Births continue to decline in Macedonia, Eastern region records the lowest fertility rate

Macedonia has a low fertility rate, almost the same as the European Union average, but the differences between regions are pronounced. The highest number of children per woman is recorded in the Skopje region, while the Eastern region has the lowest rate.

Eurostat data show that Macedonia records 1.35 live births per woman. Meanwhile, in 2024, the EU average fell to a record low of 1.34 children per woman.

Over the past 20 years, fertility in the European Union has consistently remained below 2.10 live births per woman. This is considered the level necessary for the natural replacement of the population under conditions of low mortality.

The Skopje region leads in Macedonia with 1.73 live births per woman. The Northeastern region, with 1.40, and the Pelagonia region, with 1.36 children per woman, are also above the national average.

Meanwhile, the Eastern region recorded the lowest rate, at 1.16 live births per woman. In Polog and the Southwestern region, the rate is 1.27; in the Southeastern region, 1.30; and in Vardar, 1.31.

As for the EU regions, of the 1,165 regions for which data were available, 439, or 37.7 percent, had a fertility rate below the European average. In 714 regions, accounting for 61.3 percent, the rate was higher than the average, while 12 regions had the same fertility rate as the EU average./Telegrafi/