Sweden reports lowest birthrate in nearly 300 years

By Alexandra Enberg

IZMIR, Türkiye (AA) - There has been a downward trend in happiness in Sweden since 2010 regarding native women and women born abroad, despite the country placing fourth on the World Happiness report that was presented earlier this week.

Swedish women, on average, now give birth to 1.45 children -- the lowest since measurements began in 1749.

"So far in 2024, the curve continues to go downwards," Guadalupe Andersson, population statistician at the Statistics Sweden government agency, SCB, said in a statement.

Last year, the number of newborns was the lowest since 2003, and the number of children born per woman was the lowest ever measured in Sweden, said Andersson.

And the Swedish population seems to be on the way to a new low. In January, fewer children were born than at the start of 2023, the year with the fewest births.

The biggest decrease in childbearing was Malmo in southern Sweden, in terms of the number of children born.

Several women said they are hesitant to become parents. Most cite the climate and unrest in the world as reasons.

"How will the children live? What will society look like?" Sanna Tayari told SVT broadcaster.

The fact that fewer children are being born has started to get attention.

In 2023, there were 26 municipalities where fewer than 40 children were born. The fewest number were born in the Dorotea municipality in the north with just eight children.

It is already noticeable that preschools are being forced to close. And in the longer term, fewer able-bodied people will support a larger elderly population.