Spain registered 320,656 births in 2023, which is 2.6% less than the previous year and a decrease of 24.7% compared to a decade ago, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in its report , Natural Population Movement (Marriages, Births and Deaths). This data establishes a new all-time low since records began in 1941, reflecting a downward trend that has continued for ten years, with the only exception of 2014.
The role of foreign mothers continues to grow in the Spanish demographic panorama. In 2023, 24.4% of births corresponded to women with foreign nationalitycompared to the 23% registered in 2022. If the place of birth is considered, the percentage rises to 31.3%, highlighting the importance of this group in the total number of births.
The current fertility indicator stood at 1.12 children per woman, four hundredths less than in 2022, marking a new setback. Both Spanish and foreign mothers showed decreases in their rates, with an average of 1.09 and 1.28 children, respectively.
The average age for motherhood in Spain remained at 32.6 years during 2023, although a significant difference is observed between Spanish women, who reach an average of 33.1 years, and foreigners, with 30.5 years. Besides, Births to mothers aged 40 or older have increased considerably, representing 10.8% of the total in 2023, compared to 6.8% a decade ago.
The number of women who have children from the age of 40 increases
The INE report also reflects changes in family patternswith 49.9% of births corresponding to unmarried mothers, a slight decrease compared to 50.1% in 2022. This proportion has increased progressively since 2015, when it stood at 44.4%.
Fewer deaths and more life expectancy
Regarding deaths, 436,124 people died in Spain during 2023, 6.1% less than the previous year. The largest drop was observed in deaths of people between 85 and 89 years old, which decreased by 11%.
Life expectancy in men was 81.11 years and that of women was 86.34
On the other hand, life expectancy at birth reached a new record, standing at 83.77 years. Men can expect to live an average of 81.11 years and women, 86.34 years, a figure that exceeds 86 years for the first time. In addition, those who reach 65 years of age in 2023 have an additional life expectancy of 19.65 years for men and 23.49 for women.
The aging of the Spanish population is evident in the figures. For the first time, 20.2% of the inhabitants are 65 years old or older. Likewise, the average age of the population rose to 44.2 years in 2023, compared to 41.8 in 2013. This aging, added to a negative vegetative balance of -113,590 people in 2023, shows the demographic challenges facing the country . This difference between births and deaths becomes the third most negative since records exist, only surpassed by those of 2020 and 2022.
#Births #Spain #fall #lowest #figure #records #exist
