Baby boom

Last updated

A baby boom is a period marked by a significant increase of births. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds of defined national and cultural populations. The cause of baby booms involves various fertility factors. The best-known baby boom occurred in the mid-twentieth century, sometimes considered to have started after the end of the Second World War, sometimes from the late 1940s, and ending in the 1960s. [1] People born during this period are often called baby boomers.

Contents

Africa

"According to the new UNICEF report, almost 2 billion babies will be born in Africa between 2015 and 2050 and the 2 main driving forces behind this surge in births and children are continued high fertility rates and rising numbers of women able to have children of their own." [2]

By 2050, Africa is predicted to account for about 55% of all births in the world, 40% of all children under the age of five, and 37% of all children worldwide (under 18). Africa will become more crowded as its population continues to grow, considering the continent is predicted to grow from 8 people per square kilometer in 1950 to 39 in 2015, and to around 80 by the middle of the century. [3]

The HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa has contributed to a population boom. Aid money used for contraception has been diverted since the start of the AIDS crisis in Africa into fighting HIV, which has led to far more births than AIDs has killed. [4]

Africa accounted for one out of every nine births in the world in 1950. It is predicted that they will account for approximately one in every three global births by the year 2030. Africa would account for almost half of all births by the end of the century. [3]

Canada

Indigenous people in Canada

Until the 1960s, the Aboriginal population rose steadily. The child mortality rate started to decline steadily in the 1960s, due to the increased access to health care. Throughout the 1960s, the fertility rate remained high, resulting in the Aboriginal baby boom peaking in 1967 – about ten years after the postwar baby boom in Canada. [5]

While Aboriginal fertility has remained higher than the overall Canadian birth rate, it has decreased from four times in the 1960s to one-and-a-half times today. According to Statistics Canada, demographic change was just a part of the reason for the increase in Aboriginal population in the last half of the century, with more complete census taking and increased numbers of people identifying as Aboriginal also playing a role. [5]

Appearance of Generation "X," "Y," and "Z" in Canada

Generation X refers to the birth rate decline after the mid-20th century baby boom. Author Douglas Coupland, who coined the term Generation X, defined it as children born 1960 and after. High unemployment and uneven income distribution welcomed Generation X, giving them little opportunity to produce the next baby boom. [6]

In 2011, the children of baby boomers made up 27% of the total population; this category was called Generation Y, or the "baby boom echo". The fertility rate of the generations after the baby boomers dropped as a result of demographic changes such as increasing divorce and separation rates, female labour force participation, and rapid technological change. [6]

The echo generation's children, known as Generation Z, are people born after 1994, or after the invention of the Internet, making up over 7.3 million people in Canada born between 1993 and 2011. [6]

Israel

Israel has been in a constant baby boom since independence, with the highest fertility rate in the OECD at 3.1 children per woman. [7] [8] In addition to having the highest fertility rate among developed nations, it is the only developed country to have never had a sub-replacement fertility rate. Israel's baby boom began in 1947, a year before independence, when the fertility rate among the Yishuv, or Jewish population of what was then Mandatory Palestine, began to rise dramatically as a result of the aftereffects of the Holocaust and expectations of Jewish independence. [9]

Ireland

Post-recession baby boom

Ireland has a much younger population compared to Europe overall, with one in four people under age 15. [10] This is likely due to the baby boom experienced in the late 2000s and early 2010s, after the Great Recession. The number of births in Ireland reached a 118-year high in 2009 when the economy experienced its worst year on record. The number of births had remained stable with 74,650 babies born in 2012, higher than the 65,600 average during the Celtic Tiger (1995–2007), despite the struggle to emerge from financial crisis. [11]

