Birth rates, by Lise Framstad
Catholic countries:
Italy
Birthrate: 9.06 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,36
Life expectancy: 81,86
Spain
Birthrate: 10.4 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,37
Life expectancy: 81,27
Ireland
Birthrate: 15.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,81
Life expectancy: 80,32
Portugal
Birthrate: 9.76 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 4,60
Life expectancy: 78,70
France
Birthrate: 12.7 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,40
Life expectancy: 81,46
Poland
Birthrate: 9.96 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 6,42
Life expectancy: 76,25
San Marino
Birthrate: 8.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 4,65
Life expectancy: 83,07
Non-Catholic:
Norway
Birthrate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,50
Life expectancy: 80,32
Denmark: 10.22 births/1,000 population (2012 est.
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 4,19
Life expectancy: 78,78
Iceland: 13.23 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant mortality (Deaths/1,000 live births): 3,18
Life expectancy: 81
As we can
see from the numbers, the birth rate does not change too much whether it is a
catholic or non-Catholic country. Having visited all of the countries mentioned
above, I would point out that some of the catholic countries have a much more conservative
prohibition against birth control compared to others, which clearly shows out;
Ireland practice prohibition against birth control on a much more strict level
than south-European countries such as Italy, France and Spain. I have friends
from Ireland, where most of them have 3-4 siblings, while my friends from Italy
are either only child or with one sister or brother. Getting birth control in south-Europe
countries is very easy: Even in the smallest towns in South of Italy, you will
find birth control vending machines all around, and you really do not have to
walk far away form the Vatican to find places to buy condoms. With that being
said, I believe the culture and the way of living has a lot to say as well. In
south of Europe, it’s not unusual for the women to stay at home with children
and housework, while the men work. In north of Europe, in countries such as
Norway, Denmark and Iceland, it’s more common for women to put career first,
and often don’t start a family before the reach 35-40years and have a house and
stable income. What you may find interesting is the small country San Marino,
with the lowest birthrate. Many of the inhabitants of San Marino work in Italy
and have children with Italians. Also, in south of Europe, family is considered
very important. Your children are supposed to take care of the whole family, at
any time. When your parents get old, your responsibility is to take care of
them and even ring them into your own house to nurse them. In north of Europe,
it’s more common for old people to go to elderly homes and if they need medical
home they get it at the elderly home, while the children work and visit when
they feel like. In other words, children in North of Europe do not grow up with
the mentality that their role when they grow up is to take care of their
parents full time. Of course, Norwegians take care of their parents when they
get old, but rarely take them home for nursing or quit their job to take care
of parents when they get old. So as a conclusion, even though there is a
technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic
countries, it seems like most of the young people growing up in those countries
do not seem to care about it.
Birth rate:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html
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