Fertility

821 live born children were born in Greenland in 2013. Of these 762 were born by mothers born in Greenland themselves, and 59 were born by mothers from abroad.

 

The annual number of live born can be decomposed into the size of the female population, their age-distribution and their age-specific fertility rates. Fertility often compares by a number of indicators, some shown in summary table 5.1.

 

Summary table 5.1. Fertility indicators 2013

 

Total

Mothers born in Greenland

Born outside      Greenland

 

1993

2003

2013

1993

2003

2013

1993

2003

2013

Liveborn

1.180

879

821

1.098

786

762

82

93

59

Fertilityrate

21,3

15,5

14,6

23,0

15,7

15,2

11,0

13,8

9,5

Generel fertility

83,0

61,4

59,0

86,9

60,5

60,2

52,0

69,7

46,4

Total fertility

2,587

2,379

2,049

2,660

2,351

2,077

1,827

2,038

1,328

Gross reproduction

1,259

1,158

0,997

1,295

1,145

1,011

0,890

0,992

0,647

Net reproduction

1,214

1,088

0,980

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beebblsf2

 

The fertility-indicators give an overview of fertility and the age-specific fertility rates a more detailed picture. In figure 5.1 development in the age-specific rates are shown for women, born in Greenland.

 

The fertility level dropped very sharply in the late 1960s and early 1970s. From 1975 till today, the total fertility rate (the number of children a woman would get if she gives birth in accordance with the annual fertility rates) fluctuated between approximately 2.0 and 2.6 children.

 

Figure 5.1. Total fertility 1948-2013, per 1000 women born in Greenland

Source: Statistics Greenland, http://bank.stat.gl/beebbsf1

 

Over the last 10 years a decline in fertility for women under 25 years can be seen. The total fertility rate is now so low that the population can not reproduce itself.