to Frederik re:Muslim fertility rates and Eastern Europe

Submitted by Nadia (France), Apr 10, 2017 at 08:25

Hi Frederik, I too would love to move to Hungary. Hungary is geographically and culturally part of Central Europe together with Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. I don't agree with political divides that does not reflect cultural boundaries. There are lots of Muslims in Easterrn Europe lol. Tatars in the Ukraine and other Muslims from the former USSR Republics in Russia.

Fertility rates are falling in most Islamic countries at the moment and in a few the TFR is below the replacement level of 2.1. Lebanon's actual TFR stands at 1.7 children per woman and is well below the 2.5 neighbouring Syria and Israel sport. Iran's TFR is 1.8, Tunisia's - 1.9 but was even lower before the 2011 revolution, in most Morrocan big cities it is now below 2. Libya is a surprise as the TFR quickly fell from 4 to 2 in a decade. Qatar and the Emirates are at about 2 and so is Turkey. Their FR are not too high actually. With improved education and urbanisation it can quickly go much lower.

All European born women has had extremely low fertility rates for decades and population has been falling in Eastern and Central Europe and is only growing in the West because of immigration. I think population decline is inevitable and not necesserily a bad thing. Japan's population is falling but the GDP per capita is growing and partly because of the population decline. In some Baltic and Balkan countries population has declined by more than 20% in the past 25 years and their economies are booming. I honestly don't think large immigration is needed in Europe as population density is quite high already. Also, immigrants coud come by the milion from Latin America or India and especially Sub Saharan Africa where TFR are the highest at the moment - 5-7 kids per woman.

If already in Hungary, have a goulash and think of me. I love Hungarian cuisine. Their food is so comforting! Greetings from France and Auf wiedersehen

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