We often hear about challenges, yet are not always given the background to how these challenges came to fruition. In everything, it is important to provide context to give a full picture. Today, let’s discuss the realities about global birthrates and population decline.

Over the past few years, there has been an online debate about Bermuda’s declining birthrate and what it means for the future. For strictly political purposes, some have attempted to paint a picture that it is Bermuda alone that has a fallingbirth rate.

What is birthrate, you ask?

Here is a definition from oxfordreference.com: “The rate at which a particular species or population produces offspring. The birthrate of a species is used to measure its fecundity [reproductive capability]”

The global benchmark states that in order for a country to maintain its population, it has to have a birthrate of 2.1 or above. In simpler terms, if a family have fewer than two children, they are below the birthrate. Bermuda’s birthrate is at 1.3, according to worldbank.org. So, we are not replacing ourselves.

We are not alone

Several websites revealed that almost all “developed” countries are experiencing the exact same steep decline in birthrates. According to worldbank.org, here are some comparison:

• Britain 1.5

• United States 1.7

• British Virgin Islands 1.0

• Barbados 1.6

• Germany 1.6

• Cayman Islands 1.2

• Canada 1.4

• Switzerland 1.5

Clearly, almost every country in the “developed world” is facing inevitable population decline. In other words, Bermuda is not alone. But, hey, don’t take my word for it.

“The European Union is on the brink of a major demographic shift as new projections suggest a significant population decline by the end of the century.”

Euronews.com

“America will enter the 22nd century with a shrinking population…”

Axios.com

Less pampers

Here are some of the given reasons for declining birthrates:

• Rising childcare costs

• Greater access to contraception

• Change in social norms

• Women exercising more options

Each one of us can look at our immediate and extended families, and realise that no matter what our socioeconomic status, very few persons are having more than two children. So, yes, our very own personal choices leading to fewer pampers are part of that numeric equation of below 2.1.

Whatever the reasons may be for why families are having fewer children, the net result is that most countries, including Bermuda, must prepare for an increasingly ageing population with fewer and fewer young people.

Part of the long-term solution to our demographic challenges will be changes to longstanding immigration policies that we will discuss at another time.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com