Bucharest, June 4, 2026 – RBJ – By Constantin Radut – Never, in its modern history, has Europe suffered, simultaneously, from a package of existential crises. For almost a decade, however, the wave of economic, health, technological crises and, recently, the harmful effects of the wars that the US-Israel couple are amplifying in various continental or regional areas have been thrown upon the continent and its member states like a net of injustice. In Brussels, which has become the command center of a bureaucratic institution and disconnected from reality, all these serious states of affairs are not felt by a group of individuals who make up the European Executive, namely the European Commission. Even the wallowing in the historical mud of the civilization and glory of the old continent does not awaken in the poor cardboard moguls any state of retaliation and rebellion.
The demographic crisis, a scourge that places Europe and the EU at the bottom of the world
Among all the misfortunes that have befallen European states, one is of immeasurable gravity. It is the demographic crisis. A phenomenon whose gravity is accentuated from one year to the next.
I recently read a piece of news that shook me: according to the most recent data from the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw, the fertility rate in Poland in 2025 was 1,068 children per woman. In order to perpetuate the existence of a people, this indicator should be at least 2.1 children per woman. If Poland, a country with a strong economy and growing GDP, no longer produces children, then its future is drowning in the swamp of helplessness. Although right-wing and center-right governments have promoted pro-birth policies, they have been either coercive (banning abortions) or ineffective (giving families who procreate a handout).
Mercantile policies to encourage couples to have children have also been promoted by other states. Hungary, for example, has failed. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), the female fertility rate has fallen sharply to 1.31 children per woman, from 1.59 in 2021.
In Romania, the situation is not at all commendable. According to the official publication of the National Institute of Statistics (INS) called “Demographic Events in 2025” (this effort of the INS is to be appreciated, but without echo in society), launched at the end of May 2026, the general female fertility rate in 2025 was 29.7 live births per 1000 women of childbearing age (15-49 years). The indicator continues a sharp downward trend, decreasing from a value of 37.5‰ recorded in 2016. On this basis, in Romania in 2025, the fertility indicator reached an estimated value of approximately 1.5 children per woman. Compared to over 1.7 as it was 3-4 years ago.
If we were to make a table of demographic indicators for the three countries, at the level of the year 2025, the situation would be this:
>>> Fertility rate (children/woman), Poland: 1.05 – 1.11, Hungary: 31 Romania: ~ 1.5.
>>> Average age of mother at first child, Poland: 28.4 years, Hungary: 28.8 years, Romania: 28.5 years.
>>> General trend Poland: critical decline, Hungary: sharp decline, Romania: moderate decline.
As I said at the beginning, the entire European Union is facing a deep demographic crisis, with the total fertility rate falling to a historic low of 1.34 children per woman, according to the most recent aggregate data published by Eurostat. No country in the EU bloc reaches the minimum population replacement threshold of 2.1 children.
We return and emphasize that demography needs a coherent policy of stimulation at the level of the entire continent and, especially, the EU. But also of the governments of each state. How? This is the “creativity” of every nation to subsist on history and its own more or less glorious past. But, as in other areas, demography needs strong, sincere and patriotic national incentives and consents. Let’s not repeat the policy of German Chancellor Merkel who “imported” millions of Syrian citizens with the hope that she will surpass any European competition.
