The Family Policy Institute (IPF) has warned that Spain is facing a "demographic suicide", caused by a drastic drop in the birth rate. In its report "Evolution of the Family in Spain 2023", the IPF highlights that the country is plunged into an "unprecedented demographic winter". The data shows that there are almost three million more elderly people than young people, a clear sign of this trend.

The Need to Increase the Birth Rate

According to the report, to reverse this situation, at least 266,000 additional births per year are needed to reach a level of generational replacement and slow down the natural decline, which has already reached 135,166 people. Mariano Martínez-Aedo, president of the IPF, warned that if administrations do not take urgent measures, Spain could face a demographic collapse. "Spain is at risk of disappearing as a society," he said, noting that the country is the seventh in the world with the worst fertility rate.

Decline of Marriages

The report also notes a "precipitous decline" in the number of marriages, which have fallen by 33% since 1975. This decrease would have been even greater if it were not for the "injection" of international marriages, which totaled 33,069 in 2022. In addition, Spain is the country in the European Union where people get married later: only 11% of men and 19% of women get married before the age of 30.

Discouragement of Marriage

For Martínez-Aedo, marriage is not only not being promoted, but it is facing socio-political, legislative and cultural attacks. "The instability of marriage as a way of life is increasing, which causes a lot of breakups," he said. The lack of support and policies that promote marital stability contributes to this trend.

Increase in de Facto Couples

Another reason for the decline in marriages is the growth of domestic partnerships. According to the report, these relationships have experienced significant growth, tripling since 2001. The number of common-law couples went from 563,785 20 years ago to 1.78 million in 2021.

Increase in Family Break-ups

The IPF also points to an increase in family breakups, which includes divorces, separations and annulments. In 2022, there were a total of 84,551 breakups annually, of which 81,302 were divorces (96.2%), 3,210 separations (3.8%) and 39 annulments (0.1%). These data show a worrying trend that may have long-term implications for the family structure in Spain.