Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
1.2. Contact organisation unit
F2: Population and migration statistics
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
10 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
7 March 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
10 March 2025
3.1. Data description
Eurostat’s annual data collections on demographic and migration statistics are structured as follows:
NOWCAST: Annual data collection on provisional monthly data on live births and deaths covering at least six months of the reference year (Article 4.3 of the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 205/2014).
DEMOBAL (Demographic balance): Annual data collection on provisional data on population, total live births and total deaths at national level (Article 4.1 of the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 205/2014).
POPSTAT (Population statistics): The most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The aim is to collect annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the national statistical institutes. Mandatory data are those defined by the legislation listed under ‘6.1. Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements’.
The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the national statistical institutes. For more information on mandatory/voluntary data collection, see 6.1. Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements’.
The following statistics on live births are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:
Live births by month of occurrence;
Live births by mother's age, year of birth and by:
region (NUTS 2) of residence
region (NUTS 3) of residence
mother's country of birth
mother's country of citizenship
live-birth order
sex of the new-born
mother's legal marital status
employment status of the mother
mother's educational attainment (ISCED 2011);
Live births by birth weight and duration of gestation;
Legally induced abortions by mother's age and parity;
Late fœtal deaths by mother's age.
Statistics on fertility: based on the different breakdowns of data on live births and on legally induced abortions received, Eurostat produces the following:
Statistics available in the online table Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level (demo_gind):
natural change of the population, crude birth rate;
Statistics available in the online table Fertility indicators (demo_find):
the proportion of live births outside marriage
total fertility rate
the mean age of women at childbirth
the mean age of women at the birth of first / second / third / fourth and higher child
the median age of women at childbirth
the percentage of first / second / third / fourth and higher live births Fertility rates by age (demo_frate);
Fertility rates by age and NUTS 2 region (demo_r_frate2);
Total fertility rate by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_frate3);
Statistics available in the online table Abortion indicators (demo_fabortind):
abortion rate
abortion ratio
3.2. Classification system
The following classification systems are used:
International standard classification on education (ISCED);
Live births: births of children that showed any sign of life. It is the total number of births excluding stillbirths (total births include live births and stillbirths).
Legally induced abortions: induced expulsion of the foetus during the first part of a pregnancy, permitted by law for health or other reasons.
Late foetal deaths or stillbirths: the expulsion or extraction from the mother of a dead foetus after the time at which it would normally be presumed capable of independent extrauterine existence (commonly taken to be after 24 to 28 weeks of gestation). This does not include infants who are born alive but die shortly after birth.
Crude birth rate: the ratio of the number of live births during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 population.
Fertility rates by mother's age (age specific fertility rate): the ratio of the number of live births to mothers of age x to the average female population of age x.
Total fertility rate: it is computed by adding the age specific fertility rates for women in a given year. It can be interpreted as the mean number of children that would be born alive to a woman during her lifetime if she were to pass through her childbearing years conforming to the fertility rates by age of a given year, and surviving.
Mean age of women at childbirth: the mean age of women when their children are born (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Median age of women at childbirth: the age that divides the population of mothers at childbirth in two numerically equal groups, meaning half of the mothers are younger than the median age and half are older.
Mean age of women at birth of first child: the mean age of women delivering their first child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of second child: the mean age of women delivering their second child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of third child: the mean age of women delivering their third child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of fourth and higher order child: the mean age of women delivering their fourth or higher order child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Abortion rate: The number of abortions per 1000 women in reproductive ages in a given year.
Abortion ratio: The number of abortions per 1000 live births in a given year.
Age definition:
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of live births by both dimensions: mother's age and mother's year of birth. Live births are compiled and disseminated, based on the data collected, as follows:
by mother's age at last birthday (also referred as age completed), and
by mother's age reached during the year (also referred to as data by year of birth).
The availability of data on live births by the two concepts among the countries starts at different moment of time series.
Eurostat uses the concept of age completed when calculating fertility indicators and mean ages.
3.5. Statistical unit
The statistical unit used is ''number'', as indicated in the online database or by the title of tables.
3.6. Statistical population
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, please see the reference metadata on Population.
