'It will keep dying': Musk raises alarm on Europe’s falling birth rates, suggests having 'large families'

Elon Musk - File Photo

Elon Musk has reignited debate over Europe’s demographic decline with a stark warning, saying it should “either start having large families or it will keep dying.” The Tesla CEO highlighted what he sees as a looming existential crisis for the continent.

Musk’s remark comes amid mounting concern over plummeting fertility rates across Europe. According to Eurostat, the average fertility rate in the European Union fell to just 1.46 children per woman in 2022, well below the replacement level of 2.1 required to sustain population levels without migration.

Either Europe starts having large families or it will keep dying https://t.co/UNX72ZRn98

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— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2025

In 2023, 3.67 million babies were born in the EU, a 5.4% decrease from the 3.88 million in 2022. This is the largest annual decline recorded since 1961. The total fertility rate in 2023 was 1.38 live births per woman in the EU, down from 1.46 in 2022.

In 2023, Bulgaria had the highest fertility rate in the EU with 1.81 births per woman, followed by France (1.66) and Hungary (1.55). The lowest rates were in Malta (1.06), Spain (1.12), and Lithuania (1.18).

The average age for women in the EU to have their first child is now 29.8 years and continues to rise. Among member states, Italy tops the list for the oldest first-time mothers, with an average age of 31.8 years. In contrast, Bulgaria not only has the highest fertility rate but also the youngest first-time mothers, averaging 26.9 years old.