Press Release 10/06/2025
BIRTH STATISTICS. 2024
12,937 births were registered in the Basque Country during 2024, 3.8% less than in 2023, the lowest figure since 1975
The decrease was 5.6% among mothers of Spanish nationality, while for mothers of foreign nationality, births increased by 1.4%
In 2024 the number of births in the Basque Country reached 12.937 , 3.8% down on the previous year, according to Eustat data. This figure represents the lowest number of births in the Basque Country since 1975. Among mothers of Spanish nationality the decrease was 5.6%, while there was an increase of 1.4% among mothers who were foreign nationals.
Regarding the distribution by province, Álava saw the greatest decrease (-5.5%), followed by Bizkaia (-3.7%) and, lastly, Gipuzkoa (-3.2%), where the number of births stood at 2,094, 6,421 and 4,422 respectively.
Most months showed a decrease in the number of births, except for two, January and May, with increases in the number of births of 6.4% and 1.2% respectively.
The birth rate stood at 5.8 births per thousand inhabitants. The highest rate was in Álava (6.2‰), followed by Gipuzkoa (6.1‰) and Bizkaia (5.6‰). In the Basque Country this rate was down 0.3 points compared to 2023 and 3.1 points in relation to 2014.
Live births in the Basque Countryi by historical territory of residence, age, marital status, nationality, and country of birth of the mother. 2024
| | 2024 | 2023 | Increase (%) |
| | NO. | % | NO. | % | |
| TOTAL | 12.937 | 100,0 | 13.453 | 100,0 | -3,8 |
| | | | | | |
| Province of residence of the mother | | | | | |
| Araba / Álava | 2.094 | 16,2 | 2.216 | 16,5 | -5,5 |
| Bizkaia | 6.421 | 49,6 | 6.671 | 49,6 | -3,7 |
| Gipuzkoa | 4.422 | 34,2 | 4.566 | 33,9 | -3,2 |
| | | | | | |
| Mother's age | | | | | |
| <30 years | 2.730 | 21,1 | 2.813 | 20,9 | -3,0 |
| >= 30 years old | 10.207 | 78,9 | 10.640 | 79,1 | -4,1 |
| | | | | | |
| Marital status of the mother | | | | | |
| Married | 6.396 | 49,4 | 6.656 | 49,5 | -3,9 |
| Not married | 6.541 | 50,6 | 6.797 | 50,5 | -3,8 |
| | | | | | |
| Nationality of the mother | | | | | |
| Spanish | 9.494 | 73,4 | 10.057 | 74,8 | -5,6 |
| Foreign | 3.443 | 26,6 | 3.396 | 25,2 | 1,4 |
| | | | | | |
| The country where the mother was born | | | | | |
| Spain | 8.454 | 65,3 | 9.116 | 67,8 | -7,3 |
| Other | 4.483 | 34,7 | 4.337 | 32,2 | 3,4 |
| | | | | | |
Date June 10, 2025
Source: Eustat Birth statistics
In 78.9% of births the mothers were aged 30 or over
The largest group was women between 30 and 34 years old, who accounted for 34.3% of total births. This was followed by mothers aged between 35 and 39 with 33.4%. The group of 40 years and older represented 11.2%, 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous year. 13.8% of babies were born to mothers aged between 25 and 29, and 6.2% to mothers aged between 20 and 24. Finally, teenage mothers accounted for 1.1% of the total, one tenth lower than 2023.
The average age of all mothers was 33.4 years old, the same as the previous year, but this value rose to 34.3 for mothers of Spanish nationality, and stood at 30.8 for mothers of foreign nationality. The average age for first-time mothers (those who had their first child in 2024) was 32.4 years old, 33.4 for mothers of Spanish nationality and 28.7 for mothers of foreign nationality.
Mothers of foreign nationality have children at a younger age than mothers of Spanish nationality
Regarding nationality, 26.6% of mothers were foreign nationals, who gave birth to 3,443 boys and girls. In 2023 the percentage of mothers of foreign nationality was 25.2%. The main countries of origin of these mothers were: Morocco, with 620 mothers, Colombia (437), Nicaragua (208), Paraguay (201), Pakistan (196), Romania (192), Algeria (155), Honduras (137), Venezuela (117) and Peru (108). From the total number of mothers with foreign nationality, 43.8% were nationals of a country in America, 32.5% in Africa, and 12.6% in Europe.
Women of foreign nationality residing in the Basque Country had children at a younger age than those of Spanish nationality: in 41.5% of cases they had children under 30, compared to 13.7% of mothers of Spanish nationality.
More than half of births were outside marriage
In 2024 the number of births outside marriage increased to 6,541, accounting for 50.6% of the total, whereas in 2023 it was 50.5%. Ten years ago, in 2014, the percentage of births registered outside marriage was 39.9%.
Regarding order of birth, the 6,528 first-born children in 2024 made up 50.5% of the total; second-born, 36.2%; and third-born and subsequent children, 13.3% of the total. The sex ratio among live births in 2024 was 104 boys to every 100 girls. The average weights were 3,349.3 grams for boys and 3,228.8 grams for girls.
In terms of place of birth, it is worth noting that 93.5% of births took place in public hospitals, 5.9% in private hospitals and 0.6% were home-births. The number of births rose to 12,802, of which 12,620 were single, 179 twins and 3 triplets. Of the total number of births, 740 were premature (5.8%).
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