3.7. Reference area
The live births statistics are disseminated by single country, by region and by aggregates of countries, as follows:
Other countries: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Monaco, the Russian Federation, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
The geographical aggregates European Union and Euro Area, on which the dissemination covers at least the current and the previous version of their composition, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For details on geographical changes over time see the notes by country under 15.2 Comparability over time.
National refers to the territory of a Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003, applicable at the reference time.
Regional refers to NUTS level 1, NUTS level 2 or NUTS level 3 as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 and according to the classification in force at the reference time. When this term is used in connection with countries that are not members of the European Union, 'regional' means the statistical regions at level 1, 2 or 3 as agreed between those countries and the Commission (Eurostat), at the reference time.
Statistics from the UK are available only until the withdrawal of the country from the EU.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The time series compiled and published in the Eurostat database varies, depending on the breakdowns, with the longest time series starting in 1960 for national data and 1990 for regional data, and continuing through to the latest available reference year.
The completeness of the time series for demographic and migration statistics collected on a voluntary basis before the regulations listed under ‘6.1 Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements’ entered into force,and for statistics that continue to be supplied to Eurostat on a voluntary basis, depends on the availability of data sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Data on live births are disseminated as integer numbers and as rates.
The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. For the monthly time series the reference period is the month of occurrence.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Referring to series listed in "3.1. Data description", data collected on voluntary basis are:
live births by mother's age, year of birth and mother's legal marital status;
live births by mother's age, year of birth and employment status of the mother;
live births by mother's age, year of birth and mother's educational attainment (ISCED 2011);
live births by birth weight and duration of gestation;
legally induced abortions by mother's age and parity;
late fœtal deaths by mother's age.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society and Amending Regulation (EU) No 2015/759 of 29 April 2015 as regards the violation of statistical confidentiality.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
For Germany, for the data on live births, disclosure of cells with less than 3 persons is not allowed.
For Lithuania, statistical disclosure control methods are applied when publishing statistical information.
For Türkiye, if the number of the statistical unit in any cell of the data table formed by aggregating the individual data is less than three or one or two of the statistical units are dominant even if the number of units is three or more, the data in the concerned cell is considered confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
Calendar
July of year T:
Total number of live births in year T-1;
February, March of year T+1:
Live births in year T-1 by
month;
detailed breakdowns referring to mothers' characteristics.
Fertility indicators of year T-1;
Legally induced abortions and abortion indicators of year T-1;
July of year T+1:
Total number of live births in year T.
The most up-to-date data on total live births are in the ''Demographic balance and crude rates (demo_gind)'' table in the online database. This table includes the latest updates (or revised data) on total population, births and deaths reported by the countries. The detailed breakdowns by various characteristics included in the rest of the tables can be sent to Eurostat at a later date.
There are a few situations in which different figures for live births births statistics might be displayed in different population tables at a given moment in time:
Timing of data sending/resending if the live births statistics based on various breakdowns are revised.
The order of the annual demography data collections described above, updating the total live births and the breakdowns of live births figures by various characteristics at differenttimes during the calendar year.
The calendar of the national statistical institutes for producing and releasing live births statistics broken down by characteristics that fall under voluntary data collection/when data are sent to Eurostat (timing).
8.2. Release calendar access
Not available.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Population statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The statistics are published in line with the information in 8.1 Release calendar and 17.1 Data revision-policy.
More information regarding methodology by country can be found in the national metadata files online in the population (national level) metadata (See "Related metadata").
The Article 11 of the Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 states that the Commission shall also submit reports on its implementation to the European Parliament and the Council as follows:
These reports will aim to assess the quality of data sent to Eurostat by Member States and EFTA countries and data collection methods used. If appropriate, they should be accompanied by proposals to improve the legal framework for population and vital event statistics under this Regulation.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Live births statistics and demographic statistics in general are widely used for planning actions and for monitoring and evaluating programmes in a number of social and economic policy areas. These include:
assessing fertility as background for family policies;
evaluating the economic impact of demographic change;
analysis of population ageing and its effects on sustainability and welfare;
calculating 'per capita' indicators;
determining the number of votes each Member State has in qualified majority voting in the Council, for EU decision-making.
