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THE full extent of Spain’s fertility crisis has become apparent after it was revealed that more than one in ten children are born to mothers aged 40 or over – the highest figure of any country in Europe.
The National Statistics Institute (INE) published figures that showed 10.4 percent of all births took place in Spain between 2024 and 2025, with mothers over 40.
This percentage is nearly double the average European Union rate of 6 percent and comfortably exceeds the rates for other Mediterranean countries like France (5,6 per cent) or Italy (9.1percent).
In 2024, Spain’s birthrate fell to an all-time low of just 1.1 live births per woman. Only Malta was able to beat this record and it is far below the threshold set by the United Nations at 2.1 births per woman to maintain a population free of immigration.
While having children later in life is not inherently negative – and often reflects women wanting to further their professional careers – experts say it can also be a warning sign for a country’s fertility trends and wider demographic structure.
Fertility drops significantly as couples age. This means that couples who delay becoming parents often end up with fewer children than intended.
This can lead to a rapid ageing of the population and a decrease in national birth rates.
READ MORE: Hallelujah Spain’s shockingly low birth rate rises for the first time in a decade – but one in ten new mothers are now over 40
The housing crisis, say experts, is the main reason for the high number of births among mothers over 40.
Rent prices are on the rise, partly due to the popularity of second homes and holiday rentals. This means that young people have to wait longer and longer to save up enough money to be able to leave their parents’ home and settle down with someone.
Property prices soared by 12.9 per cent in 2025 – the steepest climb in 18 years, almost double initial forecasts and far outstripping the rate of wage rises.
Combining this with the rising cost of living means that many young adults delay having children, until they are financially comfortable.
In Spain, young people are now leaving home at an average age of 30, which is four years older than the European Union’s average. This is the fifth-worst figure in the entire bloc.
Inevitably, leaving home later will push back other milestones in life including starting a new family.
Yet the fact that so many people are still having children – albeit later in life – suggests the desire to become parents remains strong, even if economic realities often leave their hands tied behind their backs.
Spain’s birthrate began to rise last year, for the first decade.
The INE said 321,164 babies were born last year – over 3,000 more than in 2024.
Madrid (+3.3%) and Basque Country (+3%) recorded the largest increases in births.
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