Baby boom is now bust

The number of children being born around the world has rapidly declined, say researchers.

The study, published by medical journal The Lancet, followed trends in every country between 1950 and 2017. Falling fertility rates means that nearly 50% of countries are now facing a “baby bust” because there aren’t enough babies being born to maintain the population.

Professor Christopher Murray, of the University of Washington, said: “We have reached this watershed where half of countries have fertility rates below the replacement level, so if nothing happens the populations will decline in those countries. It’s a remarkable transition.”