decades since figures such that newborn generations “cover” the generations of their parents or grandparents have been seen in Lithuania.

The indicators for recent years are generally sad: the number of people born in Lithuania continues to decline rapidly.

What are the reasons for this, what will the consequences be in the future and how can we face the demographic crisis of the 21st century? 15 minutes spoke with Vlada Stankūnienė, demographer and professor at the Center for Demographic Research and Experience.

Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Vladada Stankūnienė

Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Vladada Stankūnienė

Is there no one left to give birth?

Demographers, speaking of the decrease in the number of babies born in our country, ask for a step back in time and a retrospective look at decades.

According to them, the decision to have children was determined not only by changed values ​​and lifestyle, but also by the structural factor of age.

“In recent years, women have had the highest number of children at a time when the birth rate has dropped dramatically and has already reached a low birth rate.

Today, women usually have their first children around the age of 25-27. Currently, this age is reached by the generation born in 1995 and later, when the absolute number of births had already decreased significantly, from 57 thousand. In 1990, up to 40 thousand. In 1995 and up to 30 thousand. at the beginning of this century ”, explains the demographer.



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