Demographic trend and developments have a strong impact on the societies of the individual countries and of the EU. Demographic statistics on the size, structure and evolution of Europe's population are used in a wide range of policy areas.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys have been carried out.
12.3. Completeness
Data completeness depends on the availability of data from the national statistical institutes.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not available.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For information on the timeliness of data release, see 8.1Release calendar.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The recommended definition of the population, in line with the Regulation 1260/2013, is the 'usually resident population' and means all the persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time. In accordance with this concept, the following persons are considered to be usually residents of the geographical area in question: those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference date or those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least one year. Where the circumstances described above cannot be established, 'usual residence' can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
According to Regulation 1260/2013, live births statistics should refer to the same concept used for population statistics. If population is counted under the usual residence definition, then the live births should be those originating from usually resident mothers. The metadata information sent by the countries confirms that live births statistics are consistent in deffinition with the population from which they originate (see metadata on Population for comparison).
Below is a summary with the reported reference populations based on which statistics on population, births and deaths are transmitted by the national statistical institutes to Eurostat:
1. Usually Resident Population([1]):BE, BG, CZ[4], CY, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IE, LT, LV, MT, PL, PT, RO, SI, SK[5], RS, UK.
[1]'Usually Resident Population' as stated in Article 2 of Regulation 1260/2013.
[2]'Legal Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
[3]'Registered Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
Note: The table above is based on statistics and metadata on population reported by the countries for 1 January 2018.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. Any breaks in population series due to changes in methodology and data processing or revisions to population counts reported by the countries in question are documented in the Eurostat database using flag b (break in series).
The population data for the year 2021 and after take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021-2022). Following Eurostat’s recommendations to ensure consistency of statistics over time, several Member States (Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal) have revised or are in process of revising their population time series between the reference years of the population and housing censuses held in 2011 and 2021. While this work is spread over time, revisions are mostly expected in the first quarter of 2024 (for more information about data revision per country, see also 17. Data revision).
Over time, certain countries have been subject to geographical changes (see below):
FX stands for Metropolitan France, including Corsica and excluding the overseas departments (DOM).
FR stands for France as a whole, including the overseas departments (DOM). Data on Saint Barthelemey are excluded as of 1 January 2012. Data on Mayotte are included, starting with the statistics on vital events for the reference year 2014 and the statistics on population on 1 January 2015.
The European geographical aggregates (EU, EA and EEA) include FX up to 1997 and FR from 1998 onwards. This change is indicated by flag b (break in time series) in the EU statistics for 1998.
The time series for Germany (DE_TOT) refer to the Federal Republic of Germany after 3 October 1990.
As of 1 January 1975, data for Cyprus (CY) refer to the government-controlled area;
Up to 1 January 2000, population data for Malta (MT) refer to the Maltese population only. However, as of 2001 figures also include foreign residents. This is indicated by flag b in the figures for 2001.
As of 1 January 2010, the statistics on the permanent resident population of Switzerland (CH) include all people in the asylum process who have been residing in Switzerland for 12 months or more. The change is reflected in Eurostat population figures starting with populations reported on 1 January 2011.
As of 1 January 2010, Poland (PL) revised the methodology used to estimate the usually resident population. This is indicated by a flag b in the figures for 2010.
As of 1 January 2011, Belgium (BE) national population figures refer to all registered people, including asylum seekers.
As of 1 January 2012, the reported Estonian (EE) population includes the migration component, whereas this was not included before.
Data for Georgia (GE) refer to the government-controlled area.
Data for Moldova (MD) refer to the government-controlled area.
Data for Ukraine (UA) exclude the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.
Member States shall inform the Eurostat of any planned revision of the data already supplied no later than one week before the release of the revised data in the Member State concerned.
Member States shall provide any revised data to the Eurostat no later than one week after the release of these data.
Member States shall ensure that any revised data provided to the Eurostat is consistent with the whole set of data already provided.
The policy of Eurostat is to make updates as soon as data is received and at any time during the year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Live births statistics are are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the National Statistical Institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The status of the data is indicated by using flags (p = provisional data; e = estimated; b = break in time series; f = forecast).
