To that end, I suggested that rapidly declining
birthrates in Iran could be taken as evidence that the Iranian people as a whole were choosing not to reproduce themselves, which in turn might suggest that, as a people, they preferred not to live.
In the following years, 1996-2001, when the economic situation seems to stabilize, birth-rate stabilizes, too, and during 2001-2006, parallel with the economic expansion, we witness a slight growth of
birthrate. All this period, mortality reached relatively constant levels, just like the number of the dead births (12).
A report compiled by a government advisory panel on social security issues states, ''The declining
birthrate is the biggest challenge confronting Japan.''
But other anomalies such as Canada and Germany, whose
birthrate lags behind similarly rich nations, have yet to be explained.
The latest figures continue to show the country is experiencing a declining
birthrate and an aging population.
In 2007, France's national statistical authority announced that the country had overtaken Ireland to boast the highest
birthrate in Europe.
And the rising
birthrate means many are unable to spend as much time with mothers.
And critics say the Department of Health has been "caught by surprise" by the rising
birthrate, with some maternity wards forced to close their doors to expectant mothers.
Research using a
Birthrate Plus analysis tool has revealed a shortfall inmaternity staff at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
If high-school and college girls in the days of Father Knows Best were as promiscuous as those of recent years, why did the annual
birthrate per 1,000 unmarried girls aged 15-19 triple between 1960 and 1994, even as abortion went from being illegal almost everywhere to being available everywhere?
Bishop Ingham cautioned against using assumptions before gathering data and noted that other research tracks Anglican church membership decline with a falling
birthrate among its traditional constituency--white Anglo-Americans and Anglo-Canadians.