NATO Nations
Based on the most recent published official birth records (and Birthgap harmonisation where noted).
In 2024, NATO Nations saw a slight decline in total completed fertility and births following recent trends, while the average maternal age continued its gradual rise. The proportion of mothers having just one child increased noticeably, contrasting with a decline in larger families of three or more children. Overall, the family size distribution and fertility indicators reflect ongoing demographic shifts toward smaller families and delayed motherhood.
- Total completed fertility decreased marginally from 64.1% to 63.5%, continuing a downtrend over recent years.
- Average maternal age at birth rose slightly to 29.0 years, maintaining a slow upward trajectory.
- Families with one child increased by over 3 percentage points to nearly 25%, while three or more child families dropped by 5 percentage points.
- Childlessness edged up to 36.5%, reflecting a modest increase in women having no children over their lifetime.
In 2024, NATO Nations show slight declines in fertility and a stable maternal age amid sustained demographic shifts.
- Total fertility rate (TMR) ranks 22nd globally with a slight recent decline
- Children per mother (CPM) steady at 2.32, ranking 8th globally
- Rising childlessness at 36.5%, ranking 20th internationally
- Total fertility gap (TFG) increased, ranking low at 35th globally
- Sharp drop in sexed healthy life (SHL), yet remains in top 7 worldwide
Key fertility indicators — NATO Nations
| Average Maternal Age (AMA) | 29.0 years |
| TGI (great-grandchildren per 100 parents) | 35 |
Motherhood prevalence (TMR)
Among mothers in NATO Nations, completed fertility is 63.5% (2024). It has eased slightly from 2023 (down 0.6pp). Over the past five years, TMR has been falling; the 2020–2024 average is 65.5%. Looking back to the 2020s (65.5%), TMR stands lower by about 2.0pp.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 22 out of 42 countries for TMR.
| Year | TMR | Year | TMR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 75.6%* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 66.9%* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 64.1%* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 63.5%* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Children per mother (CPM)
NATO Nations’s children per mother (CPM) stands at 2.32 in 2024. It has eased slightly from 2023 (down 0.04). Across the most recent five-year window, CPM is falling with an average of 2.37. Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 2.37), completed family size today is close to that long-run level.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 8 out of 42 countries for CPM.
| Year | CPM | Year | CPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 2.27* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 2.38* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 2.35* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 2.32* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Average maternal age (AMA)
In 2024, the average maternal age (AMA) at birth is 29.0 years. It has edged up slightly (+0.2 years). Over the past five years, AMA has been rising, averaging 28.7 years. Compared with the long-run norm from the 2020s (28.7 years), the average maternal age today is close to that long-run level.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 33 out of 42 countries for average maternal age.
| Year | BIRTH | Year | BIRTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 27.27* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 28.46* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 28.82* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 28.98* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Total Fertility Gap (TFG)
In 2024, NATO Nations’s TFG is 29.2% (equivalent to a TFR of 1.47). There has been a slight increase since 2023 (up 1.4pp). Over the past five years, the Total Fertility Gap has been rising; the 2020–2024 average is 25.6%. Looking back to the 2020s (25.6%), the gap is now higher by about 3.6pp.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 35 out of 42 countries for TFG.
| Year | TFG | Year | TFG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 17.0%* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 23.4%* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 27.8%* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 29.2%* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Future Worker Gap (FWG)
NATO Nations’s FWG is 21.0% in 2024. It has eased slightly from 2023 (down 1.6pp). Looking at the last five years, FWG has been broadly stable (average 20.7% across 2020–2024). Relative to the earliest available baseline in the 2020s (20.7%), today’s FWG is close to that long-run level.
Globally, NATO Nations has one of the lowest FWG values (ranked 36/39).
| Year | FWG | Year | FWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 38.0%* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 19.5%* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 22.6%* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 21.0%* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Societal Half-Life (SHL)
In 2024, SHL in NATO Nations is 66.3 years. It moved sharply down from 2023 (down 4.0 years). Over the past five years, SHL has been falling; the 2020–2024 average is 79.6 years. Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 79.6 years), SHL now stands lower by about 13.3 years.
Globally, NATO Nations has one of the highest SHL values (ranked 7/42).
Triple Generation Impact (TGI)
With this Birthgap (TFG) for every 100 people of fertility age in NATO Nations, there would be 35 great-grandchildren, representing a -65.0% drop from the current generation.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 9 out of 42 countries for TGI.
Birth trajectory
Milestones Years: - Births down 50% in 2090 - Births down 75% in 2157 - Births down 90% in 2244
Based on the 2024 birth pattern, total births would fall by half from 9,101,529 in 2024 to 4,550,764 in 2090, and by 90% to 910,153 in 2244 (ignoring migration).
Childlessness rate (TCR)
36.5% of women in NATO Nations remain childless over their lifetime (2024). It is up marginally on 2023 (up 0.6pp). Across the most recent five-year window (2020–2024), childlessness has been rising with an average of 34.5%. Looking back to the 2020s (34.5%), childlessness is now higher by about 2.0pp.
Globally, NATO Nations ranks 20 out of 42 countries for childlessness.
| Year | TCR | Year | TCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 24.4%* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 33.1%* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 35.9%* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 36.5%* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Total births
Total births in NATO Nations were 9,101,529 in 2024. It is down from 2023 by 80,600 births. Over the past five years, total births have been falling, averaging 9,488,392 per year. Compared with the 2020s average (9,488,392), total births are now lower by 386,863 births.
| Year | Births | Year | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 8.07M* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 9.78M* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 9.18M* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 9.10M* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
Future Worker Gap (FWG)
NATO Nations’s FWG is 21.0% in 2024. It has eased slightly from 2023 (down 1.6pp). Looking at the last five years, FWG has been broadly stable (average 20.7% across 2020–2024). Relative to the earliest available baseline in the 2020s (20.7%), today’s FWG is close to that long-run level.
Globally, NATO Nations has one of the lowest FWG values (ranked 36/39).
| Year | FWG | Year | FWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 38.0%* |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 19.5%* |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 22.6%* |
| 2000 | n/a | 2024 | 21.0%* |
Source: HFD-based micro summary. *Measure estimated by Birthgap.org based on partial data from Weighted average of final member rows.
