BRUSSELS ∙ European countries report declining birth rates. Romania recorded a 13.9 percent decline in birth rates, Poland 10.7 percent, and the Czech Republic a 10 percent decline.

The rich countries of the European Union, especially Germany, are lagging behind in this regard. Germany, the EU’s biggest economy, recorded a 6.2 percent drop in birth rates. France has the lowest birth rate in the EU in the last 60 years at 6.6. This year has recorded a decrease of 5.5 percent compared to last year.

Last year, a total of 36,65,142 children were born in the member states of the European Union. It is also reported that the birth rate is increasing among immigrant groups in Europe. Experts attribute the decline in birth rates to more women working and the lack of unpaid childcare.