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Europe’s 2026 fertility rankings show large differences between countries. Some have higher birth rates because they support families, while others struggle with economic challenges.
Northern and some eastern countries have higher fertility rates than southern and Baltic countries, suggesting that government support is more important than market forces in maintaining high birth rates.
These differences reflect how each country chooses to use its resources to address aging populations.
Top Countries Use Strong Family Policies
RankRegion NameValue1Iceland1.932France1.903Kosovo1.854Montenegro1.805Czech Republic1.736Ireland1.727Sweden1.668United Kingdom1.649Romania1.6310Netherlands1.6211Hungary1.6012Slovakia1.6013Germany1.5914Switzerland1.5915Norway1.5816Macedonia1.5317Bulgaria1.5218Russia1.5219Denmark1.5020Slovenia1.4921Serbia1.4722Belgium1.4623Portugal1.4624Belarus1.4525Croatia1.4326Greece1.4227Estonia1.3628Austria1.3529Poland1.3330Spain1.3231Finland1.2832Italy1.2733Moldova1.2734Latvia1.2535Luxembourg1.2536Lithuania1.2237Ukraine1.2238Bosnia and Herzegovina1.1539Albania1.09
The top five countries, such as Iceland (1.93) and France (1.90), have higher fertility rates because they provide strong support for families.
They offer universal childcare, longer parental leave, and housing assistance, making it easier for parents to have children while both work. Kosovo (1.85) and Montenegro (1.80) also have good results, thanks to strong community support and recent stability, even if their policies are less formal.
These countries invest in families and view children as important for the economy, which helps explain why their fertility rates are above the EU average.
Countries like Iceland and France have to make budget decisions to fund family programs, sometimes spending less on areas like defense or infrastructure.
These programs help keep fertility rates higher, but they are expensive and may be difficult to maintain if the economy weakens.
Even the top countries are only slightly above the level needed to keep their populations stable, which raises questions about how long this approach can last without stronger economic growth.
Unexpected Results Challenge Expectations
The Czech Republic is ranked 5th with a fertility rate of 1.73, which is surprising given its past economic problems. This improvement is due to policies such as baby bonuses and flexible work arrangements, which have helped attract young families.
Poland (rank 29, 1.33) has not seen the same results, possibly because it has not combined traditional values with enough economic support.
The Czech Republic used EU funding to improve its family policies, showing that targeted changes can help countries improve, even if they are not wealthy.
Regional Comparisons Show Clear Differences
Nordic countries like Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark (ranks 1, 7, 15, and 19) have fertility rates between 1.50 and 1.93, which is higher than Baltic countries such as Estonia (rank 27, 1.36) and Latvia (rank 34, 1.25).
The Nordics support working parents with equal policies and high employment rates, while the Baltics still face challenges stemming from past population loss and low wages.
Southern European countries like Italy (rank 32, 1.27) and Spain (rank 30, 1.32) have lower fertility rates, often because high youth unemployment makes it hard for young people to start families.
Eastern European countries show mixed results. Romania (rank 9, 1.63) and Hungary (rank 11, 1.60) have higher fertility rates, partly because their governments offer incentives to keep people from leaving.
Ukraine (rank 37, 1.22) has a much lower rate, likely due to the ongoing conflict. In the Balkans, Montenegro (rank 4) has a higher rate, while Albania (rank 39, 1.09) has a much lower rate.
Some countries benefit from recovery after conflicts, but ongoing tensions still hold others back.
Deep Challenges Keep Some Countries at the Bottom
Countries at the bottom of the rankings face ongoing problems that make it hard to raise fertility rates. Albania (rank 39) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (rank 38) lose many young people to emigration, so fewer people remain to have children.
Ukraine (rank 37) and Lithuania (rank 36) also have low rates, partly because conflicts and security concerns take priority over family support.
Even Russia (rank 18, 1.52), despite having more resources, does not reach its potential, possibly because strict government controls limit the introduction of new ideas to help families.
Future Trends Require Quick Action
If current trends continue, countries like Iceland and France may slow population aging for now, but many mid-ranked countries could see their populations and workforces shrink even more.
Balkan and Baltic countries could lose 20-30% of their workforce by 2040, potentially forcing them to rely on immigration, even though this is often unpopular. Northern countries may keep doing better, while lower-ranked countries lose skilled workers.
Unless successful policies are shared more widely, Europe could face long-term population decline, especially in countries ranked 30 to 39.
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