Italy’s fertility rate among lowest in OECD

It said the average TFR for the OECD fell to just 1.5 children per woman in 2022, well below the “replacement level” of 2.1. (Pexels photo)

ROME – Italy’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is among the lowest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area, with an average of just 1.2 children per woman, the Paris-based organization said in its ‘Society at a Glance 2024’ report on Thursday.

“The TFR was lowest in Italy and Spain with 1.2 children per woman, and particularly in Korea at an estimated 0.7 children per woman in 2023,” the OECD said.

The report said OECD countries have been experiencing a long-term decline in their TFRs.

It said the average TFR for the OECD fell to just 1.5 children per woman in 2022, well below the “replacement level” of 2.1.

“The decline in the TFR went hand in hand with an increase in the age at which mothers have their first child, which increased from 26.5 years in 2000, on average across the OECD, to 29.5 in 2022,” it said.

The report said Israel was the OECD country with the highest TFR, with 2.9 children per woman, followed by Mexico and France with 1.8. (ANSA)