Post-COVID baby boom

The population pyramid of Ireland in 2023. From ages 5 to 15, there appears to be a significant increase in births, which is likely due to the post-recession baby boom observed in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Ireland 2023 population pyramid.svg
The population pyramid of Ireland in 2023. From ages 5 to 15, there appears to be a significant increase in births, which is likely due to the post-recession baby boom observed in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The number of births in Ireland rose by more than 3,000 in 2021 after being in decline for more than a decade, implying the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a baby boom in Ireland. Health Service Executive figures show 59,874 babies were born in maternity hospitals and units in 2021, up from 56,858 the previous year, which could continue into the early 2020s. It is the first time that there has been an annual increase since 2009, when there were 75,554 births registered. [12]

Japan

The number of births and TFR in Japan Births and Total fertility rate of Japan.svg
The number of births and TFR in Japan

First baby boom

In Japan, the first baby boom occurred between 1947 and 1949. [13] [note 1] [note 2] The number of births in this period exceeded 2.5 million every year, bringing the total number of births to about 8 million. The 2.69 million births in 1949 are the most ever in postwar statistics. [note 3] The cohort born in this period is called the "baby boom generation" (団塊の世代, dankai no sedai, means "the generation of nodule").

Second baby boom

A period of more than two million annual births from 1971 to 1974, with the number of births in 1973 peaking at 2.09 million, [14] is referred to as the second baby boom. However, unlike the first boom, this increase in the number of births is an increase in the number of births not accompanied by an increase in the total fertility rate. The people born during this period are often called "baby boom juniors" (団塊ジュニア, dankai junia, means "the juniors of the generation of nodule").

Romania

Russia

A population pyramid of Russia, before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. From the ages 5-15, there appears to be a significant increase in people, which is likely due to the baby boom observed in the mid-2000s to the late-2010s, similar to Ukraine. Russian population (demographic) pyramid (structure) on January, 1st, 2022.png
A population pyramid of Russia, before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. From the ages 5-15, there appears to be a significant increase in people, which is likely due to the baby boom observed in the mid-2000s to the late-2010s, similar to Ukraine.

Post-Soviet baby boom

The number of annual Russian births hit a low in the 1990s and early 2000s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the 1998 financial crisis. However, the following years saw the birth rate rise rapidly. By 2012, the number of births outnumbered deaths for the first time since the Soviet Union. [16] To many Russians, this was not only a sign of economic prosperity, but also a recovery from the poverty and social decline following the downfall of the Soviet Union. [17]

Ukraine

First baby boom

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Ukrainian birth rate reached a low of 1.14 births per women in 2003. Following the Orange Revolution, the total fertility rate gradually elevated, eventually to a peak of 1.49 births per women in 2014. However, this did not last, as the birth rate rapidly diminished following the Invasion of Crimea in 2014. [18]

A population pyramid of Ukraine, before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. From the ages 5-15, there appears to be a significant swell in people, which is likely due to the baby boom observed in the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, similar to Russia. Ukraine population pyramid 1.1.2021.png
A population pyramid of Ukraine, before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. From the ages 5-15, there appears to be a significant swell in people, which is likely due to the baby boom observed in the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s, similar to Russia.

Possible second baby boom

Probably due to the ongoing Russian Invasion of Ukraine, the birth rate in Ukraine has declined significantly in 2022, down to 1.2-1.3 per woman. Despite this, there could very well be a baby boom after the war ends, with the fertility rate projecting to reach 1.60 births per women by 2030. However, the millions of refugees and emigrants fleeing since the Russian Invasion will keep the overall population falling short of what it was before the war for at least a few decades, despite the baby boom. [19]

United States

United States birth rate (births per 1000 population per year). The United States Census Bureau defines the demographic birth boom as between 1946 and 1964 (red). US Birth Rates.svg
United States birth rate (births per 1000 population per year). The United States Census Bureau defines the demographic birth boom as between 1946 and 1964 (red).

