A topic that is finally receiving some of the attention it deserves is the looming demographic crisis. Britain is facing a “baby bust”, and so is the whole of Europe. They have been for some time now. The situation is even worse in East Asia. Even India’s fertility rate has recently dropped below replacement level.
It might surprise readers of the Catholic Herald, however, to know that Ireland – long associated with big families – has also entered the era of sub-replacement-level fertility rates. Our fertility rate has now dipped to 1.5 children per woman, not much higher than the British rate. A fertility rate this low means 100 people can expect to have around 75 children and 56 grandchildren, and so on. Meanwhile, the population will keep on ageing.
