French women have the most children out of the entire European Union, statistics today revealed.
Official statistics obtained from the 28 nations in the bloc show there are 192 births for every 100 mothers in France – at a rate of 1.92.
In comparison, Spain and Italy had the lowest rates – with 134 births for every 100 mothers – at a rate 1.34, according to the new data.
Figures collected by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, showed the UK and Denmark shared the fourth highest fertility rates. There are 179 children for every 100 mothers in both nations – at a rate of 1.79.
The overall fertility rate was 1.6 births per woman – but this is well below the amount needed to sustain a population
Nearly 5.15 million babies were born across the EU in 2016, the last year for which figures area available.
An analysis showed this is 450,000 more than was noted in 2015.
The overall fertility rate was 1.6 births per woman – but this is well below the amount needed to sustain a population.
Eurostat claims 2.1 births per women is ‘considered to be the replacement level in developed countries’.
The Scandinavian country of Sweden had the second highest fertility rate – with 185 children to every 100 mothers – at a rate of 1.85.
While Ireland scooped third place in the EU fertility rankings – with 181 children born to every 100 mothers – at a rate of 1.81, the figures showed.
The new figures also delved into the age of first-time mothers across the EU – and revealed a stark divide across the bloc. Bulgaria had the youngest first-time mothers across the bloc – with the average age of giving birth being 26
At the other end of the scale, Portugal (1.36), Cyprus and Malta (1.37) and Greece (1.38) rounded up the worst performing countries.
The new figures also delved into the age of first-time mothers across the EU – and revealed a stark divide across the bloc.
Bulgaria had the youngest first-time mothers across the bloc – with the average age of giving birth being 26.
Italy topped the other end of the scale. The average age of being a mother for the first time in the country is 31.
Rates of women having their first child in Italy over the age of 40 are up to seven times higher than in other countries.
Romania had the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, with 14.2 per cent of births in the Eastern European country being to women under 20.
Germany, where the rate is 1.59 births per woman, noted a record number of babies in 2016. There were 792,131 children born in the country that year.
Officials claimed this was boosted by an increase in births by non-German women following large numbers of migrant arrivals.
Non-German births increased by 25 per cent in the country – despite German women having 3 per cent more babies, in total.
Finland led the way for large families with one in ten mothers having their fourth or subsequent child.
Europeans have been having fewer children for decades, and a slight rebound since reaching a low of 5.0 million in 2002 has largely stalled since 2014.
Bulgaria had the youngest first-time mothers across the bloc – with the average age of giving birth being 26. Italy topped the other end of the scale. The average age of being a mother for the first time in the country is 31