Sweden’s Birth Rates Hit 20-Year Low Amid Rising Maternal Age and Health Concerns

In 2024, Sweden recorded approximately 99,000 births, the lowest since 2003, continuing a decades-long decline in birth rates. While the drop in 2024 was less severe than the steep reductions in 2022 and 2023, the number remains historically low according to Socialstyrelsen data. Concurrently, the average age of first-time mothers climbed to 30.1 years nationwide—a new milestone. Stockholm County notably sees first-time mothers averaging 31.5 years, whereas Gävleborg County reports a younger average of 28.5 years.

Over 5% of mothers were aged 40 or older, highlighting an ongoing trend toward later motherhood. These demographic shifts carry health implications; senior physician Ängla Mantel of Socialstyrelsen emphasized that increased maternal age correlates with greater risks of complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean deliveries.

Adding to concerns, nearly half (47%) of pregnant women in 2024 were overweight (BMI 25+), a figure that has nearly doubled since the 1990s. Mantel pointed out that elevated BMI combined with older maternal age significantly impacts both maternal health during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as child health outcomes.

The regional variation in maternal age and the compounding health risks underline challenges facing Sweden’s maternal and child health policies amid continuing population trends.