In East Asia and Europe, the warning bells have been sounding one another for a long time: far too few children are being born – Sweden is no exception.
For the first time since Sweden began measuring fertility – in 1749 – the number of children last year was below 1.5 children per woman, according to Statistics Norway, Statistics Sweden.
In this year’s Christmas speech, Ulf Kristersson chooses to raise the issue. He emphasizes that family formation is a private matter, but at the same time questions what the declining numbers are due to.
– We are different and you have to have great respect for that. At the same time, there are few things that in the long run affect the entire society as much as demographics and birth rates, he says.
Stressful life
Several countries have tried to solve the population crisis with various incentives. In South Korea, with the lowest birth rate in the world, baby bonuses have been introduced, and in China young women are attracted with both tax breaks and subsidies.
According to Ulf Kristersson, a contributing reason for the reduced number of children in Sweden may be that many find it difficult to find enough time.
He mentions that the government has made it easier for parents to take time off together. This summer, the rules regarding parental allowance were also changed so that more people than just the mother and father can be on parental leave.
Kristersson promises more measures to reverse the negative trend.
– I want more people, both women and men, to experience that they can combine working life with family life, says Kristersson.