The number of live births was 1 million 79 thousand 842 in 2021, the Turkish Statistical Institute said in a statement on Thursday.

Number of live births was 1 million 79 thousand 842 in 2021. 51.3% of live births were boys and 48.7% of live births were girls, according to the statement.

Total fertility rate was 1.70 children

Total fertility rate means that the average number of live births that a woman would have under the assumption that she survived to the end of her reproductive life which is 15-49 age group and had a child according to a given age specific fertility rate.

While the total fertility rate was 2.38 children in 2001, this rate was 1.70 children in 2021. It means that a woman gave approximately 1.70 live births during her reproductive life in 2021. This showed that fertility remained below the population's replacement level of 2.10.

The highest total fertility rate was in Şanlıurfa with 3.81 children

In 2021 the province having the highest total fertility rate was Şanlıurfa with 3.81 children. Şanlıurfa was followed by Şırnak with 3.18 children, Mardin with 2.78 children.

The provinces having the lowest total fertility rate was Kütahya with 1.21 children. Kütahya was followed by Bartın with 1.25 children, Zonguldak with 1.26 children.

The average of total fertility rates of the EU member countries was 1.50 children in 2020

When the total fertility rates of 27 European Union (EU) member countries were analyzed in 2020, the country having the highest total fertility rate was France with 1.83 children and the country having the lowest total fertility rate was Malta with 1.13 children. It was seen that Türkiye ranks 3rd among the EU member countries with 1.76 children.

Crude birth rate was 12.8 per thousand

Crude birth rate means that the number of live births per thousand population. While the crude birth rate was 20.3 per thousand in 2001, this rate was 12.8 per thousand in 2021. It means that while the number of live births was 20.3 per thousand population in 2001, the number of live births was 12.8 per thousand population in 2021.

The highest crude birth rate was in Şanlıurfa with 29.1 per thousand

When the crude birth rate was examined by provinces, in 2021 the province having the highest crude birth rate was Şanlıurfa with 29.1 per thousand. Şanlıurfa was followed by Şırnak with 25.4 per thousand, Mardin with 22.6 per thousand.

The province having the lowest crude birth rate was Zonguldak with 8.0 per thousand. Zonguldak was followed by Bartın with 8.2 per thousand, Giresun, Kırklareli, Çanakkale and Edirne with 8.5 per thousand.

Crude birth rate was higher than that of the EU member countries

It was seen that crude birth rate of Türkiye was higher than the crude birth rates of 27 European Union member countries.  When the crude birth rates of 27 European Union member countries were analyzed, the country having the highest crude birth rate was Ireland with 11.2 per thousand and the country having the lowest crude birth rate was Italy with 6.8 per thousand in 2020.

The highest age specific fertility rate was in 25-29 age group

Age specific fertility rate means that the average number of live births per thousand women in certain age group.

When the fertility rate was examined by age group, it was seen that while the highest age specific fertility rate was in 20-24 age group with 144 per thousand in 2001, this rate was in 25-29 age group with 113 per thousand in 2021. This showed that fertility occurred at a later age of the woman.

Adolescent fertility rate decreased

Adolescent fertility rate means that the average number of live births per thousand women in 15-19 age group.

While the adolescent fertility rate was 49 per thousand in 2001, this rate decreased to 13 per thousand in 2021. In other words, the number of live births was 13 per thousand women in 15-19 age group in 2021.

The average adolescent fertility rate for EU member countries was 8 per thousand

When the adolescent fertility rates of 27 European Union member countries were analyzed, the country having the highest adolescent fertility rate was Bulgaria with 38 per thousand and the country having the lowest adolescent fertility rate was Denmark and Netherlands with 2 per thousand in 2020. Türkiye having adolescent fertility rate with 15 per thousand in 2020 was higher than European Union average, with 8 European Union member countries.

Mean age of the mothers giving birth was 29.1

While the mean age of the mothers giving birth was 26.7 in 2001, it was 29.1 in 2021. Mean age of mother at birth of first child in 2021 was 26.7.

The highest mean age of mother at birth of first child was in İstanbul with 28.4

When the mean age of mother at birth of first child was examined by provinces, in 2021 the province having the highest mean age of mother at birth of first child was İstanbul with 28.4. İstanbul was followed by Eskişehir, Rize, Trabzon and Artvin with the age of 28.0, Muğla, İzmir and Ankara with the age of 27.9.

The province having the lowest mean age of mother at birth of first child was Ağrı with 23.6. Ağrı was followed by Muş with the age of 23.9, Şanlıurfa with the age of 24.2.

3.1% of births were multiple births

While 3.1% of births were multiple births in 2021, 96.2% of these births were twins, 3.5% of them were triplets and 0.3% of them were quadruplets and more.

35.8% of births were mother's first birth

When births by birth order were analyzed, it was seen that 35.8% of births were first, 32.2% were second, 18.2% were third, 13.1% were fourth and above in 2021. (ILKHA)