Spain fertility rates decline as women delay motherhood

Recent fertility data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) indicates a trend of declining birth rates and delayed motherhood. Approximately 35% of surveyed mothers report having fewer children than they desired.

Key obstacles to expanding families include economic difficulties, work-life balance issues, insufficient parental leave, and health concerns. While 69% of women express a desire to have at least two children, the percentage of women wishing for three or more has dropped to around 20%.

In the province of Lleida, the fertility rate fell to 1.28 children per woman, with the average age for a first pregnancy rising from 29.82 to 30.88 years over the last decade. Additionally, the use of assisted reproduction has seen an increase, reaching a peak of 9.6% among women aged 40 to 44.