Why are birth rates falling across the world?
Business Daily

Why are birth rates falling across the world?

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 11, 202617 min
  • Society

Birth rates are falling across much of the world, raising questions about the future of ageing populations and economies. We look at why people are having fewer children, from the financial pressures facing couples in the US to changing social attitudes. We also examine government efforts to reverse the trend, including Finland's generous family support system and Hungary's costly incentives for larger families.

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Sentence 9 of 12 · 1:15

While governments have tried to reverse the trend, the results are mixed.

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Humanities are already below replacement level and there are fewer babies born every year.

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B2

B2 · Upper-intermediate

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A1 30%A2 36%B1 24%B2 8%C1 2%
  • 90% of the words are B1 or easier.
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  • 63 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.

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0:00

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hello and welcome to Business Daily from the BBC World Service. I'm Rob Young. Today, the global baby busts why birth rates are falling almost everywhere.

1:00

It's partly down to financial pressures. I know that we're making the right choice for ourselves. We can't give at this point children the life that we both feel like they deserve. While governments have tried to reverse the trend, the results are mixed.

1:15

You asked me about a crisis. Whatever world we use, this is happening. Humanities are already below replacement level and there are fewer babies born every year. Fewer babies on Business Daily from the BBC. This band is rehearsing in a basement in a town in Wyoming in the United States.

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