Decisions by educated women to invest in their careers in order to be better off financially when they have children have contributed to the shift to older motherhood.
According to the most recent data of the United Nations, the average age of motherhood in Albania, i.e. of becoming a mother for the first time, is 28.9 years.
On the other hand, the birth rate has also decreased in our country. According to INSTAT, 24,688 babies were born in 2022, suffering a decrease of 9.3%, compared to the previous year.
If we look at the latest INSTAT reports, we can see a slight decrease in the age of motherhood from 2021, where it was estimated at 29.2 years. But it remains at the levels of the global average.
The age of first motherhood, according to sociological experts, is influenced by a number of factors within each country.
“Some countries have traditions where motherhood is encouraged early and will have very low ages for first-time mothers in the world. Other countries with booming economies and more progressive social statuses will on average have a higher age of first-time motherhood. It is believed that people with lower socio-economic status become parents earlier. These factors will affect the average age of the birth of the first child according to the country,” explained sociologist Marsida Simo.
However, looking at many reports, it appears that the average or median age of first child birth by country is 28 years old. Some women continue to have their first child in their forties, in developed countries where a career prevails as a priority.
Other women have their first child in their teens, when they live a more traditional lifestyle where men are their financial backers.
/abcnews.al
