Changing Patterns of Family Formation and Childbearing (by Tryfonas Lemontzoglou)

Changing Patterns of Family Formation and Childbearing

by Tryfonas Lemontzoglou

Postdoctoral Researcher in Quantitative Economic History 
(National Technical University of Athens, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law) 

trifonaslemon@gmail.com

1. Global Trends Towards Family Formation Process

   Figure 1 presents the decreasing trends in average household size around the world over the period 1960-2010. As we can see, the far higher values of household size are reported in African countries (Zambia and Zimbabwe). Ireland follows in the third higher position, while Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Greece, and Poland get close to each other at little lower levels as compared to Ireland. The lowest levels of average household size are shown in the United States, France, Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland. 

   Additionally, Figure 2 shows the decline in the percentages of households with 6 or more members around the world during the period 1960–2010. The higher rates of large households are found in African and Asian countries (Zambia, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh), while some quite lower rates are observed in Paraguay, Mexico, and Thailand. Brazil and Ireland are posed at an intermediate level between large and small rates of 6-person-or-more households, while most European countries (Switzerland, Hungary, France, Austria, Portugal, Greece, and Romania) and the United States are found in the bottom level. 

    On the contrary, the percentages of 1-person households around the world are shown an important increasing trend over the period 1960-2010 (see Figure 3). The highest percentages of 1-person households are reported in Western European countries (Switzerland, Austria, and France). Then, the United States, Hungary, Ireland, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Argentina, and South Africa follow at lower levels, while far the lowest levels are observed in Mexico, Uganda, Indonesia, Nepal, and Rwanda. 

    Lastly, Figure 4 presents the upward trends in the percentages of couple households without children around the world over the period 1960-2010. The highest rates of couple households are found in Switzerland, France, and the United States, followed by Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, and Romania. Brazil, Argentina, and Ireland are found between the top and the bottom levels, while the lowest levels are reported in Asian countries (India, Bangladesh, and Nepal).

2. Parenting in New Family Forms in Europe

    Figure 5 shows the percentages of children living with two cohabiting parents in different geographical areas of Europe over the period 2005-2017. As we can see, the Nordic countries appear to have the highest levels of two-parent cohabiting families, while the East-Central and Western European countries mark the second and third highest rates of cohabiting families in Europe, respectively, both following significant increasing trends over time. The lowest levels of families are formed through cohabitation in Europe are found in Southern European countries, with Greece reporting far the lowest levels. 

  Moreover, the percentages of single-parent families in Europe over the period 2005-2017 are presented in Figure 6. The highest levels of single-parent families are shown in both the Nordic and Western European countries, while Central Eastern European countries follow at the third highest position, however, not far away from the top. Once again, the Southern European countries appear to have the lowest levels in Europe, however, presenting an increasing trend over time. 

    Another important aspect associated with the emergence of new family forms and structures in Europe during the last two decades can been seen in Figure 7, which reports the increased levels of births outside marriage in different geographic areas of Europe over the period 2005-2017. More specifically, the Nordic countries are reported to have far the highest rates of births outside marriage in Europe. The countries that follow are the Eastern-Central, and Western European countries, while Southern European countries are counted at the last place, with Greece reporting once again the lowest levels.

3. Fertility Patterns in Europe

   Changes in family structure and household composition were also accompanied by significant changes towards fertility patterns and behaviours. As Figure 8 shows, total fertility rates have clearly declined over time for all European areas. The largest decreases in total fertility rates are shown in Southern and East-Central Europe, while the Nordic countries and Western Europe appear to have the highest fertility levels among European countries from the middle of the 1990s to 2016.

  Moreover, adolescent fertility has also declined significantly in all European areas, however, following an inverted U-shaped pattern (see Figure 9). More specifically, the Nordic countries and Western Europe experienced first the decline in adolescent fertility rates through the middle 1960s, followed by Southern and East-Central European countries in the middle 1970s. The far highest levels of adolescent fertility are found in East-Central European countries, while all other areas have converged at a much lower level over time. Contrary to the declines in total fertility and adolescent fertility rates, fertility rates for the age-groups 30—34 and 35—39 appear to have important increasing trends over time, following in most cases an U-shaped curve (see Figures 10 and 11). In both cases, the Nordic and Western European countries report the higher values after the late 1970s, while on the contrary East-Central European countries appear the lowest levels among all European areas.

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