For most of human history, population growth was something societies could almost take for granted. Today, that assumption is rapidly disappearing.
Across parts of Asia, Europe, and beyond, fertility rates have fallen to levels that would have seemed unimaginable just a few decades ago. In some places, women are having less than one child on average over their lifetime—far below the roughly 2.1 children needed to maintain a stable population without immigration.
The result is one of the most significant demographic shifts of the modern era: a growing number of countries and territories are entering an age of population stagnation, aging societies, and long-term decline.
The 25 Lowest Fertility Rates in 2025
| Rank | Country/Territory | Fertility Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇴 Macao | 0.69 |
| 2 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 0.74 |
| 3 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 0.75 |
| 4 | 🇧🇱 St. Barthélemy | 0.83 |
| 5 | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 0.86 |
| 6 | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 0.94 |
| 7 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 0.96 |
| 8 | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 1.00 |
| 9 | 🇨🇳 China | 1.02 |
| 10 | 🇻🇬 british Virgin Islands | 1.06 |
| 11 | 🇨🇼 Curaçao | 1.07 |
| 12 | 🇦🇩 Andorra | 1.10 |
| 13 | 🇲🇹 Malta | 1.11 |
| 14 | 🇨🇱 Chile | 1.13 |
| 15 | 🇸🇲 San Marino | 1.16 |
| 16 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 1.19 |
| 17 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1.21 |
| 18 | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 1.21 |
| 19 | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 1.21 |
| 20 | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 1.22 |
| 21 | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 1.22 |
| 22 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1.23 |
| 23 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 1.23 |
| 24 | 🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 1.28 |
| 25 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 1.30 |
What Stands Out?
1. east Asia Dominates The List
Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan, Singapore, and thailand all appear near the bottom. The region that once drove much of the world's economic growth is now confronting some of the lowest fertility rates ever recorded.
2. Europe's Demographic Crunch Is Deepening
Italy, Spain, Finland, Lithuania, Belarus, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino highlight a continent increasingly challenged by aging populations and shrinking family sizes.
3. Even Wealth Isn't Reversing The Trend
Some of the world's richest places—Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, and the UAE—are among those with the fewest births. Economic prosperity alone has not translated into higher fertility.
The Bigger Picture
A fertility rate below replacement level doesn't trigger immediate population decline. But sustained low fertility over decades fundamentally reshapes societies.
Fewer births today mean fewer workers tomorrow, more retirees relative to the labor force, and growing pressure on healthcare systems, pensions, housing markets, and economic growth.
The striking reality is that this isn't a problem affecting just one country. It's becoming a defining challenge for much of the developed world. And if current trends continue, the biggest demographic story of the 21st century may not be population growth—but population aging and decline.
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