Over the past seven decades, fertility decline has become one of the most significant demographic transformations worldwide. The global total fertility rate (TFR)—defined as the average number of children a woman would bear if current age-specific fertility rates prevailed throughout her reproductive life—declined from approximately five births per woman in the early 1960s to around 2.3 births per woman in the early 2020s (United Nations, 2022; Ritchie, Spooner & Roser, 2023). Although the pace and timing of fertility decline have differed across regions, the overall direction has been remarkably consistent.

After independence from the Soviet Union, Georgia started experiencing a significant rise in the number of boys born compared with the number of girls, the sex ratio at birth. As of 2004 Georgia had one of the highest sex ratio at birth rates in the world, but by 2016 the ratio was at the biologically normal level. The country’s unique position provides valuable knowledge and experience.

Judging by Georgia’s average birth rate, it clearly belongs into the European family of nations. At 1.82 children per woman, according to the latest data, the Georgian nation is below (but still relatively close to) 2.1, the birth rate at which the population size remains steady. On average, the birthrate in Europe is around 1.5, which is significantly lower than it was only fifty years ago.