The term "baby boom" is often used to refer specifically to the post–World War II (1946–1964) baby boom in the United States and Europe. In the US the number of annual births exceeded 2 per 100 women (or approximately 1% of the total population size). [22] An estimated 78.3 million Americans were born during this period. [23]

Since the beginning of the 20th century there were several baby booms:

United Kingdom

A chart showing the historical birth rate of the United Kingdom. A spike of births can be seen in 1946 and 1960s, reflecting the two baby booms. Birth rates in the UK.png
A chart showing the historical birth rate of the United Kingdom. A spike of births can be seen in 1946 and 1960s, reflecting the two baby booms.

The baby boomers are commonly defined as the generation born after the Second World War, generally from 1946 to 1964. However, this definition of baby boomers is based on American demographic trends which saw a surge in births post Second World War that was sustained into the 1960s. In the UK, the post Second World War surge in births was confined to a sharp spike in 1946, after which the number of births dropped again. Then the post-World War babies started having their babies, giving rise to the births that can be seen across the 1960s. Due to the different demographic profile seen in the UK compared to America, British people usually define as those born between 1960 and 1969 (inclusive) as baby boomers. [29]

As of 2021, baby boomers make up about 20% of the British population, which is about 14 million people. Baby boomers today are certainly one of the most powerful and wealthy generations in the United Kingdom. For example, in 2020, growth in online shopping was led by baby boomers. [30]

See also

Notes for Japan

  1. ↑ Although there are no official statistics for 1945 and 1946, the number of births in 1946 is estimated to be around 1.6 million. Therefore, it is not appropriate to set the beginning of the baby boom to 1946.
  2. ↑ Changes in the number of births in Japan Teikoku-shoin Co., Ltd. The trend is the same, although there are annual numbers that are slightly different from official vital statistics. Note that the number of births in 1946 is 15.7 million.
  3. ↑ The number of births in 1949 does not include the number of births in Okinawa prefecture before return to the mainland.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Cambodia</span> Population analysis

Demographic features of the population of Cambodia include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the Republic of Ireland</span>

Ireland had an estimated population of 5,281,600 as of 1 April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the United Kingdom</span>

The population of the United Kingdom was estimated at almost 67.6 million people in 2022. It is the 21st most populated country in the world and has a population density of 279 people per square kilometre, with England having significantly greater density than Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Almost a third of the population lives in south east England, which is predominantly urban and suburban, with about 9 million in the capital city, London, whose population density is just over 5,200 per square kilometre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby boomers</span> Cohort born from 1946 to 1964

Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the demographic cohort following the Silent Generation and preceding Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom. The dates, the demographic context, and the cultural identifiers may vary by country. Most baby boomers are the children of either the Greatest Generation or the Silent Generation, and are often parents of Gen Xers and Millennials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of France</span>

The demography of France is monitored by the Institut national d'études démographiques (INED) and the Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (INSEE). As of 1 January 2021, 65,250,000 people lived in Metropolitan France, while 2,785,000 lived in overseas France, for a total of 68,035,000 inhabitants in the French Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Australia</span>

The population of Australia is estimated to be 27,174,900 as of 4 May 2024. Australia is the 56th most populous country in the world and the most populous Oceanian country. Its population is concentrated mainly in urban areas, particularly on the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern seaboards, and is expected to exceed 30 million by 2029.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the United States</span>

The United States had an official estimated resident population of 334,914,895 on July 1, 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This figure includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia but excludes the population of five unincorporated U.S. territories as well as several minor island possessions. The United States is the third most populous country in the world, and the most populous in the Americas and the Western Hemisphere. The Census Bureau showed a population increase of 0.4% for the twelve-month period ending in July 2022, below the world average annual rate of 0.9%. The total fertility rate in the United States estimated for 2022 is 1.665 children per woman, which is below the replacement fertility rate of approximately 2.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennials</span> Generational cohort born 1981 to 1996

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s as ending birth years, with the generation typically being defined as people born from 1981 to 1996. Most Millennials are the children of Baby Boomers and older Generation X. In turn Millennials are often the parents of Generation Alpha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographic history of the United States</span>

