Majority of households without children
The number of births in Argentina continues to decline, with recent data showing a significant drop in live births and an increase in the elderly population.
According to recent data from Argentina's Ministry of Health, live births have decreased dramatically, with only 413,135 recorded in 2024, a 47% decline from the 777,000 births in 2014. This trend mirrors global patterns seen in countries like Chile, Uruguay, and various European nations, but it marks the most abrupt and prolonged decline in Argentina's recent history. While experts expect this downward trend to stabilize, they are unable to predict when that might occur.
Moreover, a May study from the Human Development Observatory of Austral University indicates a significant rise in the elderly population, which has increased from 1.5% in 1991 to 11.8% of the total population. This demographic shift raises concerns about the implications for social services and the economy, as a growing elderly population may exert more pressure on public resources, while fewer children means a diminishing younger workforce in the future.
Experts often point to improved economic conditions as a factor leading to lower birth rates, yet the situation in Argentina suggests a more complex set of influences at play. The reduction in fertility rates reflects both local and global economic trends, but factors unique to Argentina, such as shifts in social norms and family planning, may also contribute to this unprecedented decline.