“The choice to have a child depends on family and work plans, but can also be influenced by the economic climate,” INSEE Head of Demographic Studies Pascale Breuil said.
Despite the drop in birth rate in 2013, France remains second only to Ireland when it comes to Europe's most fertile nations. Women in Ireland, where the population is 4.6 million, had on average 2.01 children each in 2013.
These figures stand in stark contrast to Germany and Portugal, which had the lowest fertility rates on the continent. Germany recorded a rate of 1.38 per woman, followed by Portugal with 1.28 offspring per woman.
Germany is also an important reminder that the economy isn't the only factor for a couple weighing parenthood. Germany has single-digit unemployment and is considered the economic powerhouse of Europe.
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