The United States is a country primarily located in North America. Demographics of the United States concern matters of population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects regarding the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birth rate</span> Total number of live births per 1,000 divided by time period

Birth rate, also known as natality, is the total number of live human births per 1,000 population for a given period divided by the length of the period in years. The number of live births is normally taken from a universal registration system for births; population counts from a census, and estimation through specialized demographic techniques. The birth rate is used to calculate population growth. The estimated average population may be taken as the mid-year population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Total fertility rate</span> Number of children a woman is expected to have barring select circumstances

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of a population is the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime if:

  1. they were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) through their lifetime
  2. and they were to live from birth until the end of their reproductive life.

Population decline, also known as depopulation, is a reduction in a human population size. Throughout history, Earth's total human population has continued to grow; however, current projections suggest that this long-term trend of steady population growth may be coming to an end.

Demographic dividend, as defined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is "the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population is larger than the non-working-age share of the population ". In other words, it is "a boost in economic productivity that occurs when there are growing numbers of people in the workforce relative to the number of dependents". UNFPA stated that "a country with both increasing numbers of young people and declining fertility has the potential to reap a demographic dividend."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-20th century baby boom</span> Baby boom that occurred after World War II

The middle of the 20th century was marked by a significant and persistent increase in fertility rates in many countries of the world, especially in the Western world. The term baby boom is often used to refer to this particular boom, generally considered to have started immediately after World War II, although some demographers place it earlier or during the war. This terminology led to those born during this baby boom being nicknamed the baby boomer generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Taiwan</span>

The population of Taiwan is approximately 23.35 million as of April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ageing of Europe</span> Overview of ageing in Europe

The ageing of Europe, also known as the greying of Europe, is a demographic phenomenon in Europe characterised by a decrease in fertility, a decrease in mortality rate, and a higher life expectancy among European populations. Low birth rates and higher life expectancy contribute to the transformation of Europe's population pyramid shape. The most significant change is the transition towards a much older population structure, resulting in a decrease in the proportion of the working age while the number of the retired population increases. The total number of the older population is projected to increase greatly within the coming decades, with rising proportions of the post-war baby-boom generations reaching retirement. This will cause a high burden on the working age population as they provide for the increasing number of the older population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the world</span> Global human population statistics

Earth has a human population of over 8 billion as of 2024, with an overall population density of 50 people per km2. Nearly 60% of the world's population lives in Asia, with almost 2.8 billion in the countries of China and India combined. The percentage shares of China, India and rest of South Asia of the world population have remained at similar levels for the last few thousand years of recorded history. The world's literacy rate has increased dramatically in the last 40 years, from 66.7% in 1979 to 86.3% today. Lower literacy levels are mostly attributable to poverty. Lower literacy rates are found mostly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ageing of Australia</span> Demographic phenomenon in Australia

Australia has an ageing demographic. The proportion of the Australian population aged 65 and over was 15% in 2017, a trend which is expected to continue to grow. It is estimated that by 2057 older people will account for 22% of the Australian population which translates to 8.8 million people. This increase in elderly population is due to what is known as The Australian Baby Boom. This period refers to the post-war era in which total fertility rates (TFR) were approximately 3.0, resulting in 4.19 million births recorded. This number exceeded the number of births in Australia from the previous 20 years in which there were 1.63 million births, and the proceeding 20 years in when 2.56 million births were recorded. The baby boom children will be celebrating their 65th birthday between 2011 and 2030, the age which is referred to as elderly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aging of the United States</span> Ongoing demographic trend

In recent decades, the fertility rate of the United States has declined below replacement level, prompting projections of an aging population and workforce, as is already happening elsewhere in the developed world and some developing countries. The decline has been most noticeable since after the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Nevertheless, the rate of aging in the United States remains slower than that seen in many other countries, including some developing ones, giving the nation a significant competitive advantage. Unintentional pregnancies have become less common; in particular, teenage pregnancies have dropped to record lows.

