Society & Culture

The Baby Bust

Why Falling Birth Rates Are Reshaping the Global Economy — and What Governments Can Do About It

Maria Santos

Demographer at the Vienna Institute of Demography, studying fertility trends and their economic and social consequences.

March 15, 2026·9 min read

The Baby Bust

The global fertility rate has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman in most developed countries and is declining rapidly in the developing world. The consequences — aging populations, shrinking workforces, and unsustainable pension systems — will define the economic and political landscape of the 21st century.

TOPICS

birth ratesdemographicsaging populationeconomysociety

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