An increasing number of couples in Moldova decide to have by only one child. If this pace is kept, the number of children will decline to 30,000 annually in several years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 37,900 children were born in Moldova last year, a 4% reduction on a year before.
Interviewed by IPN, Doctor of Medicine Boris Gilca, who is the deputy representative of the UN Population Fund in Moldova, said the government’s efforts are aimed not at the pro-natalist policies, but at improving the family policies and developing infrastructure, especially in rural areas, while the benefits will appear in time. “The pro-natalist policies turned out to be inefficient. Theoretically, such policies can lead to an increase in the number of people only if there is a harsh dictatorship regime (like that of Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania). Nowadays, things stand differently,” said the expert.
Boris Gilca also said that the demographic decline is due to the egoism of the young families that consider the tangible benefits as more important. In the current context, investments are needed in the human capital and its quality so that education and the working and living conditions are better. The investments in the young people, including in their education for health, and in developing contemporary models for a life free form risks are the most durable and efficient ones. Such long-term investments become a force for a positive change in society, which will have an impact on the future generations.
Doctor of Sociology Olga Gagauz, who heads the Center for Demographic Research at the National Institute of Economic Research, said there are no immediate solutions to the demographic problem. In Moldova, a woman should give birth to 2-3 children for ensuring demographic growth. But the economic indexes do not encourage this and the families choose to have one child only. The poor families have more children only because they do not know contraception methods. The demographic decline will lead to the premature aging of the population. The demographic structure of society and social needs will change and the social policies will have to be modified. A solution is to fight migration and increase the social level by salary stimulation
Doctor Habilitate of Medical Sciences Valentin Friptu said that about 100,000 children were born in Moldova annually in the 1980s. Today this figure is three times lower. The low birth rate in Moldova is due to social problems rather than to health-related problems. “In 15-20 years, there will be born up to 15,000 children a year,” stated Valentin Friptu, who is an obstetrician-gynecologist. He added that at least two children must be born in one family for the generations to be replaced at a normal pace.
Expert in Education and Social Problems Natalia Vladicescu has told IPN that there are many factors affecting the birth rate in Moldova. “The women choose to concentrate on the career. The average costs for maintaining a family in urban areas are high against the salary. When the children come of age, they should be provided with dwelling and money for studies,” she stated, noting that migration is another factor.
The National Bureau of Statistics said a woman throughout life gives birth to 1.3 children, the critical level being 1.5.