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision policy of the domain listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy).
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or estimated for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates and demographic indicators are updated for consistency with new country data.
Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated and European aggregates and demographic indicators are accordingly revised.
Data are usually revised for the last period. Countries however may choose the length of the revisions depending on the need. In principle, aggregates and components are revised at the same time or soon after a data revision is received by Eurostat. There are no routine revisions aiming at adjusting monthly time series of live births to have temporal consistency with the yearly series. For most of the countries data are considered final with the first sending, except in case of errors discovered after transmitting data to Eurostat and in case of post-census revisions. Revisions are published continuously as soon as received by Eurostat. Routine revisions are documented and monitored internally and communicated in the metadata files available in dissemination.
The impact of major revisions is analysed in working documents produced for experts' meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes. Time series breaks caused by major revisions are not flagged, to provide break-free data, back-calculation is applied.
Major revisions are pre-announced and documented in the metadata files available in dissemination. The impacts of major revisions are communicated in working documents produced for experts meetings held with representatives of National Statistical Institutes.
18.1. Source data
Data are collected by Eurostat from the National Statistical Institutes.
Data sources of live birth statistics declared by the NSIs:
AT: Civil Registry Offices. From 1 November 2014 onwards Central Civil Register.
BE: Belgian population register.
BG: Population register.
BY: Data on births are compiled on the basis of administrative data from birth records filled in by civil registration authorities.
CH: Civil status registers.
CY: Civil Registry and Migration Department, Health Monitoring Unit (Ministry of Health).
CZ: Statistical reports on birth provided to the CZSO by Registry Offices.
DE: Information not provided.
DK: Population register.
EE: Population Register and Estonian Medical Birth Registry.
EL: Sources of information for vital statistics are administrative records (Marriage, Birth and Death Certificates) provided by Registries from all around country.
ES: Birth data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
FI: Population Information System of Population Register Centre.
FR: Civil status.
HR: Data source for births are registers of births kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
HU: The source of data on live births are civil registrars and health institutions.
IE: General Registration Office.
IS: Population register(s).
IT: Registration for birth in the Municipal Population Registers (Anagrafi).
LI: Central Population Register. No major changes since the first reference year.
LT: The main data source are data from the central database of the Residents’ Register of the Residents’ Register Service.
LU: Municipalities.
LV: Data from registers filled in by Civil Registry Offices; data on born abroad (in case, the usual residence of mother is Latvia) from Population Register.
ME: The data source is administrative source – Registry Office that is managed by state administration body responsible for internal affairs (Ministry of Interiors).
MT: Compilation of births statistics is carried out using administrative data.
NL: Population register.
NO: Central Population Register.
PL: Vital Statistics - administrative data.
PT: Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice plus information provided by individuals at the time of birth registration act.
RO: Administrative data source: Public Community Services for Persons Records within the City Halls of all localities.
RS: Registers of births kept in registrars' offices of every particular area.
SE: The Total Population Register.
SI: National Institute of Public Health, Central Population Register.
SK: Exhaustive monthly survey covering all births to mothers with permanent residence in the Slovak Republic. Statistical Report on Birth (OBYV 1-12).
UK: Birth statistics are based on information collected when a birth is registered.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are collected annually.
18.3. Data collection
The annual data collections are carried out by Eurostat using data provided by the national statistical institutes in order to publish updated statistics. The demographic data collections contain both mandatory and voluntary data (see 3.1. Data description).
18.4. Data validation
Eurostat checks raw data sent by the national statistical offices to see if the total of a variable is consistent with the breakdown by different variables. It also does cross-checks to see if different breakdowns of the same variable are consistent.
Based on the detailed collected data, Eurostat calculates a series of demographic statistics. The demographic indicators calculated in the standard way are validated in the context of the available time series. The validation rules include checking the plausibility of the most up-to-date annual value and two consecutive annual values. Mathematical checks are carried out using standard deviations and the weighted average.
Based on the detailed national figures on population and other demographic events sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes, Eurostat derives/calculates demographic indicators and geographical aggregates using common calculation methods.
