04 June 2009

From 1980 to 2005 the mean age of women at birth of first child increased from 23 to 26 years in the UNECE region. Thus, in 2005, the oldest women at the birth of first child are found in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands (between 29 and 30 years). The youngest mothers are found in Armenia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan (around 23 years).

The increase in age from 1980 to 2005 varies from 1 to 5 years between countries: highest increases are recorded in Slovenia (5.3 years), Germany and Iceland (4.4 years). The lowest increases of only one year or less are observed for Armenia and Ukraine.

A high average age of women at first birth is normally associated with relatively low total fertility rates because of the shorter period potentially available for childbearing. The lowest fertility rates are recorded in Switzerland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Source: UNECE Gender Database

* 1980 data refer to children born in marriages.