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Demography

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Nordic and European populations are aging and those who work shoulder a larger burden to pay for welfare through taxes. This development may not be unmanageable for the Nordics, since generous family policy has increased the fertility rate and immigration has been greater than in the rest of Europe. Population growth is however slowed due to people choosing to postpone parenthood among other factors.

Fertility

Fertility rates have seen a decline in the Nordics since 2010. In most Nordic countries, the rate is between a stable level (2100) and a critical low level (1500). Low rates can lead to a population shift, where elderly people outnumber younger people. Higher fertility rates in the past were linked to successful gender equality policy. There is no single explanation for the current falling rates. Choosing to have children later and financial uncertainty is seen as part of the reason, despite generous family benefits.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href="https://data.nordic-ilibrary.org/chart/5CwC" href="https://data.nordic-ilibrary.org/chart/5CwC" target="_blank"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Nordic iLibrary Chart: Fertility rate, 15-49 year-olds, Per 1 000 women, Annual, 1990 – latest&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Mean age at birth of first child

Women in the Nordics are waiting longer to have children. The average age of women when they have their first child has been rising from the mid-20s to late-20s over the past 20 years. Choosing to postpone parenthood has been associated with greater opportunities for women to pursue higher education and advancing in the labour market. This is even seen as part of the explanation for falling fertility rates.