Geographical aggregation
For statistics on live births expressed in numbers, geographical aggregation is done by arithmetical sum if no values are missing from the components of the geographical aggregate in question. Otherwise the geographical aggregates are not calculated.
For fertility rates, the geographical aggregates are calculated using the same method as for an individual country. The input for calculation is the aggregated data described above.
Eurostat’s annual data collections on demographic and migration statistics are structured as follows:
NOWCAST: Annual data collection on provisional monthly data on live births and deaths covering at least six months of the reference year (Article 4.3 of the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 205/2014).
DEMOBAL (Demographic balance): Annual data collection on provisional data on population, total live births and total deaths at national level (Article 4.1 of the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 205/2014).
POPSTAT (Population statistics): The most in-depth annual national and regional demographic and migration data collection. The data relate to populations, births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants, marriages and divorces, and is broken down into several categories (Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007).
The aim is to collect annual mandatory and voluntary demographic data from the national statistical institutes. Mandatory data are those defined by the legislation listed under ‘6.1. Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements’.
The completeness of the demographic data collected on a voluntary basis depends on the availability and completeness of information provided by the national statistical institutes. For more information on mandatory/voluntary data collection, see 6.1. Institutional mandate - legal acts and other agreements’.
The following statistics on live births are collected from the National Statistical Institutes:
Live births by month of occurrence;
Live births by mother's age, year of birth and by:
region (NUTS 2) of residence
region (NUTS 3) of residence
mother's country of birth
mother's country of citizenship
live-birth order
sex of the new-born
mother's legal marital status
employment status of the mother
mother's educational attainment (ISCED 2011);
Live births by birth weight and duration of gestation;
Legally induced abortions by mother's age and parity;
Late fœtal deaths by mother's age.
Statistics on fertility: based on the different breakdowns of data on live births and on legally induced abortions received, Eurostat produces the following:
Statistics available in the online table Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level (demo_gind):
natural change of the population, crude birth rate;
Statistics available in the online table Fertility indicators (demo_find):
the proportion of live births outside marriage
total fertility rate
the mean age of women at childbirth
the mean age of women at the birth of first / second / third / fourth and higher child
the median age of women at childbirth
the percentage of first / second / third / fourth and higher live births Fertility rates by age (demo_frate);
Fertility rates by age and NUTS 2 region (demo_r_frate2);
Total fertility rate by NUTS 3 region (demo_r_frate3);
Statistics available in the online table Abortion indicators (demo_fabortind):
abortion rate
abortion ratio
10 March 2025
Live births: births of children that showed any sign of life. It is the total number of births excluding stillbirths (total births include live births and stillbirths).
Legally induced abortions: induced expulsion of the foetus during the first part of a pregnancy, permitted by law for health or other reasons.
Late foetal deaths or stillbirths: the expulsion or extraction from the mother of a dead foetus after the time at which it would normally be presumed capable of independent extrauterine existence (commonly taken to be after 24 to 28 weeks of gestation). This does not include infants who are born alive but die shortly after birth.
Crude birth rate: the ratio of the number of live births during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1000 population.
Fertility rates by mother's age (age specific fertility rate): the ratio of the number of live births to mothers of age x to the average female population of age x.
Total fertility rate: it is computed by adding the age specific fertility rates for women in a given year. It can be interpreted as the mean number of children that would be born alive to a woman during her lifetime if she were to pass through her childbearing years conforming to the fertility rates by age of a given year, and surviving.
Mean age of women at childbirth: the mean age of women when their children are born (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Median age of women at childbirth: the age that divides the population of mothers at childbirth in two numerically equal groups, meaning half of the mothers are younger than the median age and half are older.
Mean age of women at birth of first child: the mean age of women delivering their first child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of second child: the mean age of women delivering their second child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of third child: the mean age of women delivering their third child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Mean age of women at birth of fourth and higher order child: the mean age of women delivering their fourth or higher order child (live births). The indicator is calculated as weighted average of the ages, where weights are the age specific fertility rates (rate-based mean age).
Abortion rate: The number of abortions per 1000 women in reproductive ages in a given year.
Abortion ratio: The number of abortions per 1000 live births in a given year.
