Descenso récord en la tasa de fertilidad en Canadá: ¿Cuál es la causa?

Canada’s fertility rate record low

Canada’s fertility rate, which has been steadily declining, has hit a record low, placing the country among the “lowest-low” fertility nations, according to Statistics Canada data. The fertility rate in 2023 was 1.26 children per woman, the lowest level since the agency began collecting data. This record low fertility rate was observed in 10 of the 13 provinces and territories.

The fertility rate is an estimate of the average number of live births a woman can be expected to have in her reproductive life. In 2022, the fertility rate had already fallen to a record low of 1.33 children per woman, with the decline from 2022 to 2023 mainly due to an increase in the number of women of childbearing age in 2023.

A total of 351,477 babies were born in Canada last year, a number similar to that of 2022. With this new data on fertility, Canada now joins the group of “lowest-low” fertility countries with a rate of 1.3 children per woman or less, alongside nations like South Korea, Spain, Italy, and Japan.

A StatCan report published in January highlighted that more families are delaying having children, attributing this trend to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainties, high living costs, lifestyle changes, and work decisions. Experts suggest that these factors have influenced individuals to reconsider their childbearing choices in the face of widespread uncertainty.

It is also estimated that one in six Canadians experience infertility, as reported by the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS). However, advocates note that barriers to timely and affordable fertility care exist, including long wait times and limited health-care options.

On another note, Statistics Canada reported an increase in the rate of premature births in the country over the past three decades, reaching the highest level in 50 years in 2023 at 8.3 per cent. Premature birth, which occurs before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy, poses health risks for babies, including illness, hospitalization, and death. The rise in premature births could be linked to the higher proportion of older mothers, with 26.5 per cent of mothers aged 35 years and older last year compared to 10.7 per cent in 1993.

Overall, the declining fertility rate and increasing premature birth rate in Canada are raising concerns about the country’s demographic trends and potential implications for the future.