Demographic shifts show declining birth and marriage rates in Mexico and Ecuador

Demographic shifts in Mexico and Ecuador show a significant decline in birth rates and marriage frequency, alongside changing household spending patterns.

In Mexico, data from INEGI indicates that pet food spending increased by 61% between 2018 and 2024, while spending on diapers decreased. This shift aligns with a drop in births, which fell to approximately 1.67 million in 2024, the lowest since 2020. The average number of children per woman has dropped from 1.9 to 1.2 over five years, with Mexico City recording a fertility rate of 0.8. Additionally, the average age for marriage has risen, with women now marrying at an average age of 32.5.

Similarly, Ecuador is experiencing a demographic turning point. The fertility rate fell to 1.81 children per woman in 2024, dropping below the 2.1 replacement level. Marriage rates have also declined, with 52,044 unions recorded in 2025, a 3.3% decrease from the previous year and a significant drop from 2010 levels. Experts suggest these trends are driven by a combination of cultural shifts toward individual autonomy and economic pressures, including housing costs, labor vulnerability, and wage instability.