Infographic // Why Moldova's birth rate is declining: Key factors explained
The Republic of Moldova is experiencing a demographic shift, which includes a low birth rate.
This situation is driven not only by economic factors but also by the current aspirations of families, life partnerships, and inequalities in living conditions, according to Aliona Crețu, the head of the Demographic Policy Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.
According to Aliona Crețu, inequalities between urban and rural areas, the lack of job opportunities, and changing women's priorities are all factors that equally influence the birth rate.
"The main issue is that women want to affirm themselves professionally, pursue higher education, and no longer want to stay at home just to have children – they no longer see this as their primary purpose. There are also factors such as changes in marital partnerships, the decline in the number of marriages, which similarly impacts fertility rates. Economic factors include low benefits, poorly paid jobs, and the lack of employment opportunities," said Aliona Crețu.
Over the past eight years, the number of newborns has dropped by approximately 34%, from 41,000 in 2014 to 27,000 in 2022, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
The government is trying to encourage families to have more children. For example, this year, the one-time birth grant was doubled, reaching 20,000 lei.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
