Danish women set birth record
Denmark leads industrialised nations in number of births Denmark’s birth-rate has grown the most out of any other industrialised country since 1984 a new study from the OECD shows. With 1.84 children per woman in 2009, the birth-rate has risen...
Denmark’s birth-rate has grown the most out of any other industrialised
country since 1984 a new study from the OECD shows.
With 1.84 children per woman in 2009, the birth-rate has risen 32 per
cent over the last 25 years.
The Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and Sweden followed close behind
Denmark with increases of between 18 and 20 percent while the
majority of countries studied witnessed a drop in fertility.
The study, which covered 43 countries, was published by Momentum, the
newsletter for Local Government Denmark.
Scientists in Denmark believe that the welfare state, which makes it
possible to have both children and a career, is a key explanation for
the rise.
Speaking to Momentum, Professor Bent Greve, professor of social
sciences at Roskilde University, explained that the Danish day-care
system is largely responsible.
“Having a high-quality and functioning day care system at an
affordable price is important. There is no longer the uncertainty
about whether you dare to have children if you also want to keep your
job.”