The Decline of Spanish Fertility: The Role of Religion

Ryohei Mogi (), Albert Esteve and Vegard F. Skirbekk
Additional contact information
Ryohei Mogi: University of Southern Denmark
Albert Esteve: CERCA
Vegard F. Skirbekk: Columbia University and Oslo University

European Journal of Population, 2022, vol. 38, issue 5, No 18, 1333-1346

Abstract: Abstract The Spanish total fertility rate declined from 2.8 to below 1.4 children per woman from 1975 to 2020. Spain is categorized as a “lowest-low fertility” country. Although there have been many attempts to explain the Spanish fertility decline, there has been an insufficient focus been given to religion. This brief report aims to analyse how religious affiliation, particularly being Catholics, associates with fertility behaviours—entering parenthood and the total number of children. Using three nationally representative surveys, we show that, compared with the religiously non-affiliated, Catholic women have a higher likelihood of entering parenthood after controlling for demographic, union status and educational characteristics. After controlling for changes in education and union formation, changes in religious affiliation account for approximately 4% of the cohort variation in the age at first birth, but there is no significant contribution for men nor to the total number of children for both sexes

Keywords: Fertility; Total number of children; Entering parenthood; Religion; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10680-022-09644-1

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