Danish politicians urge citizens to increase birth rates amid declining numbers in Northern Jutland

Politicians in Denmark are urging citizens to have more children, but the response in Northern Jutland has been muted. The average woman in the region gives birth to just 1.5 children— the lowest rate in 40 years, according to statistics. Reasons for this trend include a preference among many younger individuals to delay or forgo parenting until they feel fully established, such as completing their education and securing stable partnerships and housing, as noted by fertility researcher Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen.

Nationally, Danish women now average 1.5 children, but a birth rate of 2.1 is needed to maintain the population. Northern Jutland faces the steepest decline in working-age residents. Cecilie Norhagen from Aalborg, who has chosen to remain child-free, argues that the decision to have children should not be driven by labor market needs or tax base concerns.

Politicians from various parties, including Moderaterne and Dansk Folkeparti, have proposed financial incentives for families to alleviate the economic burden of raising children. However, Norhagen asserts her choice is personal and not influenced by external pressures. “I will never have a child for anyone else’s sake but my own,” she emphasizes.

Amid concerns about a shrinking workforce, local businesses are already adapting their recruitment strategies to attract workers, recognizing the importance of flexibility for parents. This has resulted in discussions about accommodating employees with children.

While several political parties have floated ideas for financial support for families, a consensus has yet to be reached. There is an urgent call to action, as Kamilla Bittmann of Erhverv Norddanmark reminds us, “It takes 19 years to raise a 19-year-old, so there’s no time to waste.”