Argentina faces historic decline in birth rates and school enrollment

Argentina is experiencing a significant decline in birth rates, with the fertility rate dropping to approximately 1.2 children per woman in 2024. This represents a nearly 48% decrease over the last decade, falling well below the generational replacement threshold of 2.1.

In the province of La Rioja, the Ministry of Education is monitoring school enrollments closely due to the impact on early childhood education. Officials state that while they are not closing institutions, they are reorganizing pedagogical resources to adapt to the shrinking number of students. The shift is attributed to changing social and cultural projections among young people.

The demographic contraction is affecting multiple sectors, including a reduction in neonatal services and hospital births. Long-term consequences include potential strain on the pension system due to a shrinking workforce and a shift in commercial demand toward an aging population.