‘Turnaround’ in fertility rate in Hungary?
Owing to the government’s consistent family support measures over the past ten years, the number of children Hungarian families are raising has returned to pre-1995 levels, Bence Rétvári, parliamentary deputy state secretary of the ministry of human resources, told daily Magyar Nemzet’s Friday edition.
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Rétvári welcomed the increase in Hungary’s fertility rate as “a potential turnaround”.
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Referring to Central Statistical Office (KSH) data, Rétvári noted that the rate was 1.59 in the January-November period this year, up from 1.57 in 1995, before austerity measures introduced by Lajos Bokros, the then finance minister.
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The fertility rate had been declining since 1979,
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when Hungary’s fertility rate was above 2.0. It declined to 1.8 at the time of the 1989-90 change in political system before dropping even further, to an all-time low of 1.2 after the 2008 “crisis management” of the previous Gyurcsány-Bajnai left-wing government, Rétvári said.
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Rétvári, a lawmaker of the co-ruling Christian Democrats, said their government
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“strongly believes in families”,
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which is why, he added, it had introduced a multitude of schemes to help couples wanting to raise children.
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Source: MTI
One of the few good things that Fidesz has done (also securing the borders).
The truth is that without a stable TFR, countries won’t be able to support the social welfare system (need healthcare workers, workers for GED jobs, and etc.)
Unlike countries like Sweden that has turn to immigration increase its birth rate so that its system doesn’t collapse.
Hungary has taken a different approach that seems to be receiving results while the opposite can be said for Sweden with its increase in crime (grenade attacks in urban centres) due to the lack of integration.
Although, it should also be noted that Canada has also been using immigration to keep the birth rate up. It has been a success due to Canada being able to screen new arrivals and has great support systems to help integrate new Canadians.
Those reading this comment please be mindful as either side can take this comment out of context. I not against immigration entirely, especially considering I have European/Indigenous roots.
I hope Hungary continues to increase its birthrate and young people stay and work in Hungary.
Hungary’s population should be 15 million by now.