Childlessness in Europe: Reconstructing Long-Term Trends Among Women Born in 1900–1972
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
By design analogy, observational demographic cohort trend reconstruction from census, survey, and vital statistics data.
OpenAlex W2575363883 · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44667-7_2
What was done
The author reconstructed long-term childlessness trends among female cohorts born between 1900 and 1972 across 30 European countries by synthesizing data from national censuses, sample surveys, and vital statistics records to evaluate country-level and regional patterns.
What was found
No quantitative statistics or percentages were reported in the abstract. Directionally, permanent childlessness followed a U-shaped trajectory across 1900–1972 birth cohorts, reaching a trough in the 1940s cohorts. The historical gap between lower childlessness in former state-socialist European countries and higher levels in other regions eroded as rates increased among Central and Eastern European cohorts born in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Upward trends levelled off in parts of Western Europe (e.g., Switzerland, England, and Wales), while Southern European countries (notably Italy and Spain) emerged on track for the highest levels.
Why it matters
This study harmonizes cross-national demographic data to map how childlessness shifted across 20th-century European generations, highlighting how postponement of parenthood diminishes historical East-West fertility divides.
Limits
The abstract reports no exact numeric estimates, confidence intervals, or sample sizes. Harmonizing different historical data sources (vital statistics, surveys, and censuses) across 30 distinct nations presents potential comparability and measurement challenges.
Cited by
- context In the United Kingdom, the proportion of women who are childless at age 30 has risen from 48% to 58%.