Few more than 10,000 children were born in Estonia last year, and young people are increasingly postponing the idea of starting a family, thinking about livelihoods, housing and also finding a suitable partner, writes ERR News.
The number of births at Tartu University Hospital has fallen sharply – if once six children were born in the ward a day, now the number fluctuates between one and three. Estonia’s population decreased last year, and the birth rate is at an all-time low.
Many young people believe that now is not the right time to have children. Researcher Maria from Tartu said that she had thought about having children, but first she wanted more stability. The woman said that she cares about her health, sleep and free time, and a baby would mean that these things would no longer be the case, or at least that she would have to give up these things for a while. She would also like to have more financial stability and wants to do a number of things before the child comes into her life – get a driver’s license, buy a car and get a bigger apartment – she only bought her first home last year, but it is quite small, and she would not want to raise a child there.
However, the biggest problem for both Maria and her circle of acquaintances is finding a suitable partner.
Analyst Anna said that the foundation of the relationship must be strong enough for the couple to feel that they will overcome all difficulties together: “From a woman’s perspective, that means not being left alone with a crying baby in the middle of the night, and getting support when she needs it.” She added that the same applies to men – if a man is worried about being the sole breadwinner and taking on all the responsibility, that also needs to be addressed.
Population researcher Mare Ainsaar told about studies showing that
about half of those who want children postpone it because of the relationship.
Finances and housing are also becoming more of a concern, and the geopolitical situation is also giving young people pause. Ainsaar said that ten years ago, there was no talk of people worrying about what was happening three countries away, or about the political situation in the world so much that it would affect demography.
Dagmar Kutsar, associate professor at the University of Tartu, pointed out that raising children in today’s world seems like a huge responsibility, especially when there is so much uncertainty and anxiety around.
Another important issue is the support system. Anna pointed out that the fact that someone in the government will offer a larger benefit will not make her want children more strongly. The young woman also pointed out that it takes a village to raise children, but what can you do if the whole “village” is busy working, where can you get support when a baby gets sick. Kutsar emphasized that social stability and security would reduce anxiety, but Estonian policy has failed to achieve this. Ainsaar added that recent budget cuts to pre-school and after-school education have eroded the trust of prospective parents in the system. Kutsar agreed that the overall price increase is also making young people question whether they can afford to raise children.
Housing is also a major stumbling block, and it is suggested that the state could do more here. Maria said it is difficult to buy a first home, and many have difficulty saving even for a down payment.
While it is difficult to control what is happening in the world, being prepared in general can help people. Ainsaar said that young people should learn how to cope with the challenges of life, family and children, and this should be taught to everyone in school.
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