AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s birth rate continued to decline in the first five months of 2026, raising concerns about the country’s future workforce, aging population and long-term social planning.
A total of 34,056 children were born between January and May, according to the State Statistics Committee.
The birth rate fell from 9.2 to 8 births per 1,000 residents compared with the same period of 2025.
Boys accounted for 53.5% of newborns, while girls made up 46.5%.
The latest figures reflect a broader shift in family planning. While large families were once common in Azerbaijan, young couples increasingly prefer to have only one or two children.
Experts link the trend to later marriages, difficulties securing housing and stable employment, and the rising cost of raising, educating and providing medical care for children.
Some specialists have proposed lowering the threshold for official large-family status from five children to three. Such a change would allow families with three children to receive benefits and other forms of state support currently reserved for larger households.
Supporters of the proposal believe broader assistance could encourage more couples to consider having a third child.
The imbalance between the number of boys and girls has also attracted attention. Medical specialists say access to prenatal testing, combined with a traditional preference for sons in some families, may contribute to sex-selective abortions and distort the natural birth ratio.
The falling birth rate is not simply a short-term statistical change. If the trend continues, it could reshape Azerbaijan’s age structure, reduce the future labor force and place greater pressure on the pension and social welfare systems.
Experts say the figures require closer analysis and policies addressing the practical reasons families are delaying parenthood or choosing to have fewer children.
AZE.US