Age definition:
Most National Statistical Institutes of the EU Member States provide data on the number of live births by both dimensions: mother's age and mother's year of birth. Live births are compiled and disseminated, based on the data collected, as follows:
by mother's age at last birthday (also referred as age completed), and
by mother's age reached during the year (also referred to as data by year of birth).
The availability of data on live births by the two concepts among the countries starts at different moment of time series.
Eurostat uses the concept of age completed when calculating fertility indicators and mean ages.
The statistical unit used is ''number'', as indicated in the online database or by the title of tables.
The statistical population is the total population. For more information on the population concepts used, please see the reference metadata on Population.
The live births statistics are disseminated by single country, by region and by aggregates of countries, as follows:
Other countries: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Monaco, the Russian Federation, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
The geographical aggregates European Union and Euro Area, on which the dissemination covers at least the current and the previous version of their composition, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
For details on geographical changes over time see the notes by country under 15.2 Comparability over time.
National refers to the territory of a Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003, applicable at the reference time.
Regional refers to NUTS level 1, NUTS level 2 or NUTS level 3 as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 and according to the classification in force at the reference time. When this term is used in connection with countries that are not members of the European Union, 'regional' means the statistical regions at level 1, 2 or 3 as agreed between those countries and the Commission (Eurostat), at the reference time.
Statistics from the UK are available only until the withdrawal of the country from the EU.
The reference period for vital events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred. For the monthly time series the reference period is the month of occurrence.
Not available.
Data on live births are disseminated as integer numbers and as rates.
Based on the detailed national figures on population and other demographic events sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes, Eurostat derives/calculates demographic indicators and geographical aggregates using common calculation methods.
Geographical aggregation
For statistics on live births expressed in numbers, geographical aggregation is done by arithmetical sum if no values are missing from the components of the geographical aggregate in question. Otherwise the geographical aggregates are not calculated.
For fertility rates, the geographical aggregates are calculated using the same method as for an individual country. The input for calculation is the aggregated data described above.
Data are collected by Eurostat from the National Statistical Institutes.
Data sources of live birth statistics declared by the NSIs:
AT: Civil Registry Offices. From 1 November 2014 onwards Central Civil Register.
BE: Belgian population register.
BG: Population register.
BY: Data on births are compiled on the basis of administrative data from birth records filled in by civil registration authorities.
CH: Civil status registers.
CY: Civil Registry and Migration Department, Health Monitoring Unit (Ministry of Health).
CZ: Statistical reports on birth provided to the CZSO by Registry Offices.
DE: Information not provided.
DK: Population register.
EE: Population Register and Estonian Medical Birth Registry.
EL: Sources of information for vital statistics are administrative records (Marriage, Birth and Death Certificates) provided by Registries from all around country.
ES: Birth data are obtained from the Statistical Birth Bulletin, filled out by the parents, relatives or health staff so obligated by law to declare the childbirth and recorded in the Civil Register.
FI: Population Information System of Population Register Centre.
FR: Civil status.
HR: Data source for births are registers of births kept in registrars’ offices of every particular area.
HU: The source of data on live births are civil registrars and health institutions.
IE: General Registration Office.
IS: Population register(s).
IT: Registration for birth in the Municipal Population Registers (Anagrafi).
LI: Central Population Register. No major changes since the first reference year.
LT: The main data source are data from the central database of the Residents’ Register of the Residents’ Register Service.
LU: Municipalities.
LV: Data from registers filled in by Civil Registry Offices; data on born abroad (in case, the usual residence of mother is Latvia) from Population Register.
ME: The data source is administrative source – Registry Office that is managed by state administration body responsible for internal affairs (Ministry of Interiors).
MT: Compilation of births statistics is carried out using administrative data.
NL: Population register.
NO: Central Population Register.
PL: Vital Statistics - administrative data.
PT: Administrative records provided by Civil Registration Offices/Ministry of Justice plus information provided by individuals at the time of birth registration act.
RO: Administrative data source: Public Community Services for Persons Records within the City Halls of all localities.
RS: Registers of births kept in registrars' offices of every particular area.
SE: The Total Population Register.
SI: National Institute of Public Health, Central Population Register.
