site.btaBulgaria with Highest Total Fertility Rate in EU in 2023 - Eurostat

In 2023, Bulgaria had the highest total fertility rate in the European Union (1.81 live births per woman), followed by France (1.66) and Hungary (1.55), according to Eurostat data made public on Friday. 

This represents a record level for Bulgaria since 1990, the data show. By contrast, the lowest fertility rates were seen in Malta (1.06 births per woman), Spain (1.12) and Lithuania (1.18).

In 2023, 3.67 million babies were born in the EU, a 5.4% decrease from the 3.88 million in 2022. This is the largest annual decline recorded since 1961.

The total fertility rate in 2023 was 1.38 live births per woman in the EU, down from 1.46 in 2022.