Press Release 10/09/2024
BIRTH STATISTICS. I/2024
Births were up 0.5% in the first quarter of 2024 in the Basque Country
In 11.2% of births the mothers were over 40 years of age
In the first quarter of 2024 the number of births in the Basque Country stood at 3,159, which was a 0.5% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year, according to Eustat data. The number of births was up 6.6% in Gipuzkoa and 2.2% in Álava, but decreased by 4.1% in Bizkaia. Specifically, 1,536 children were born in Bizkaia, 1,121 in Gipuzkoa and 502 in Álava.
By month, the highest number of births was recorded in January with 1,140 (36.1%), followed by March with 1,056 (33.4%). In February, 963 (30.5%) children were born.
According to the age of the mother, the group of mothers aged 30-34 moved into first position, producing 34.4% of births. The 35-39 group also had a similar percentage at 34.3%. The number of women who became mothers aged between 25 and 29 was 13.4%, a higher value than the 11.2% of women over 40. Lastly, in 6.7% of births the mothers were under 25 years of age
Unmarried mothers accounted for 49.6% of births
Births outside marriage accounted for 49.6% of the total, a lower figure than for the first quarter of 2023 (50.8%). Bizkaia had higher values than the Basque Country as a whole, 53.5%, while in Álava and Gipuzkoa this percentage was lower, at 50.6% and 43.8% respectively. It is worth highlighting that among single mothers, there is a higher percentage of mothers under 25 years old (9.4%), a percentage representing 6.7% of the total number of mothers.
According to the order of birth, 49.6% of births (1,566) in the first quarter of 2024 were first-born children; 36.9% (1,167) arrived in families that already had another child, and the percentage of third or subsequent children stood at 13.5%, 0.3 points more than in the same quarter of 2023.
A third of mothers were foreign nationals
In 33.3% of births in the Basque Country during the first three months of 2024, the mother was a foreign national, 2.3 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of 2023. In Álava the proportion of mothers with foreign nationality was 44.2%, compared to 31.3% in Bizkaia and 31.2% in Gipuzkoa.
Live births in the Basque Country by historical territory of residence, sex, age, marital status and nationality of the mother, order and month of birth (1). 2024/I
| | Current quarter (I/2024) | Previous quarter (IV/2023) | Same quarter of previous year (I/2023) |
| | NO. | % | NO. | % | Increase | NO. | % | Increase |
| Basque Country | 3.159 | 100,0 | 3.491 | 100,0 | -9,5 | 3.144 | 100,0 | 0,5 |
| Araba / Álava | 502 | 15,9 | 595 | 17,0 | -15,6 | 491 | 15,6 | 2,2 |
| Bizkaia | 1.536 | 48,6 | 1.663 | 47,6 | -7,6 | 1.601 | 50,9 | -4,1 |
| Gipuzkoa | 1.121 | 35,5 | 1.233 | 35,3 | -9,1 | 1.052 | 33,5 | 6,6 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Sex | | | | | | | | |
| Boys | 1.604 | 50,8 | 1.824 | 52,2 | -12,1 | 1.602 | 51,0 | 0,1 |
| Girls | 1.555 | 49,2 | 1.667 | 47,8 | -6,7 | 1.542 | 49,0 | 0,8 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| AGE OF THE MOTHER | | | | | | | | |
| = 24 years | 212 | 6,7 | 253 | 7,2 | -16,2 | 218 | 6,9 | -2,8 |
| 25 - 29 years | 422 | 13,4 | 511 | 14,6 | -17,4 | 411 | 13,1 | 2,7 |
| 30 - 34 years | 1.086 | 34,4 | 1.165 | 33,4 | -6,8 | 1.039 | 33,0 | 4,5 |
| 35 - 39 years | 1.085 | 34,3 | 1.166 | 33,4 | -6,9 | 1.097 | 34,9 | -1,1 |
| = 40 years | 354 | 11,2 | 396 | 11,3 | -10,6 | 379 | 12,1 | -6,6 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Marital status of the mother | | | | | | | | |
| Married | 1.592 | 50,4 | 1.698 | 48,6 | -6,2 | 1.546 | 49,2 | 3,0 |
| Not married | 1.567 | 49,6 | 1.793 | 51,4 | -12,6 | 1.598 | 50,8 | -1,9 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Nationality of the mother | | | | | | | | |
| Spanish | 2.107 | 66,7 | 2.318 | 66,4 | -9,1 | 2.170 | 69,0 | -2,9 |
| Foreign | 1.052 | 33,3 | 1.173 | 33,6 | -10,3 | 974 | 31,0 | 8,0 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Order of birth | | | | | | | | |
| First | 1.566 | 49,6 | 1.793 | 51,4 | -12,7 | 1.541 | 49,0 | 1,6 |
| Second | 1.167 | 36,9 | 1.235 | 35,4 | -5,5 | 1.188 | 37,8 | -1,8 |
| Third or more | 426 | 13,5 | 463 | 13,3 | -8,0 | 415 | 13,2 | 2,7 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Month of birth | | | | | | | | |
| January | 1.140 | 36,1 | | | | 1.073 | 34,1 | 6,2 |
| February | 963 | 30,5 | | | | 1.002 | 31,9 | -3,9 |
| March | 1.056 | 33,4 | | | | 1.069 | 34,0 | -1,2 |
(1)The data for the current quarter is provisional. The variations are over the current quarter
Date September 10, 2024
Source: Eustat Birth statistics
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel.: 945 01 75 62