SK: Exhaustive monthly survey covering all births to mothers with permanent residence in the Slovak Republic. Statistical Report on Birth (OBYV 1-12).
UK: Birth statistics are based on information collected when a birth is registered.
Population statistics are continuously revised according to the most recent data released and sent to Eurostat by the national statistical institutes. The geographical aggregates and the demographic indicators are revised accordingly.
The statistics are published in line with the information in 8.1 Release calendar and 17.1 Data revision-policy.
For information on the timeliness of data release, see 8.1Release calendar.
The recommended definition of the population, in line with the Regulation 1260/2013, is the 'usually resident population' and means all the persons having their usual residence in a Member State at the reference time. In accordance with this concept, the following persons are considered to be usually residents of the geographical area in question: those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference date or those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference date with the intention of staying there for at least one year. Where the circumstances described above cannot be established, 'usual residence' can be taken to mean the place of legal or registered residence.
According to Regulation 1260/2013, live births statistics should refer to the same concept used for population statistics. If population is counted under the usual residence definition, then the live births should be those originating from usually resident mothers. The metadata information sent by the countries confirms that live births statistics are consistent in deffinition with the population from which they originate (see metadata on Population for comparison).
Below is a summary with the reported reference populations based on which statistics on population, births and deaths are transmitted by the national statistical institutes to Eurostat:
1. Usually Resident Population([1]):BE, BG, CZ[4], CY, DE, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IE, LT, LV, MT, PL, PT, RO, SI, SK[5], RS, UK.
[1]'Usually Resident Population' as stated in Article 2 of Regulation 1260/2013.
[2]'Legal Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are entitled to be settled in the country at the reference date, either by holding the national citizenship or by other authorization issued by national authorities.
[3]'Registered Residence Population' is composed of those persons who are listed on one or more registers owned by national authorities at the reference date. Each registered person shall be counted only once.
Note: The table above is based on statistics and metadata on population reported by the countries for 1 January 2018.
Breaks in data series could compromise comparability over time. Any breaks in population series due to changes in methodology and data processing or revisions to population counts reported by the countries in question are documented in the Eurostat database using flag b (break in series).
The population data for the year 2021 and after take into account the results of the latest population census (held in 2021-2022). Following Eurostat’s recommendations to ensure consistency of statistics over time, several Member States (Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal) have revised or are in process of revising their population time series between the reference years of the population and housing censuses held in 2011 and 2021. While this work is spread over time, revisions are mostly expected in the first quarter of 2024 (for more information about data revision per country, see also 17. Data revision).
Over time, certain countries have been subject to geographical changes (see below):
FX stands for Metropolitan France, including Corsica and excluding the overseas departments (DOM).
FR stands for France as a whole, including the overseas departments (DOM). Data on Saint Barthelemey are excluded as of 1 January 2012. Data on Mayotte are included, starting with the statistics on vital events for the reference year 2014 and the statistics on population on 1 January 2015.
The European geographical aggregates (EU, EA and EEA) include FX up to 1997 and FR from 1998 onwards. This change is indicated by flag b (break in time series) in the EU statistics for 1998.
The time series for Germany (DE_TOT) refer to the Federal Republic of Germany after 3 October 1990.
As of 1 January 1975, data for Cyprus (CY) refer to the government-controlled area;
Up to 1 January 2000, population data for Malta (MT) refer to the Maltese population only. However, as of 2001 figures also include foreign residents. This is indicated by flag b in the figures for 2001.
As of 1 January 2010, the statistics on the permanent resident population of Switzerland (CH) include all people in the asylum process who have been residing in Switzerland for 12 months or more. The change is reflected in Eurostat population figures starting with populations reported on 1 January 2011.
As of 1 January 2010, Poland (PL) revised the methodology used to estimate the usually resident population. This is indicated by a flag b in the figures for 2010.
As of 1 January 2011, Belgium (BE) national population figures refer to all registered people, including asylum seekers.
As of 1 January 2012, the reported Estonian (EE) population includes the migration component, whereas this was not included before.
Data for Georgia (GE) refer to the government-controlled area.
Data for Moldova (MD) refer to the government-controlled area.
Data for Ukraine (UA) exclude the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.
