Fertility rates fall in Latin America and Italy amid policy debates

A UN‑commissioned report shows that the Latin America and Caribbean region has dropped below the replacement level of two children per woman, with an average fertility rate of 1.8. The lowest rates are recorded in Chile (1.14), Costa Rica (1.32), Uruguay (1.4), Cuba (1.45) and Argentina (1.5), while Brazil and Colombia are also declining. Adolescent fertility has fallen 38.8 % between 2014 and 2024, and the average age of first‑time mothers rose to 27.6 years in 2024.

In Italy, the total fertility index has reached 1.4, continuing a decline that began in 1975. The reduction is driven by a smaller cohort of women of reproductive age and by families choosing fewer children. Experts propose economic incentives and expanded early‑childhood services, similar to Scandinavian models, to encourage larger families. The Italian paediatric association also urges limits on digital device use for children under 36 months and broader digital‑education measures.

Both regions link the fertility drop to urbanisation, higher education, increased female labour participation and greater contraceptive use, while noting that social safety nets and family‑friendly policies remain limited.