Demographic shifts drive declining birth rates in Peru and Argentina

South American nations Peru and Argentina are experiencing significant demographic shifts characterized by declining birth rates and aging populations.

In Peru, registered births fell by 28.2% between 2019 and 2024, bringing the fertility rate to 1.76 children per woman, which is below the generational replacement level of 2.1. This trend is attributed to women prioritizing professional development and postponing motherhood. Medical experts note that reproductive health is increasingly relying on precision technology, such as artificial intelligence and advanced sperm selection techniques, to address rising infertility concerns.

Argentina has seen a more drastic decline, with annual births dropping approximately 46% over a nine-year period. In 2015, there were 770,040 births, compared to 413,135 in 2024. The country's fertility rate is estimated at 1.2 children per woman by the United Nations Population Fund. Medical professionals at the SAMeR 2026 congress emphasized the importance of providing informed reproductive health information to those choosing to delay pregnancy.