Births plummet in Moldova: Experts warn of devastation
In Moldova, fewer and fewer children are being born, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In 2014, over 38,600 births were registered, but a decade later, in 2024, that number fell to just 23,600. Experts label this a "devastating" demographic trend and assert that the state must implement policies to support young families and halt the decline.
The number of children born last year was 2% lower compared to the previous year.
The birth rate, which is the number of births per thousand inhabitants, decreased from 10.9 in 2014 to 9.8 in 2024.
Statistics also reveal that women are choosing to become mothers later in life. In 2014, women in Moldova had their first child, on average, at age 24. By 2024, this average age increased to 26.8 years.
Despite Moldovan women, on average, having slightly more children than a decade ago, the overall birth rate remains below the 2.1 children per woman threshold needed for population stability. In 2024, a woman gave birth to an average of 1.66 children.
Demographer Valeriu Sainsus characterizes the demographic trend of recent decades as "devastating" for Moldova, leading to "profound changes" in the population structure.
He says that the high number of divorces, massive emigration, and women choosing to give birth later are the main causes driving the country's demographic challenges.
"As the age of legal marriage increases, the number of children resulting from marriage decreases. (...) The closer the average age of marriage gets to 29-30 years, we, demographers, expect such families to have only one child, and very rarely—two children," Valeriu Sainsus told Teleradio-Moldova.
According to the specialist, single-child families make up almost half of the married population. He added that the slight increase in the number of children born per woman is "insignificant," with "dire consequences."
"We do not have generational replacement within the country's population," Sainsus noted.
The expert emphasizes that to boost the number of newborns in Moldova, the state must promote demographic policies aimed at encouraging young families.
"Most often, women who have contributed to the demographic dividend are not adequately supported by the social protection system. I am referring to families who have had three or more children. Often, these are women who have dedicated their entire lives to their families, and when they reach retirement age, they do not receive adequate pensions to cover the minimum needed for a decent life," Valeriu Sainsus emphasized.
It's worth noting that, according to NBS data, Moldova's natural population growth remains negative, with a difference of 9,900 people between the number of newborns and deceased individuals in 2024.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