Generation Alpha is a social cohort born between the early 2010s and mid 2020s. The birth years of Generation Alpha have seen a decline in birth rates, especially in the developed world.

References

  1. ↑ Van Bavel, Jan; Reher, David S. (2013). "The Baby Boom and Its Causes: What We Know and What We Need to Know". Population and Development Review. 39 (2): 257–288. doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2013.00591.x.
  2. ↑ "Africa's Baby boom".
  3. 1 2 Maurya, Lalit. "Africa's Baby Boom". www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  4. ↑ Rosenthal, Elisabeth (14 April 2012). "In Nigeria, a Preview of an Overcrowded Planet". The New York Times.
  5. 1 2 "Aboriginal peoples of Canada: A demographic profile". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  6. 1 2 3 "Baby Boomers in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  7. ↑ "Israeli fertility rate highest in OECD". Globes. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  8. ↑ "Why are there so many children in Israel? | Taub Center". taubcenter.org.il. February 14, 2019. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  9. ↑ "Israel's baby boomers facing rocky retirement". Haaretz. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
  10. ↑ O’Doherty, Caroline (2015-12-03). "Ireland's population is youngest in the EU". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  11. ↑ "Ireland's financial bust delivers baby boom". Reuters. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  12. ↑ "Baby boom Ireland: Rebirth of a nation – figures hint at Covid 'baby boom'". The Irish Independent. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  13. ↑ "An overview of vital statistics (the official number)" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-06-22.
  14. ↑ Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "The 2006 Youth White Paper"
  15. ↑ King, Leslie (2002). "Demographic trends, pronatalism, and nationalist ideologies in the late twentieth century". Ethnic and Racial Studies. 25 (3): 367–389. doi:10.1080/01419870020036701d. S2CID   145433931.
  16. ↑ Berman, Ilan (2015-07-08). "Moscow's Baby Bust?". Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120 . Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  17. ↑ "Russia experiencing a baby boom". NBC News. 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  18. ↑ "Ukraine Fertility Rate 1950-2023". www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  19. ↑ "Because of the war: How Ukraine's population will change by 2030". english.nv.ua. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  20. ↑ CDC Cdc.gov "Vital Statistics of the United States, 2003, Volume I, Natality", Table 1-1 "Live births, birth rates, and fertility rates, by race: United States, 1909-2003."
  21. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau — Oldest Boomers Turn 60 (2006)".
  22. ↑ Bouvier, L. F. (1980-04-01). "America's baby boom generation: the fateful bulge". Population Bulletin. 35 (1): 1–36. ISSN   0032-468X. PMID   12309851.
  23. ↑ "Baby Boom Population: U.S. Census Bureau, USA and by State". Boomers Life. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  24. ↑ "1. Home and Family at Mid-Century", Born at the Right Time, University of Toronto Press, pp. 3–30, 1997-12-31, doi:10.3138/9781442657106-002, ISBN   9781442657106 , retrieved 2023-04-16
  25. ↑ "The baby boom (article)". Khan Academy. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  26. ↑ Leung, Rebecca (2005-09-04). "The Echo Boomers". 60 Minutes. CBS News. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  27. ↑ Marino, Vivian (August 20, 2006). "College-Town Real Estate: The Next Big Niche?". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved September 25, 2010. College enrollments have been on the rise as the baby boomers' children — sometimes known as the "echo boom" generation — come of age. This group, born from 1982 to 1995, is about 80 million strong.
  28. ↑ "Millennials Infographic". Goldman Sachs. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  29. ↑ Young, Aideen; Tinker, Anthea (19 October 2017). "Who are the baby boomers of the 1960s?". Working with Older People. 21 (4): 197–205. doi:10.1108/WWOP-06-2017-0015. ProQuest   2532587884.
  30. ↑ "Drop preconceptions about baby boomers | YouGov". yougov.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-27.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.