Poland's fertility rate falls to record low, with 90 districts below 1.0

Poland’s fertility rate has dropped to a historic low of 1.099 in 2024, with 90 of 380 districts now recording fewer than one child per woman, Puls Biznesu reported Tuesday, citing official statistics.

The report notes that high fertility rates above the national average are mostly concentrated in districts surrounding major cities, though large urban centers themselves show particularly low rates.

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According to the paper, the national Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the lowest since records began. For generational replacement, a TFR of at least 2.1 is required.

In some areas, the situation is even more severe. Sopot, a coastal city in northern Poland, recorded a TFR of just 0.57—lower than South Korea, which has the lowest fertility rate among OECD countries.

The report notes that high fertility rates above the national average are mostly concentrated in districts surrounding major cities, though large urban centers themselves show particularly low rates.

The data, based on figures from Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS), revealed no clear correlation between fertility and other socioeconomic factors, apart from proximity to major metropolitan areas.

(jh)

Source: PAP