How birth rates are changing in Spain
Spain today records fewer than half the births it did four decades ago.
The number of births has fallen persistently since the 1980s. This is not a sudden shift: it is a demographic transformation that has been underway for decades and largely explains the ageing of Spain's population.
Births 2024
317.255
ISF 2024
1.1
Mother age 2024
32.6
EU TFR 2024
1.34
Fewer births every decade
In 1980, Spain recorded 571.018 births. In 2024 there were 317.255 — 44% fewer. The trend has been almost uninterruptedly downward.
Annual births in Spain (1980–2024)
Source: Eurostat — demo_gind
Each woman has on average 1.1 children
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) measures how many children a woman would have on average over her reproductive life. In 1980 it was 2.22 children per woman. In 2024 it has fallen to 1.1 — half as much. To maintain a stable population without immigration, a TFR of around 2.1 would be needed.
Total Fertility Rate in Spain (1980–2024)
Source: Eurostat — demo_find
Motherhood is happening later and later
One of the most visible shifts is the rising age of motherhood. In 1980, women gave birth on average at 28.2. In 2024 that figure is 32.6 — 4.4 years later. The first child now arrives on average at age 31.5.
Mean age of mother at childbirth
Source: Eurostat — demo_find
Spain at the bottom of Europe
In the European comparison, Spain has the lowest TFR in the selection: 1.1 in 2024, below the EU-27 average (1.34) and Italy (1.18), historically associated with very low birth rates. France maintains the highest TFR, close to replacement level.
TFR by country in Europe (2024)
Source: Eurostat — demo_find
A structural shift, not a passing crisis
The fall in birth rates is not a problem of today: it has been consolidating for decades. Together with rising life expectancy, it is the main driver of Spain's population ageing. The data does not say whether this is good or bad — it says it is a deep transformation that shapes housing, pensions, education and the labour market.
What the data tells us
1 Births have fallen 44% since the peak in 1980: from 571.018 to 317.255.
2 The TFR has dropped from 2.22 (1980) to 1.1 (2024), well below replacement level (2.1).
3 The age of motherhood has risen by 4.4 years: the first child now arrives on average at age 31.5.